Wind farms are dangerous to migrating birds

 

Wind farms are a crucial part of the renewable energy revolution, but they pose a deadly risk to migrating birds. Across Europe, conservation efforts have successfully reintroduced vulture species, but wind turbines are now threatening their recovery. Vultures are essential to the ecosystem, cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases. However, wind farms are competing with birds for the best winds, and collisions are high during migration seasons.

To address this issue, researchers and conservationists are working together to make wind farms more bird-friendly. One solution is to make wind turbine blades more visible, so they stand out and catch birds' attention. Painting one blade black on each turbine at the Smola wind farm in Norway reduced avian fatalities by 70%. In the UK, researchers suggest painting turbines with black and white stripes could alert and protect birds, including kittiwakes, which have suffered rapid population declines.

Another approach is to use sound to alert birds of potential danger. Researchers from William and Mary University in Virginia are working on an "acoustic lighthouse" that projects a hissing white noise to alert migrating birds. Field tests showed that small birds responded most to the acoustic lighthouse, angling their flight trajectories away from the towers.

Conservationists are also working with energy companies to plan wind farms in a way that avoids potential clashes with bird migration routes. Mapping the flight paths of vultures and other birds can help identify areas to avoid building wind farms. Additionally, making power lines and cables more visible with high-visibility reflectors and spirals can reduce collisions.

Understanding how birds see the world is crucial to making wind farms safer. Birds have a lateral vision, seeing the world from the side, and their frontal vision has a lower spatial resolution. They are also impressive navigators, using complex routes, smell, and sound to find their way. However, this means they may not notice wind turbines ahead of them, especially during migration seasons.

The Vulture Conservation Foundation is working to protect vultures from wind farm collisions, and researchers are exploring new solutions to reduce bird fatalities. By making wind farms more visible and using sound to alert birds, we can help reduce the risk of collisions and protect these essential species. As the world transitions to renewable energy, it's crucial we find ways to coexist with wildlife and protect our planet's biodiversity.