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. A list of the sources used to develop this Short Science Summary is also available here.
Short Science Summary: European Migratory Soaring Birds and Wind Energy Development
The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.
| Title | Author | Date Sort ascending | Content Type | Technology | Stressor | Receptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renewable energy growth amplifies land pressure on Norwegian biodiversity | Borgelt, J., Gilad, D., May, R., Verones, F. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Birds, Terrestrial Mammals | ||
| Raptor exposure to collision risk in relation to weather and season at a wind farm in tropical Africa | Kimani, D., Ndiritu, G., Kimuyu, D., Downing, T., Wilson, D., Warui, M., Kinyanjui, P., Walter, B., Bennun, L. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Collision | Birds | |
| Best practice guidance for the collection, management and analysis of data to support post-construction seabird collision monitoring at offshore wind farms | Valantiejus, Ž., Boersch-Supan, P., Thaxter, C., Collier, M., Donovan, C. | Guidance | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Avoidance, Collision | Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement | |
| Frequently Asked Questions: Offshore Wind and Birds | Bird Communications Specialist Committee | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Avoidance, Collision, Displacement | Birds | |
| Seabirds in 3D: A framework to evaluate collision vulnerability with future offshore wind developments in the California current system | Schneider, S., Wallach, E., Chamberlin, C., Ainley, D., Terrill, S., Kramer, S., Ford, R., Casey, J., Santora, J., Ballance, L., Bernstein, S., Trush, S., Jacobson, A. | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Collision | Birds | |
| Implications of surveyor accuracy in bird flight height estimation for wind farm collision risk assessment | Largey, N., Edwards, H., Fernandez-Bellon, D., Doyle, S. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds | |
| Assessing the associations between renewable energy generation and other human-induced threats to terrestrial biodiversity | Gorosábel, A., Farooq, H., Mulligan, M., Iversen, L., Geldmann, J. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Birds, Reptiles, Terrestrial Mammals | ||
| Beyond Local Footprints: Disentangling Large-Scale Redistribution and Local Abundance Responses to Offshore Wind Farms | Mercker, M., Garthe, S., Peschko, V., Borkenhagen, K., Markones, N., Schwemmer, H., Dierschke, V. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind | Habitat Change | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Assessing vertical stratification of bats and nocturnal insects to infer potential collision risk at wind turbines in central Thailand | Srilopan, S., Krauel, J., Srilopan, K., Voigt, C., Bumrungsri, S. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Bats, Birds | |
| Movement Models to Predict Low-Altitude Flight of Soaring Birds Using Look-Ahead Environmental Factors | Sandhu, R., Tripp, C., Quon, E., Thedin, R., Lanzone, M., Braham, M., Miller, T., Farmer, C., Brandes, D., Katzner, T. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds, Raptors | |
| Review of Aberdeen Bay Collision Monitoring Data | Cook, A. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Collision | Birds | |
| SeabORD v2.0: An Individual-Based Model for estimating demographic impacts for breeding seabirds arising from offshore windfarm sub-lethal effects | Searle, K., Pollock, C., Tigli, M., Daunt, F., Butler, A., Mobbs, D. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Birds | ||
| Mapping avian sensitivity to support onshore wind energy development and bird conservation in two European countries | Biasotto, L., Serratosa, J., Clark, B., Vulcano, A., Bobrek, R., Celada, C., Gaibani, G., Gustin, M., Krogulec, J., Staneva, A., Stasiak, K., Allinson, T. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change | Birds | |
| Coexistence between migratory birds and wind energy production: The Gotthard wind park (Switzerland) as a case study | Tettamanti, F. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds | |
| PrePARED Annual Report 2025 | Marine Scotland, University of Aberdeen, SMRU Consulting, SMRU, University of Exeter, Aarhus University, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS), Natural England, NatureScot | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals | ||
| Modelling Barrier Effects of Offshore Wind Farms on Birds - Incorporating the current knowledge on barrier effects in a quantitative assessment framework | Ijntema, G.J. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Avoidance | Birds | |
| Changes in the distribution and abundance of common scoter and diver species in the Horns Rev I, II and III offshore windfarm areas, Denmark, 2025: Bird distribution responses to wind farms, Horns Rev | Scott-Hayward, L., Petersen, I.K., Mackenzie, M., Pedersen, C., Isojunno, S. , Nielsen, R. D., Sterup, J., Thomsen, H., Neergaard, R. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl | |
| An individual-based model to quantify the non-breeding season impact of wind farms on seabirds | Buckingham, L., Masden, E. , Layton-Matthews, K., Bringsvor, I., Bråthen, V., Dehnhard, N., Fauchald, P., Lorentsen, S., Reiertsen, T., Searle, K., Tarroux, A., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Displacement | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Long-Term Decline in Bird Collisions at Operational Wind Farms: Evidence from Systematic Monitoring to Support Sustainable Wind Energy Development (2010–2024) | Yordanov, N., Zehtindjiev, P., Whitfield, D. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds | |
