By Samantha Mathewson
Wind farms are sprouting up around the world and while the jury is still
out whether they are as effective as oil, one thing that is certain is that
the large turbines are threatening bird populations such as the
white-tailed eagle, a new study revealed.
White-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) are large raptors that can have
a wingspan of over eight feet. They generally don’t breed until they are
five or six years old, which leads to a lower reproductive rate, compared
to smaller, shorter-lived birds. There are very small populations of these
eagles living in highlands and islands along the west coast of Scotland.
Researchers from the University of Turku recently took a closer look at how
populations of white-tail eagles may be affected when living in close
proximity to wind farms, according to a news release. Using a
capture-mark-recapture method, researchers discovered that the survival of
post-fledgings was not impacted by wind turbines. However, adult eagles
were particularly vulnerable, suggesting that they are at a higher risk of
mortality during their breeding years, causing already scarce populations
to plummet.
“As wind farms are expected to expand in the future, we need to be aware of
their potential negative effects on various species,” Fabio
Balotari-Chiebao, lead author of the study, said in the release. “The
implementation of preventive measures aimed at the protection of species
that are vulnerable to turbine-related incidents will allow the use of this
energy source without compromising the local biodiversity.”
This study sheds light on the importance of building appropriately sited
wind farms and the need to protect vulnerable avian populations. Their
findings were recently published in the journal Animal Conservation.
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