While some studies have shown negative affects on birds by wind farms, a new study shows that the behavior habits of inland birds are not affected during the winter months.
Wind Farm Relief
According to the Journal of Applied Ecology, wind turbines are not the threat to bird behavior that we may have thought. After studying 23 avian farmland species, only one modified its behavior in areas with turbines.
Considering wind farms have gotten some bad press for their affects on birds, this study allows environmentalists and companies interested in wind energy to take a small sigh of relief. Most studies have focused on birds in coastal areas, since wind energy is most likely to be generated using offshore turbines. Some alternative energy companies in Europe, however, are considering land-based wind farms. Because of this, an ecologist at Newcastle University in the U.K. determined a study focused on inland wind turbines and bird behavior might be informative.
Avian Behavioral Study
In two months of 2007, Mark Whittingham and associates mapped the behavior of birds near two wind farms in England. They accounted for almost 3000 birds including five protected species. By deciphering how far away these birds were from the turbines, Whittingham was able to assess that only the pheasant seemed to move further away from the turbines to nest. However, he didn’t consider this to be a problem since pheasants adapt well to such changes.
According to Whittingham’s results, the other 22 species he studied behaved as if the turbines were not there at all, grazing and nesting as usual. This is good news for England, which hopes to generate 20% of their energy from environmentally-friendly sources within the next 12 years.
More Studies Needed
Although this study shows positive results, it was conducted during winter months. Summer nesting is also a critical time for birds and some other studies have shown that wind turbines do indeed affect birds when observed during this time period. Also, Whittingham did not account for the number of birds killed by the turbines. Although this was not the focus of his study, it seems this would have to affect the local bird population, which he was interested in.
Although he does not believe the turbines killed a significant number of birds since they could easily fly around the blades, it is difficult to make this assertion since he has no data to support it. Regardless of the encouraging results found by Whittingham here, other studies need to be done to determine turbine effects on birds during their summer nesting period as well as effects on birds of varying ages. It is possible young birds could be killed more frequently due to their unfamiliarity with the turbine blades; they could also chose to nest further away once adults. Long term studies which span at least one full year would be needed to answer these types of important questions.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vax-o-matic/2621902438/