Keeping Birds Safe as Wind Farms Expand

Wind energy is surging in popularity across the US and world as a whole. As of last year, 8% of the country's energy was generated using wind turbines. However, turbines kill an average of 140,00 - 500,000 birds a year due to collisions- a number that is expected to increase to 1.4 million a year if the US achieves its goal of having 20% of the country's energy come from wind by 2030. To avoid this avian massacre, scientist are calling for the use of citizen science and bird migration data to help decide what area are the best to build more wind turbines in, and which should be avoid on part of birds and environment. Citizen science is advantageous because it allows normal citizens to participate in scientific studied/ research, by providing informational data to scientists across the entire US, the entire year- a feat often impossible for more traditional, limitedly staffed research projects. It has already proven successful for conservation scientist Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez and collogues who have used citizen science to predict where bald eagles would be most frequent throughout the year. Applying the same logic to other species of birds, and using citizen science to record where birds are most often seen, will help identify low-risk collision areas more suitable for development of wind turbines. In addition, wildlife conservationists can map out the migratory patterns of birds and what habitats they rely on for said migration to learn more about the birds in general, as well as how wind turbine implication could alter such patterns. The same data also revealed the negative effects wind turbines can have on habitats- disrupting them, and driving animals away from their home- eventually leading to population decline if severe enough. However, it is the scientists hope that the citizen collected data will help wind energy developers work to keep birds and their homes protected.

Interestingly enough, my AP Computer Science Principles class just learned about the different types of data collection methods. Citizen science was one of three primary sources we learned about, and happened to be the one I was assigned to research. I find it fascinating how involving everyday people across the nation in simple data collection can make such a difference in the implications of science. Wind energy has never been one of my favorite renewable energy sources for the purpose that it kills so many avian species. However, this article proposes a method of working around the birds possible through the help of citizens across the US. Not only would this enable wind energy developers to continue their work in a less destructive fashion, but also save the lives of many birds and give scientists expansive datasets to analyze and learn from. Citizen science is truly amazing, and I hope to participate in it myself someday, especially if it can help save the birds.

Article Link: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/wind-turbine-farms-expand-bird-safety