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Raptors Evade Wind Turbines in Kenya Study
2 Oct
Summary
- All four raptor species showed avoidance of wind turbines.
- Augur Buzzards spent significant time at rotor height.
- Avoidance rates varied significantly between species.
Researchers tracked raptor movements at Kenya's Kipeto wind farm between 2019 and 2024, revealing varied avoidance behaviors. All four studied species—Augur Buzzards, African Hawk Eagles, Martial Eagles, and Rüppell's Vultures—demonstrated avoidance of turbines in both horizontal and vertical planes.
Augur Buzzards and African Hawk Eagles, which breed at the farm, spent more time at lower altitudes, increasing their exposure. While African Hawk Eagles achieved high avoidance rates, Augur Buzzards showed lower avoidance, particularly at lower altitudes, raising concerns about their vulnerability.
Rüppell's Vultures, which range more widely, spent minimal time near turbines. However, all species exhibited stronger avoidance when flying within the critical rotor height range, suggesting this is a key factor in collision risk.
The study emphasizes that a one-size-fits-all approach to mitigating turbine collisions is ineffective. Recommendations include avoiding turbine construction near nests and implementing targeted interventions for vulnerable species, such as shut-down on demand systems currently in use at Kipeto.
