While human beings have found various solutions to generate renewable energy, with wind turbines being one of them, we have forgotten their effects on wildlife. Researchers have detected strange behaviours in birds around wind turbines; however, the truth of the matter is that thousands of birds are dying because of wind turbine collisions. In a report by Euronews, experts in avian vision claim that stripy wind turbines could lower the number of seabird deaths. By doing so, birds can easily identify the turbines, and it can drastically reduce fatal accidents and impacts on these species.
The birds’ ability to quickly change their flight route when they identify these stripped wind turbines is the “strange behaviour” and it is not negative at all. Instead of the birds flying directly into the turbines, they can change their direction. Wind turbines are big, strong and powerful and usually spin with a lot of energy, especially when the wind is at its peak; therefore, birds can instantly get hit and die on the spot.
The science birds being affected by striped wind turbines
To begin with, this is not the first time this idea was initiated or brought up, according to Euronews. According to a 2020 Norwegian study, painting one blade black could reduce bird strikes by as much as 70%. Professor Graham Martin, an ornithologist specialising in the sensory world of birds, and Alex Banks, an ornithology specialist at Natural England, have both emphasised the importance of creating a safe sky environment for birds.
However, how do we do that? They state that we need to start seeing like birds and stop being selfish as humans by just thinking about what we benefit from wind turbines and think for the wildlife too, and that is how the science of how bird flight patterns are being affected by wind turbines came about. Avian biology experts have expressed that human and bird vision are totally different.
While human beings can detect danger from a distance, for example, a speeding car, we automatically get into survival mode and have a chance to take action. In other words, humans absorb visual information differently from birds. Birds perceive opposing patterns far more clearly than humans do, even if we might not notice the difference right away. The solution is to add stripes on the turbines.
Black and white turbines may revolutionise wildlife conservation
As the energy sector and companies are pushing towards renewable energy through wind turbines, it is essential to create more bird-friendly environments without having to stop, remove or slow down energy operations, but a simple solution like striped wind turbines works perfectly. One might think this stripy wind turbine is the problem; however, it is a safer way to meet halfway with wildlife.
According to some experts, if additional research demonstrates the widespread efficacy of these aesthetic adjustments, regulations may eventually mandate them. Researchers from Euronews claim that birds are more likely to spot stripy wind turbines because they use forward vision to control their flight towards a target; therefore, black and white turbines may revolutionise wildlife conservation and renewable energy.
The point of painting turbine blades is to protect avian life
If this is initiated, there will be a noticeable drop in bird fatalities annually. Additionally, there is hope that the striped wind turbines will go through testing to be approved, and once that is done, birds will not start to behave strangely; rather, other regions and countries can take the same initiative and utilise it to save wildlife in their respective wind energy hubs.
What do policymakers have to say about this? As reported by The Pulse, Professor Martin claims that policymakers should approve of this and help offset the thousands of birds that are killed on farms and at sea.