The expansion of offshore windfarms in the southeastern North Sea has resulted in a drastic decline in red-throated loons, a fish-eating aquatic bird, according to new research published in Scientific Reports.
Stefan Garthe and colleagues led the study, which looked at how the abundance of red-throated loons changed before and after the construction of five offshore wind farm clusters in the area.
The Proliferation of Offshore Wind Farms
With a growing number of countries, especially in the EU, embracing environmentally sustainable energy sources to mitigate the adverse effects of harmful emissions, the construction of offshore wind farms has witnessed a significant surge.
The rationale behind the increasing preference for offshore wind farms is attributed to various advantages over their terrestrial counterparts, such as consistent wind patterns, high wind speeds, and avoidance of human settlement conflicts.
Even with these benefits, the development of offshore wind farms presents distinct challenges, including potential disruption of maritime traffic and ecological imbalances in the vicinity.
Impact on Seabirds of High Conservation Concern
Phys.org reports that researchers examined the density of loon populations within a one-kilometer radius of wind farms and up to ten kilometers away using data collected from ships, aircraft, and digital aerial surveys between 2010 and 2017.
The study discovered that wind farm construction altered the distribution and abundance of loons in the region significantly. The population of red-throated loons decreased by 94% near the turbines and 54% within ten kilometers of the wind farms.
The authors attribute the decline to the birds' restricted movements, limited to smaller areas due to wind farm construction.
The loons gathered in large numbers northwest of the Helgoland wind farm cluster, while they vanished entirely from the BARD/Austerngrund and Borkum wind farm clusters.
Noticeable Decline in Bird Populations
Overall, the estimated total population of loons decreased by 29.24%, from 34,865 individuals before wind farm construction to 24,672 birds afterward.
The authors warn that estimating the long-term population impacts of offshore wind farms on seabird populations is difficult because different seabird species respond differently to the presence of turbines.
Some birds may avoid the area, while others may be drawn to it, resulting in increased mortality from turbine collisions.
Long-term Impacts on Bird Populations
To understand the long-term impacts on seabird populations, the study recommends increasing the research on the cumulative effects of windfarms throughout the year across the entire region of farms.
The study's findings highlight the importance of balancing the demand for renewable energy with the environmental impact and taking steps to reduce the effects of offshore wind farms on seabirds.
Latest on Offshore Wind Farm Construction
- Japan is considering expanding its offshore wind farm locations beyond its territorial waters and into the exclusive economic zone to increase its use of renewable energy.
- The world's deepest wind turbine foundation has been installed at Seagreen, 17 miles off the coast of Angus, Scotland. This is the 112th turbine to be installed at Scotland's largest offshore wind farm.
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