Impact of Wind Energy Turbines on Bat and Bird Mortality

In this Mitacs-funded project, a postdoctoral researcher will work with partners at Trent University and Bird Studies Canada to expand our understanding of how wind turbines affect birds and bats. We will leverage an extremely detailed database on wind-wildlife interactions that is managed by Bird Canada. Using these data, we will investigate whether bat and bird mortality are affected by turbine characteristics including height and the area swept by the turbine blades. This work directly supports Birds Canada’s mandate to conservation wild bird populations, and our results will contribute to developing renewable energy without compromising biodiversity.

Faculty Supervisor:

Christina Davy

Student:

Alexandra Anderson

Partner:

Bird Studies Canada

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Fisheries and wildlife

University:

Trent University