Seabirds avoid offshore wind turbines
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Seabirds have been shown to actively avoid collision courses with offshore wind farms, unlike many of their land-based relatives.
Collisions between birds and turbines are seen as one of the key impacts of offshore wind farms, when siting the developments. A new review by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the University of Highlands and Islands’ Environmental Research Institute has provided better estimates of the proportions of seabirds that alter their flight paths to avoid colliding with turbines.
When planning offshore wind farms, it is important to derive robust estimates of the number of birds likely to collide with turbines in order to help the decision-making process. While most birds will take action to avoid colliding, some will not. The review found that over 99 per cent of seabirds were likely to alter their flight paths in order to avoid collision.
However, Aonghais Cook, study lead author and a Research Ecologist at the BTO, said: “It's important not to get lulled into a false sense of security by these figures. While 99 per cent of birds may avoid turbines, collision may still be a significant risk at sites with large numbers of birds. Furthermore, there are still a number of key gaps in knowledge for some vulnerable species.”
The review also revealed species-specific differences in the way seabirds respond to wind farms. A significant proportion of Northern Gannets will avoid even entering a wind farm, but gulls are less cautious and may even be attracted to the sites as a result of the foraging opportunities they offer. Despite this, once inside wind farms even gulls seem to show a strong avoidance of the turbine blades.
Collisions between birds and turbines are seen as one of the key impacts of offshore wind farms, when siting the developments. A new review by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the University of Highlands and Islands’ Environmental Research Institute has provided better estimates of the proportions of seabirds that alter their flight paths to avoid colliding with turbines.
When planning offshore wind farms, it is important to derive robust estimates of the number of birds likely to collide with turbines in order to help the decision-making process. While most birds will take action to avoid colliding, some will not. The review found that over 99 per cent of seabirds were likely to alter their flight paths in order to avoid collision.
However, Aonghais Cook, study lead author and a Research Ecologist at the BTO, said: “It's important not to get lulled into a false sense of security by these figures. While 99 per cent of birds may avoid turbines, collision may still be a significant risk at sites with large numbers of birds. Furthermore, there are still a number of key gaps in knowledge for some vulnerable species.”
The review also revealed species-specific differences in the way seabirds respond to wind farms. A significant proportion of Northern Gannets will avoid even entering a wind farm, but gulls are less cautious and may even be attracted to the sites as a result of the foraging opportunities they offer. Despite this, once inside wind farms even gulls seem to show a strong avoidance of the turbine blades.