Date: 8/3/26 4:06 pm From: Kevin Krajcir <kjkrajcir...> Subject: ASCA August Presentation - Michael Ferrara - Birds and Solar Arrays
Good evening!
Join the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas on Thursday August 13th at 7 PM to hear Michael Ferrara talk about his research of the factors influencing bird communities in and around solar facilities. Michael completed this research as part of his master’s at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville, where he is currently pursuing a PhD.
Over the past two years, this study has examined surveys on bird community abundance and occupancy in and around solar energy facilities (solar arrays) across Arkansas and Kansas. Solar facilities have increasingly become a part of the landscape, consisting of rows of solar panels to generate energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. Newer solar energy facilities are being developed to incorporate diverse vegetation communities; however, the effects of these practices on bird communities remain poorly understood. This study evaluates the factors influencing bird community occupancy and species richness at solar sites compared to reference sites, with data collected using autonomous recording units. The study also assesses the factors influencing bird community abundance in and around these sites using point count data collected inside, at the boundaries, and outside these sites. This research highlights that landscape features are more strongly correlated with avian community composition than local vegetation characteristics. Overall, we found that solar panel presence was not strongly related to bird community occupancy, but abundance tended to be higher outside the solar sites, with variation across species.
Michael Ferrara is originally from Long Island, New York where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has worked with birds and wildlife across the country. Prior to moving to Arkansas, he worked for the National Audubon Society in Florida, helping manage protected shorebird and seabird colonies. Michael completed his Master’s degree in Biology at the University of Arkansas and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Biology there. His current research focuses on how solar energy development and habitat management influence bird communities. He has also served for the past two years as Publicity Director for the Arkansas Audubon Society and was recently elected Vice President of the organization.
