Inngår i 201779: Pre- and post-construction studies of conflicts between birds and wind turbines in coastal Norway

The main focus of this project is to obtain biological and ecological knowledge on wind turbines and bird behaviour, mortality and mitigating measures, and tool development to facilitate data collection. The project results will give significant, increase d knowledge about how wind power can affect birds adversely in coastal areas of Norway. It will particularly contribute to a better planning process, and give a tool for the pre-construction period to identify areas with high conflict potential. Potential ly, it may also provide information usable for post-construction mitigating measures concerning problem-turbines. A delay with respect to localisation and construction of wind turbines due to possible environmental conflicts could be an economic problem f or the energy industry but also for the society as such. An efficient process in identifying "yes" or "no" wind power plant areas could have a huge economic impact. With access to wind turbines at Smøla, owned by one of the partners (Statkraft) for in sit u experiments, we will be able to test mitigating measures that may be developed as alternatives to removing "problem" wind turbines. The study will incorporate one PhD-student, with a focus on the development of statistical models for estimating the numb er of bird-turbine collisions at onshore wind farms, and the development of theoretical population models for assessing the impact from turbine-related mortality on avian population dynamics. Radar methods of recording the direction and numbers of birds m igrating through the wind turbine area will be employed. Test and development of deterrent measures will focus on visual and audial stimuli, or a combination of both. The project is constructed around three functional groups: regulatory (environmental and energy), research (ecological and technological) and industrial (the wind energy industry).