Wind Turbines - by Clare Crossan

Climate change. Unless you’ve just awoken from a twenty year nap, you’ll have heard all about it.

Of course, one of the most important things we can do in the battle against climate change is the development and implementation of renewable energy sources.

The government has stated that 20% of energy should be from a renewable source by 2020, while the Scottish government has pledged an ambitious 50%.

Ours is a windy little island so it’s no real surprise that wind farms are seen by many as a viable solution to the predicted energy crisis.

But what does this have to do with birds you may ask?

Well, two significant risks that wind farms pose to birds are the damage to, or loss of bird habitat and the more gruesome problem of collisions between birds and the turbines.

Unfortunately bird species and developers are often attracted to the same sites – a wind battered hill or ridge being an ideal location for a wind farm and a bird colony alike.

Birds of prey, especially Eagles and Red Kites, have been particularly badly affected.

The Altamont Pass site in California is often cited in articles dealing with the issue of bird populations and turbines as it has been disastrous for the Golden Eagle with up to 3,000 deaths recorded in the last 20 years, while other problem areas have been documented in Tasmania, Norway and Spain with some species being brought to the brink of extinction.

Why do birds collide with the turbines? Well, it stands to reason that birds of prey have evolved to look at the ground as they fly, constantly searching for the next meal – and of course they have lateral vision and do not look ahead as humans do.

While it is clearly essential that we develop renewable energy solutions, it is equally obvious that we have a duty to protect bird species from the dangers posed by wind farms.

Proposed solutions have included the use of sound to alert the birds to the position of the turbines or ground level distractions to alter the birds’ flight path away from the danger site.

Many consider that the most significant measure we can take, however, is to consider carefully the positioning of new wind farms in the first place and for this to have any impact, it’s vital for developers to work in conjunction with conservationists when drawing up plans.

The RSPB have stated their approval of wind farms but recognises the importance of location in terms of bird populations: ‘The RSPB favours a broad mix of renewables, including solar, wind, and marine power, wherever they are used in ways that minimise unnecessary damage to wildlife.’

RSPB Scotland has joined forces with Scottish Natural Heritage to produce a bird and wind farm sensitivity map to highlight areas of particular concern for wild bird conservation.

While this all sounds very positive, both the SNH and the RSPB have come under fire from protesters who feel that they are not doing enough to protect birds from the threat of an increasing number of wind turbines as the government races to meet the targets for renewable energy.

On the opposing side, those in favour of wind farms have stated that climate change poses a far bigger threat to bird conservation than the danger of wind turbines.

Whichever side of the debate you fall on, it’s obvious that the contemporary lifestyle is wreaking havoc with the natural habitat and wind farms are just another in the long line of problems wild birds have to face, joining the likes of disappearing hedgerows, the use of pesticides and intensive agricultural practices.