Study identifies risks for bird collisions with turbines

A recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Oklahoma State University study shows not all raptor species are equally impacted by collisions with wind turbines. Of 14 species studied, five are at risk of population declines due to collisions.

“While our work does not show that wind energy development will drive these birds to extinction or even put them at risk of becoming endangered, instead it helps the wind industry and wildlife managers direct attention to those in greatest need when it comes to preventing and mitigating  collisions with turbine blades,” said USGS research ecologist Jay Diffendorfer, who led the study. Of the raptors evaluated, barn owls, ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, American kestrels and red-tailed hawks had the highest... ... More: Official Press Release U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

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USGS, study, report, wildlife, collision, turbine, bird, population, species, raptor, wind farm, extiction