The issue

 

wind turbines over the water with a bird in flight

Wind energy captured by turbines is a renewable, low-carbon energy source. Over the past several decades, it has been used with increasing frequency to meet our rising need for energy while at the same time decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. But there is an environmental cost; it poses a threat to wildlife. In 2005, research reported that across the United States between 10,000 and 40,000 birds died annually in collisions with wind turbines. Over the past 15 years, the number of wind energy farms has increased dramatically and the number of birds that fall victim is estimated to be at least ten times greater than earlier reported. Birds of prey, especially bald and golden eagles, may be particularly susceptible. 

Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protect Act, there is accountability to reduce the risk to eagles. A variety of deterrents have been used to keep eagles away from wind farms but with limited success. Both visual and auditory (hearing) deterrents have been tested. In the case of auditory systems, little foundational science was available to guide the process. In addition, it has been difficult to determine the behavioral responses of eagles to sound-based deterrents due to inadequate monitoring systems. 

What The Raptor Center is doing

 

Bald eagle in flight

Supported by a grant from the Department of Energy, The Raptor Center (TRC) joined forces with the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and the Department of Speech-Language-hearing Sciences at the University of Minnesota. The goal was to determine the auditory ranges of bald and golden eagles to gather basic science that could then inform future studies on the potential for auditory systems to deter eagles from wind energy farms. We successfully mapped the hearing ranges of bald and golden eagles, as well as red-tailed hawks, which are easier subjects to work with and have similar hearing ranges to eagles. We have now submitted grants to fund phase two of the project, which involves behavioral studies to observe how eagles respond to different frequencies, intensities, and patterns of sound in their hearing range.

 

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