Much study has been done about how oil and gas development in Wyoming affects big game and sage grouse, but those aren’t the only species being impacted. A new University of Wyoming study looks at sagebrush song sparrow populations in the LaBarge oilfield, and the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah natural gas fields. Researcher Anna Chalfoun says they found that high-density development, especially of natural gas, means lower densities of songbirds. The birds may not like human intrusion, but Chalfoun says they think it’s more than that.
The Biodiversity Conservation Alliance is advocating the use of more directional drilling to keep well density to around one pad per square mile. In the study areas, well pads reach densities of up to 16 per square mile. Chalfoun says the birds are having a tough time throughout their migratory range.
She explains that means more raccoons, cats and some species of mice in drilling areas, critters detrimental to songbirds. The B-L-M has designated the sage sparrow and Brewer’s sparrow as Sensitive Species, which is supposed to require more conservation attention.
The Biodiversity Conservation Alliance is advocating the use of more directional drilling to keep well density to around one pad per square mile. In the study areas, well pads reach densities of up to 16 per square mile. Chalfoun says the birds are having a tough time throughout their migratory range.
She explains that means more raccoons, cats and some species of mice in drilling areas, critters detrimental to songbirds. The B-L-M has designated the sage sparrow and Brewer’s sparrow as Sensitive Species, which is supposed to require more conservation attention.
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