4-6 sea eagles are killed by wind turbine blades every year, study reveals

The white-tailed sea eagle population is still growing, but the rapid increase in wind power construction is causing concern among scientists.

Four to six white-tailed eagles die every year after colliding with wind turbine blades, according to a study by the University of Turku.

As a migratory bird of prey, the white-tailed eagle is vulnerable to collisions with the rotating blades of wind turbines, but no overall estimate of the number of collisions has been calculated in Finland before.

The researchers estimated the number of collisions of mother birds by monitoring their survival in territories close to the wind turbines and further away from the turbines.

According to the results, the annual survival of sea eagles survive is about 7-8 % lower in the vicinity of the wind turbine than far from power plants. The researchers did not find the indications that the birds would move away from the wind turbine due to the disorder.

Technology could help

The wind turbine must not be built two kilometers closer to the sea eagle nest. However, researchers found that sea eagles die of wind turbine blades if the estate was less than five kilometers from the power plant.

He estimates that every year, six nesting and 20 migratory, young or pre -adolescents are encountered in wind turbines.

Researchers suggest that the placement of wind turbines should be better taken into account in the presence of sensitive species, such as sea and eagles for wind power.

According to researchers, the use of more collision -reducing technologies should also be required. For example, a wind farm could be stopped or slowed down as the bird approaches it.

Sea eagle population is still growing, but the strong growth in wind power construction is a concern in the researchers. Next, they intend to analyze how much the population will withstand additional mortality caused by power plants.