Black wind-turbine blade cuts bird deaths

There are many advantages of wind turbines and wind farms. They are important in providing green energy. However, there are also some disadvantages. One of these is that the giant blades on turbines kill thousands of birds. Many birds accidentally fly into the blades and die. Researchers have found a solution. They say painting one blade black could help birds see the rotating blades. This could cut bird strikes by up to 70 per cent. Researcher Dr Roel May said: "The collision of birds...is one of the main environmental concerns related to wind energy development." The findings of the research have been published in the conservation journal "Ecology and Evolution".

Dr May and his team conducted research on how to reduce the death rate of birds due to wind-turbine blades. They painted one blade of four different turbines black. The data showed that over four years, the turbines with one black blade saw a reduction in bird deaths of over 71 per cent. Dr May said: "Few effective measures have been developed to reduce the risk of collision." The RSPB, a bird protection group, welcomed the idea. It stressed the importance of wind farms needing to "take place in harmony with nature". It added: "Wind turbines are the right technology when we find the right places for them." It said wind farms should be put in places where there is little risk to wildlife.