Wind energy and wildlife forum to be held May 5 and 6 by The Maine Chapter of The Wildlife Society.............The program is designed to increase the general level of awareness of participants on various subjects related to potential terrestrial and offshore wildlife concerns that are associated with wind energy........ While primarily focused on terrestrial and offshore wildlife habitats of northern New England, topics and concepts are directly applicable to issues and concerns well beyond the region. .

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vreeland, Justin <jvreeland@state.pa.us>
Date: Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 8:58 AM
Subject: Wind energy and wildlife forum
To: "Vreeland, Justin" <jvreeland@state.pa.us>

The Maine Chapter of The Wildlife Society, a non-profit professional and scientific organization, is hosting a 2-day technical conference on wildlife topics and trends associated with northern New England's developing onshore and offshore wind energy industries. 

 The conference will be held at the Black Bear Inn in Orono, Maine, on May 5-6, 2011, and includes a series of seven technical panels covering a diverse mix of wind-wildlife topics, a lunchtime science-policy panel discussion, and a Thursday evening dinner with keynote speaker Taber Allison, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation, American Wind Wildlife Institute.  Opportunities to visit an operating wind facility and a site currently under construction will also be offered on Day 2.

The conference is targeted at wildlife professionals, technicians, policy makers, and other natural resource professionals.  The program is designed to increase the general level of awareness of participants on various subjects related to potential terrestrial and offshore wildlife concerns that are associated with wind energy.  While primarily focused on terrestrial and offshore habitats of northern New England, topics and concepts are directly applicable to issues and concerns well beyond the region.  Panelists will share their experiences working within the northeast region and throughout the country.  Despite the technical nature of the conference, it is open to the public with expectations it will elicit participation from those with a genuine interest in the topic.

You are invited to join scientists, state and federal regulators, and wind project developers in learning more about the role this emerging industry may have on regional wildlife resources.  Professional certification credits are expected to be available for participants.

Registration information and a detailed agenda are available at http://metws2011conf.eventbrite.com/