Wind farms cause thousands of bats to die from trauma

by Amy Judd | August 26, 2008 at 02:37 pm

1331 views | 23 Recommendations | 37 comments

Wind turbines, although an excellent source of renewable energy for the environment, have their dark side as well.

The turning of their blades causes air pressure to change and this affects the bat's flying and can inflict fatal trauma.

A six-week study at two wind farms in the eastern United States recorded 1,764 and 2,900 bat fatalities. Another American project found that bat deaths outnumbered bird deaths in Montana by two to one. Though death rates in Europe are generally lower than this, extensive bat casualties have been reported in Britain.

Birds die when they are struck by turning blades, but bats use echolocation to evade this danger. However, they are at much higher risk than birds of barotrauma — a condition caused by sudden drops in air pressure. In May Natural England, a government agency responsible for wildlife protection, acknowledged increasing concern about the impact of wind farms on bat populations, and called for more research to ascertain the level of risk.

That seems to be a vast number of bat deaths, but I suppose you have to weigh that against the benefits of harnessing the wind for energy.

262

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 17:49 on August 26th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Some wind turbines in northern Europe have been equipped with ultra sounds and flashing Lights to scare birds and bats away from them.

PlanMyGreen

at 18:36 on August 26th, 2008

Does this seem to eliminate this problem, Paschen?

Paschen

at 19:03 on August 26th, 2008

Well, I am not sure, yet from what I read they do have some positive results.

There are many such Man made problem though, our High rises seem to be equally deadly for the Birds and Bats, causing them to be disoriented and in the migrating bird cases to mistake the light from the High rises for stars and flight into them causing death. There was a CBC documentary on the subject about two years ago and it seems that in Canada Toronto is the worth affected due the fact it is in the migratory pass of most birds in eastern Canada. They where thinking of putting glass on the building that would not let the light through at night and would not reflect the Sun in the day time so the Birds and Bats would be safe, however that never happened, since money is involved and who cares about dead birds if saving them would mean to raise the prise of rent of construction due to special glass. Further we would no longer have the shiny city to admire. We Humans have become very self fish.

PlanMyGreen

at 19:20 on August 26th, 2008

I definitely agree with your last comment. A selfish outlook is probably the worst flaw of a market system. The incentive has to be there to think properly about what was are affecting. Though, provided an incentive, great things can be accomplished. This is a worldwide problem, not just an "Evil" America problem, where the blame often ends up.

Thanks for the follow up Paschen.

Paschen

at 19:28 on August 26th, 2008

You are absolutely correct here PlanMayGreen, it is a global problem and maybe even a social problem or lack of Social and environmental consciousness. Our ancestor some 2000 years ago had a much better concept and value system then we do today.

PlanMyGreen

at 19:44 on August 26th, 2008

That they did. Of course, it is hard to tell what is values in history and what is just being forced to live a certain way. The one thing they didn't have was the technology and potential we have today. If we can come up with more ideas like those you listed above for preventing animals deaths with our green technologies, we may just have a chance.

PlanMyGreen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 21:18 on August 26th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Relatively, wind turbines effect the wildlife much less than paving over habitats and destroying the air quality. Our efforts should continuously focus on minimizing the effect on the environment which in it's course may shift problems to new areas but still provide a greater benefit to the earth.

Resonant Earth

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:23 on August 26th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Resonant Earth

at 19:24 on August 26th, 2008

This is really interesting and a good science lesson for the kids, thanks

LilyBillie23

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:48 on August 26th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

rpshen

at 05:33 on August 27th, 2008

so sad. why does it seem that every technological advance made by humans always has some negative effect on other species?

Crashbandi

at 06:32 on August 27th, 2008

I shot this picture in the Budapest Zoo.

Crashbandi has contributed a photo to this story.

Barbara McPherson

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:06 on August 27th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Talk about unintended consequences!

Lone Wolf23

at 09:06 on August 27th, 2008

This beautiful thing should be free and not in the cage!

Lone Wolf23 has contributed a photo to this story.

PeetvanSchalkwyk

at 09:22 on August 27th, 2008

This picture of a fruit bat was taken at night in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. It was high up in a tree.

Andreas Paasch

at 09:35 on August 27th, 2008

This is an Egyptian fruit bat with a baby. I took this pic from my terrace. They usually come in the early night to eat some fresh fruits, like mangos, so it's easy to wait for them ;)
But to get one with a baby is a real rare chance.

Andreas Paasch has contributed a photo to this story.

giambrox

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:02 on August 27th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Hotfield

at 10:40 on August 27th, 2008

This young bat couldn't find his way back to the nest. We put him in a towl and brought him to a special batnesthouse we put a year ago in our garden. But he was to tired to find his way in this nest too. Than we found some holes between some brickstones from our house. The little bat was so relieved! Finaly he could find some rest. Later that night he wasn't there anymore, we think he find the right way to his home!

Hotfield has contributed a photo to this story.

Belly Sugar

at 11:52 on August 27th, 2008

This photo was taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I have always loved bats and I thought these were particularly beautiful.

Belly Sugar has contributed a photo to this story.

Tales Gremen

at 12:17 on August 27th, 2008

Tales Gremen has contributed a photo to this story.

Christina 123

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:34 on August 27th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. We must save the bat! Here in England they are an endangered species (pipis pipistrellis).

jimenitalinda

at 12:34 on August 27th, 2008

Photo taken at Temaiken Zoo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2007

jimenitalinda has contributed a photo to this story.

country_cinderella

at 14:49 on August 27th, 2008

I do not know what kind of bat this is, but it was so interesting looking I had to take a picture of it before they released it out of the building. He apparently had come into the 23rd floor of a hotel under construction, sometime during the night (probably feasting on all the bugs flying around the temporary lighting). By morning he was found hanging from a ceiling stud, taking a nap.

As for the story about the bats and the wind turbines, it is very interesting and I wonder if the study was only done on typical horizontal axis turbines or if there were vertical axis turbines also in the study. I am curious because I would like to someday put a vertical axis turbine on the roof of my home if the economics of it would work out.

country_cinderella has contributed a photo to this story.

JMKearns

at 15:32 on August 27th, 2008

This poor guy snuck into our house probably through the chimney. We got him outside and he took a while to become oriented enough to fly off. In the meantime I snapped a few shots.

JMKearns has contributed a photo to this story.

hhrahman77

at 23:26 on August 27th, 2008

This innocent bats natural habitat is distroyed and he is taking a refuge in a man made ruins....

hhrahman77 has contributed a photo to this story.

duckspeaks

at 02:07 on August 28th, 2008

Bat in Royal Botanic Garden, NSW.

duckspeaks has contributed a photo to this story.

Janneke Hikspoors

at 02:08 on August 28th, 2008

I made this picture in de Antwerp Zoo (belgium). He was just hanging around in front of the window. People flashing with their camera's to take a picture of him.

Janneke Hikspoors has contributed a photo to this story.

Shane-Carrie

at 04:37 on August 28th, 2008

Photo taken at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida. December 2007.

Shane-Carrie has contributed a photo to this story.

keakins2

at 18:51 on August 28th, 2008

I was able to get this photo via the Bat Caves at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska. This is a place that allows every visitor the chance to get very close to the bats. The only thing between you and them is a thin net. In this part of the zoo are a couple of different bat caves allowing for close viewing of a couple of different species.

Photo Taken by: Ken Eakins

keakins2 has contributed a photo to this story.