Avian collision risk at an offshore wind farm.
We have been the first to investigate whether long-lived geese and ducks can detect and avoid a large offshore wind farm by tracking their diurnal migration patterns with radar. We found that the percentage of flocks entering the wind farm area decreased significantly (by a factor 4.5) from pre-construction to initial operation. At night, migrating flocks were more prone to enter the wind farm but counteracted the higher risk of collision in the dark by increasing their distance from individual turbines and flying in the corridors between turbines. Overall, less than 1% of the ducks and geese migrated close enough to the turbines to be at any risk of collision.
Desholm
Mark
M
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity, National Environmental Research Institute, Grenåvej 12, 8410 Rønde, Denmark. mde@dmu.dk
Kahlert
Johnny
J
D000056:Accident Prevention; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks; D005426:Flight, Animal; D005777:Geese; D011825:Radar; D012307:Risk Factors; D014919:Wind; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary