Collision death of bearded vulture provides reminder of perpetual threat posed to birds by wind turbines

 

Sad sight - Hans Pohlman of the Vulture Conservation Foundation with a bearded vulture that died after collision with a wind turbine

THE news this week that a female  bearded vulture had died after flying into a turbine is a reminder of the threat posed to birds by windfarms.

The bird perished in Maestrazgo which is in Spain's Aragon region.

Its carcasse was traced via a GPS tracking transmitter that had been attached to her body.

A post-mortem revealed the cause of death to be  "severe polytrauma".

The Vulture Conservation Foundation, which has been reintroducing the species in Spain and France, states:  "The loss has brought to light the severe impact of poorly planned windfarm developments on wildlife in Spain.

"There are a lot of programmes working to restore wild populations of threatened bird species in Europe, including several for the bearded vulture, and such losses jeopardise the efforts invested by European and national institutions.

"Windfarms, while contributing to renewable energy production, have become a significant threat to bird populations. 

"The uncontrolled spread of wind farms in Spain, especially in areas with high densities of large soaring birds, such as griffon vultures, golden eagles and Bonelli’s eagles, transforms high-quality habitats into areas incompatible with their survival."

The report continues: "Last year alone, 2,254 birds and bats - including numerous individuals of  endangered species - were found dead under wind turbines in Spain

"These numbers represent a fraction of the reality since most bird mortality cases usually go undetected.

"The need for stricter regulations and more effective mitigation measures is urgent."

Elsewhere in Europe, ospreys and other raptors have been found dead under wind turbines in Scotland, white-tailed eagles have perished in Scandinavia and two bearded vulture succumbed to collision with  turbine in different parts of The Netherlands.

On a positive note, the VCF reported earlier this week that four bearded vultures seem to be faring well having been released as part of a reintroduction  project  centred on Grands Causses in southern France.

This  brings the number of vultures released in this part of Europe to 40 since the launch of the reintroduction programme in 2012. 

The birds are  monitored to ensure their good health, their adaptation to the release site and food availability. 

Apparently it is a good sign when newly-released young birds achieve daily wing-beats higher than 50.

* Available as an ebook (price £2) via Kindle: 

A Fault to Nature: Birds, Migration and The Problem with Windfarms