The Guardian has published an article on the effects of windfarms on birds that despite a slightly unfortunate headline presents an excellent overview of recently published research by the RSPB (see the full research paper.)
The study focused on upland windfarm sites in Scotland and the North of England, and shows that windfarms can have some quite different impacts on some of the species that occur on these sites, particularly during construction. For example, the study found that populations of skylark and stonechat increased but populations of snipe and curlew reduced during windfarm construction. It was also found that, while populations of some species recovered after construction, others – particularly Curlew - did not seem to recover during the study period.
The study provides further evidence to highlight the importance of siting windfarms away from sites with sensitive species. RSPB will continue to work with the windfarm industry and the UK authorities to ensure that renewable energy, including windfarms, can be developed without harming the UK’s wildlife. Our experience shows that, through careful siting and design and good construction practice, windfarms can be developed without causing significant conservation concerns.