Barriers to movement: impacts of wind farms on migrating birds

• DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsp031
• Publication Date: 2009-02-25T03:49:44Z
• Authors: Elizabeth A. Masden; Daniel T. Haydon; Anthony D. Fox; Robert W. Furness; Rhys Bullman; Mark Desholm
• Keywords: Eider; Bird migration

Abstract Masden, E. A., Haydon, D. T., Fox, A. D., Furness, R. W., Bullman, R., and Desholm, M. 2009. Barriers to movement: impacts of wind farms on migrating birds. – ICES Journal Marine Science, 66: 746–753. Advances in technology engineering are enhancing the contribution that power makes renewable energy generation. Wind farms, both operational planning, can be expected impact negatively wildlife populations, particularly We propose a novel approach assess through energetic costs avoidance behaviour for long-distance, migratory seaduck. Flight trajectories were recorded using surveillance radar at Danish offshore farm with emphasis placed 200 000+ common eiders pass area annually. Minimum distance curvature compared pre- post-construction. Additional response estimated an avian model. The eider was greatest post-construction within 500 m farm, median significantly greater than pre-construction, suggesting birds adjusted their flight paths presence farm. travelled as consequence farm's ca. trivial total migration episode 1400 km. However, construction further along route could have cumulative effects population, especially when considered combination other human actions.