| Bird and bat mortality at wind farms in South America: Lessons from monitoring and mitigation practices in Chile | Santander, F., Morant, J., Perez-Garcia, J. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Bats, Birds | |
| Quantifying uncertainty (WP3): DisNBS – Effects of displacement from Offshore Renewable Developments in the nonbreeding season | ORJIP | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind | Displacement | Birds | |
| Assessment of seabird vulnerability to offshore wind farms in China | Cheng, C., Yao, W., He, Y., Shi, J., Song, M., Wang, Y., Jiang, C., Liu, B., Zhao, L., Ren, J. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Collision, Displacement | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Floating Offshore Wind Dynamic Cable EMF Environmental Review | ORE Catapult, Evolv Energies, St Abbs Marine Station | Report | Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind | EMF | Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals | |
| German Bird Study Finds 99% Avoid Turbines, SunZia Progress | Hall, A., Barnes, R., Saxum, J., Totaro, P. | Podcast | Wind Energy | Collision | Birds | |
| System Dynamics And Performance Prediction Of A Wind-Powered Acoustic Bird Deterrent System | Ufuouma, O., Ekenna, E., Maxwell, O., Collins, N. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Collision | Birds | |
| The occurrence and breeding success of Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata and Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica in the vicinity of land-based wind turbines | Eriksson, M. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Displacement | Birds | |
| Modelling population-level impacts of wind farm collision risk on Welsh Red Kites: populations functionally linked to two Special Protection Areas | Hereward, H., Macgregor, C., Gabb, O., Connell, A., Thomas, R., Cross, A., Taylor, R. | Report | Wind Energy | Displacement, Habitat Change | Birds, Raptors | |
| Uncertainty and approaches to evaluating uncertainty (WP1): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments | Furness, R.W., Searle, K., Jones, E., Delacombe, K., Butler, A. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Recommendations and Roadmap (WP4): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments | Butler, A., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Hague, A., Searle, K., Daunt, F., Furness, R.W., Matthiopoulos, J., Miller, S.C., Couto, A.S., Delacombe, K., Jones, E.L. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change | Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement | |
| The Poseidon Wind Farm: Bird Migration at Skagen and The West Coast Of Sweden – Spring 2024 | Christensen, T., Bladt, J., Petersen, I., Strandberg, R., Ortvad, T., Balsby, T. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Birds | ||
| Summary report of sensitivity analysis (WP2): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments | Butler, A., Matthiopoulos, J., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Searle, K., Delacombe, K., Jones, E.L. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Summary report of stakeholder engagement (WP3): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments | Hague, A., Miller, S.C., Jones, E.L., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Delacombe, K., Butler, A. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement | ||
| Large-scale mapping of nocturnal bird migration to accelerate a nature-inclusive energy transition | Hoekstra, B., Kranstauber, B., Bradaric, M., de Groeve, J., Shinneman, S., Wijers, B., Leijnse, H., van Gasteren, H., Dokter, A., van Loon, E., Shamoun-Baranes, J. | Journal Article | Wind Energy | Collision | Birds | |
| Review of methods used to calculate scale of artificial nesting structures proposed as a compensation measure for Kittiwake mortality at offshore wind farms | Rhoades, J., Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M., Boersch-Supan, P.H. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Collision | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Impacts on birds from offshore wind farms in Australia: An ecological risk assessment | Reid, K., Baker, G.B. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement | Birds | |
| ProcBe Annual Report No.2: Year 2 | The Crown Estate | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Collision | Birds, Seabirds | |
| Projected changes to the extent and seasonality of seabird habitat in the California current and implications for marine spatial planning | Gasbarro, R., Ainley, D., Andrews, K., Ballance, L., Blondin, H,, Bograd, S., Brodie, S., Cimino, M., Clay, T., Ellis, A., Evenson, J., Field, J., Hazen, E., Jacox, M., Jahncke, J., Joyce, T., Leirness, J., Lipski, D., Muhling, B., Lezama-Ochoa, M., Pozo Buil, N., Schonfeld, A., Warlick, A., Welch, H., Zamon, J., Zilliacus, K., Santora, J. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind | Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning | ||
| The Wind of Change: Mapping Wind Energy Growth and Multi-Species Vulnerability in Sardinia, Mediterranean | Costantino, C., Cerri, J., Fozzi, I., De Rosa, D., Berlinguer, F. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind | Habitat Change | Birds, Raptors | |
| Modelling of kittiwake metapopulation dynamics (MetaKitti) Technical Report | Matthiopoulos, J., Jeglinski, J., Miller, J., Furness, R. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Birds, Seabirds | ||
| Baseline surveys of Birds, Bats and Marine Mammals in areas for Offshore Wind Farms in the Danish North Sea (North Sea I): Bats – Baseline surveys 2023-2025 North Sea I | Brinkløv, S., Smeele, S., Uebel, A., Grethen, K., Fjederholt, E., Elmeros, M. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Bats, Birds |