Offshore Wind Farms Vs Seabirds

A recent study led scientists to track lesser black-backed gulls to see why the birds avoid offshore wind farms. 

By Annette J Beveridge

Offshore wind is expanding, and it is important to fully comprehend how marine wildlife reacts to these huge wind turbines. While some seabirds appear to be attracted to them, even using them as strategically placed resting posts, others avoid them. Researchers have been looking at one adaptable seabird in particular - the lesser black-backed gull. 

During the study, 59 lesser black-backed gulls from a breeding colony located on the Dutch island of Neeltje Jans were fitted with GPS transmitters. This enabled the birds to be tracked around an offshore wind farm cluster approximately 40 km away. 

The reason

Scientists wanted to know whether the gulls avoided the wind farms because they were more attracted to the fishing boats outside the area. This was important because commercial fishing is either restricted or prohibited within the wind farms. 

These birds are opportunistic feeders and readily take advantage of discarded fish, so why was this happening? 

Fishing activity is four times lower on weekends than during the week, so researchers anticipated the gulls would move into the wind farm area more readily then. But that didn't happen. The lesser black-backed gulls continued to avoid the wind farms despite the lull in fishing outside the area. 

But it wasn't all the lesser black-backed gulls; some birds behaved differently. Several males showed more of an attraction to the wind farm during the breeding and post-breeding periods. Yet others avoided it. 

During the research, scientists used models to estimate some potential reasons for avoidance, including collision risk. The new evidence gained showed that models shouldn't assume individual birds would behave the same. The GPS signal cannot tell researchers whether the bird is feeding, resting or passing through an area, only where the bird is so more detailed tracking along with behavioural studies would be needed.

Why is this important?

Britain is planning more offshore renewable energy, and it raises the question of how marine wildlife will be affected. There is a need to understand how wildlife uses the sea, and developments should be designed in accordance. Wildlife behaviour is complex, so understanding that is important if the ultimate goal is to have a cleaner energy system that does not impact wildlife. 

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