Black Paint on Wind Turbines May Help Save Bird Populations

A simple solution involving a coat of black paint on wind turbine blades could significantly reduce bird fatalities caused by the machines. Researchers from Oregon State University are currently testing this approach at a PacifiCorp wind farm in Wyoming, inspired by successful trials in Norway.

The initiative, led by Christian Hagen, an associate professor in OSU’s Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, has received $400,000 in funding from the state legislature. The team, which includes a doctoral student and officials from several federal agencies, has already painted 28 turbines and plans to complete eight more by the end of the year.

This project builds on a 2020 Norwegian study that found painting one of the three turbine blades black reduced bird collisions by over 70%. The contrast created by the black blade helps birds, particularly raptors, detect the fast-moving turbines more easily, reducing the motion-blur effect that often causes them to miss the spinning blades.

Given that wind turbines are estimated to kill between 140,000 and 500,000 birds annually in the U.S., this research could have a profound impact on bird Conservation efforts. The team at OSU aims to expand on the Norwegian findings by testing the method on a broader range of bird species and even bats, ensuring that the intervention is both effective and environmentally safe.

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• Greta Thunberg Takes a Stand Against Wind Turbines on Indigenous Lands
• Wind Energy Surpasses Coal in US Electricity Generation for Second Consecutive Month

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