Some birds, such as raptors and vultures, have large wings relative to their body size, providing good lift in rising air currents. Soaring birds can sustain flight for long periods without flapping their wings, but are largely dependent on ascending currents resulting from the uneven warming of the Earth’s surface or the wind blowing over mountain ridges. Collisions of large soaring bird with wind turbines are of particular conservation concern, given that they are long-lived, have low reproductive rates with few eggs in each clutch, and invest considerable time in rearing their young. This summary represents a general overview of the research, produced by WREN under IEA Wind.
Download the European Migratory Soaring Birds Short Science Summary
Sources of Information on European Migratory Soaring Birds and Wind Energy Development:
| Title | Author | Date | Type of Content | Technology Type | Stressor | Receptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife and Wind Farms - Conflicts and Solutions, Volume 2. Onshore: Monitoring and Mitigation | Perrow, M. | April 2017 | Book | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds, Bats |
| Radar Assisted Shutdown on Demand Ensures Zero Soaring Bird Mortality at a Wind Farm Located in a Migratory Flyway | Tomé, R.; Canário, F.; Leitão, A.; Pires, N.; Repas, M. | February 2017 | Book Chapter | Wind Energy | Collision | Birds |
| Mitigation Measures for Wildlife in Wind Energy Development, Consolidating the State of Knowledge - Part 2: Operation, Decommissioning | Gartman, V.; Bulling, L.; Dahmen, M.; Geißler, G.; Köppel, J. | August 2016 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | ||
| Mitigation Measures for Wildlife in Wind Energy Development, Consolidating the State of Knowledge - Part 1: Planning and Siting, Construction | Gartman, V.; Bulling, L.; Dahmen, M.; Geißler, G.; Köppel, J. | June 2016 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | ||
| Consolidating the State of Knowledge: A Synoptical Review of Wind Energy's Wildlife Effects | Schuster, E.; Bulling, L.; Köppel, J. | August 2015 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Marine Mammals, Birds, Bats | |
| Ecological Impacts of Wind Farms on Birds: Questions, Hypotheses, and Research Needs | Wang, S.; Smith, P. | April 2015 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction | Birds |
| Mitigating Wind-Turbine Induced Avian Mortality: Sensory, Aerodynamic and Cognitive Constraints and Options | May, R.; Reitan, O.; Bevanger, K.; Lorensten, S.; Nygård, T. | February 2015 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Offshore Wind | Collision | Birds |
| Wind of Change or Wind of Challenges: Implementation Factors Regarding Wind Energy Development, an International Perspective | Gartman, V.; Wichmann, K.; Bulling, L.; Huesca-Pérez, M.; Köppel, J. | December 2014 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Human Dimensions | |
| Understanding Bird Collisions at Wind Farms: An Updated Review on the Causes and Possible Mitigation Strategies | Marques, A.; Batalha, H.; Rodrigues, S.; Costa, H.; Pereira, M.; Fonseca, C.; Mascarenhas, M.; Bernardino, J. | November 2014 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Offshore Wind | Collision | Birds |
| Using Wind Tunnels to Predict Bird Mortality in Wind Farms: The Case of Griffon Vultures | de Lucas, M.; Ferrer, M.; Janss, G. | November 2012 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds |
| Griffon Vulture Mortality at Wind Farms in Southern Spain: Distribution of Fatalities and Active Mitigation Measures | de Lucas, M.; Ferrer, M.; Bechard, M.; Muñoz, A. | March 2012 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance | Raptors, Birds |
| Weak Relationship Between Risk Assessment Studies and Recorded Mortality in Wind Farms | Ferrer, M.; Lucas, M.; Janss, G.; Casado, E.; Muñoz, A.; Bechard, M.; Calabuig, C. | February 2012 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Displacement, Collision, Avoidance | Raptors, Birds |
| Reduced Breeding Success in White-Tailed Eagles at Smøla windfarm, Western Norway, is Caused by Mortality and Displacement | Dahl, E.; Bevanger, K.; Nygård, T.; Roskaft, E.; Stokke, B. | January 2012 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision | Raptors, Birds |
| Night Migrant Fatalities And Obstruction Lighting At Wind Turbines In North America | Kerlinger, P.; Gehring, J.; Erickson, W.; Curry, R.; Jain, A.; Guarnaccia, J. | December 2010 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Lighting, Collision | Birds |
| GIS-Based Environmental Assessment of Wind Energy Systems for Spatial Planning: A Case Study from Western Turkey | Aydin, N.; Kentel, E.; Duzgun, S. | January 2010 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Habitat Change | Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment |
| Large Scale Risk-Assessment of Wind-Farms on Population Viability of a Globally Endangered Long-Lived Raptor | Carrete, M.; Sanchez-Zapata, J.; Benitez, J.; Lobon, M.; Donazar, J. | December 2009 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Collision | Raptors, Birds |
| Collision fatality of raptors in wind farms does not depend on raptor abundance | de Lucas, M.; Janss, G.; Whitfield, D.; Ferrer, M. | October 2008 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Collision, Avoidance | Raptors, Birds |
| Map of Bird Sensitivities to Wind Farms in Scotland: A Tool to Aid Planning and Conservation | Bright, J.; Langston, R.; Bullman, R.; Evans, R.; Gardner, S.; Pearce-Higgins, J. | September 2008 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Collision | Birds |
| The Migration Ecology of Birds | Newton, I. | November 2007 | Book | Birds | ||
| Wind Energy Development and Wildlife Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities | Kuvlesky, W. Jr.; Brennan, L.; Morrison, M.; Boydston, K.; Ballard, B.; Bryant, F. | July 2007 | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Physical Environment, Birds | |
| Birds and Wind Farms: Risk Assessment and Mitigation | de Lucas, M.; Janss, G.; Ferrer, M. | June 2007 | Book | Wind Energy | Birds, Bats | |
| Assessing the Impacts of Wind Farms on Birds | Drewitt, A.; Langston, R. | March 2006 | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Offshore Wind | Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change | Birds |
| Windfarms and Birds: An Analysis of the Effects of Windfarms on Birds, and Guidance on Environmental Assessment Criteria and Site Selection Issues | Langston, R.; Pullan, J. | September 2003 | Report | Wind Energy | Birds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy | |
| Wind Turbine Effects on Avian Activity, Habitat Use, and Mortality in the Altamont Pass and Solano County Wind Resource Areas, 1989-1991 | Orloff, S.; Flannery, A. | March 1992 | Report | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Raptors, Birds |