New study on seabirds and wind turbines: animals know how to avoid them

We have talked about the Swedish energy giant in the past on our pages Vattenfall, as involved in many European offshore wind projects. The manager also stood out for the use of uncommon analysis methods, such as the use of robotic boats.

We know that the wind turbineswith the huge and very long blades of modern models, can represent a danger to birdsso Vattenfall once again wanted to see clearly, and commissioned a 3 million euro study. The task of the research was understand the behavior of seabirds near the wind farm off Scotland.

The study took place analyzing data from radars and specially installed video camerasand then cross-referencing the results. Observations were herring gulls, gannets, kittiwakes and great gulls, from April to October, the period identified as the most active.

The results were astounding, in a good way: no collisions between the birds and the wind turbines were recorded. In particular, herring gulls and kittiwakes have shown to be very careful, with horizontal avoidance behavior at considerable distances, respectively 90-110 meters and 140-160 metres.

Gannets and great black-backed gulls seem less foresighted, but still maintain a distance of 40 to 50 meters from the tips of their shovels. Vattenfall communicates that it has the video material demonstrating the results. Henrik Skov, who led the project, said: “This is the first time any type of bird species has been studied in such close and detail at an offshore wind farm. And these birds are really good at avoiding turbines. Now we need more variety studies“.

The purpose of the investigations, in addition to better understanding the animals, is avoid building wind farms on flight paths. The 115-page study can be viewed in its entirety at this link.