Montana has a rich wind resource (GeoResearch 1987) but demand for alacrity in getting facilities online has stimulated concern over the impact of hastily developed wind farms on vertebrate wildlife.

This document presents a process to determine geographic appropriateness of wind farm siting relative to potential impact on vertebrate wildlife. Emphasis is on initial site evaluation prior to more intensive surveys and monitoring of proposed wind farms.

Checklists included herein are an attempt to provide more objectivity than simple reconnaissance surveys.