Impact of wind turbines on birds in the coastal area of Yancheng, Jiangsu, China

doi:10.17520/biods.2022173

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: In recent years, wind power generation has been developing rapidly in China, and studies have found that wind power projects have varifying degrees of impact on bird diversity. However, previous studies primarily adopted traditional survey methods of birds in the region, without conducting long-term systematic monitoring of birds killed by wind turbines. Little is known about the possible causes of wind turbine mortality. Thus, it is difficult to propose targeted mitigation measures based on the actual causes of birds being killed by wind turbines.

Methods: In this paper, our study area was the wind turbines factory in the coastal area of Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. The carcass search method was applied to investigate the wind turbine mortality of birds in the study area. We conducted a total of 22 consecutive surveys from October 2020 to September 2021 to explored bird mortality from wind turbines.

Results: (1) There were 12 species in 8 orders and 10 families that were found dead under the wind turbines. The dead birds were primarily native birds or species that breed in the region, accounting for 66.7% of the dead bird species. (2) A total of 41 dead birds were found under the wind turbines. The most common were ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) at 19 individuals, which were generally found in farmland or agricultural protection forest. Dead night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) and egrets (Egretta garzetta) were also common, with 6 and 5 individuals found, respectively, and were generally found in near fishponds. (3) Based on the injuries of the dead birds, it was concluded that the bases of the wind turbines caused more collisions resulting in death than the fan blades.

Conclusion: According to our study, we proposed the following suggestions to mitigate the impact of wind turbines on birds. These suggestions include continuous bird monitoring, controlling habitats under wind turbines, and strengthening the research and development of bird-related repellent technology and equipment. We hope this study can provide a reference for the coordinated development between wind power and ecological environmental protection in China.

Key words: wind turbines, bird collisions, causes of mortality, monitoring, mitigating measures

Libo Zhang, Chunrong Li, Guoyuan Chen, Fangzheng Liu, Jianwu Luo, Yue Zhou, Chunting Feng, Wei Wang. Impact of wind turbines on birds in the coastal area of Yancheng, Jiangsu, China[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2022, 30(11): 22173.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2022173

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2022/V30/I11/22173

Figures/Tables 4

References 26

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物种名 Species name	居留类型 Resident type					中国红色名录濒危等级 China red list endangerment level	国家重点保护物种等级 Level of key protected wild animals in China	死亡鸟类数量 Number of dead birds
物种名 Species name	R	S	W	P	*	中国红色名录濒危等级 China red list endangerment level	国家重点保护物种等级 Level of key protected wild animals in China	死亡鸟类数量 Number of dead birds
白腹鸫 Turdus pallidus			+	+		LC	-	1
白鹭 Egretta garzetta		+	+	+	+	LC	-	5
鹗 Pandion haliaetus			+	+		NT	Ⅱ	1
灰背鸫 Turdus hortulorum				+		LC	-	1
喜鹊 Pica pica	+				+	LC	-	1
蓝翡翠 Halcyon pileata				+		LC	-	1
珠颈斑鸠 Streptopelia chinensis	+				+	LC	-	3
棕背伯劳 Lanius schach	+				+	LC	-	1
夜鹭 Nycticorax nycticorax		+	+		+	LC	-	6
环颈雉 Phasianus colchicus	+				+	LC	-	19
红角鸮 Otus sunia	+				+	LC	Ⅱ	1
黑水鸡 Gallinula chloropus		+			+	LC	-	1

物种名 Species name	居留类型 Resident type					中国红色名录濒危等级 China red list endangerment level	国家重点保护物种等级 Level of key protected wild animals in China	死亡鸟类数量 Number of dead birds
物种名 Species name	R	S	W	P	*	中国红色名录濒危等级 China red list endangerment level	国家重点保护物种等级 Level of key protected wild animals in China	死亡鸟类数量 Number of dead birds
白腹鸫 Turdus pallidus			+	+		LC	-	1
白鹭 Egretta garzetta		+	+	+	+	LC	-	5
鹗 Pandion haliaetus			+	+		NT	Ⅱ	1
灰背鸫 Turdus hortulorum				+		LC	-	1
喜鹊 Pica pica	+				+	LC	-	1
蓝翡翠 Halcyon pileata				+		LC	-	1
珠颈斑鸠 Streptopelia chinensis	+				+	LC	-	3
棕背伯劳 Lanius schach	+				+	LC	-	1
夜鹭 Nycticorax nycticorax		+	+		+	LC	-	6
环颈雉 Phasianus colchicus	+				+	LC	-	19
红角鸮 Otus sunia	+				+	LC	Ⅱ	1
黑水鸡 Gallinula chloropus		+			+	LC	-	1

生境类型 Habitat type	风机点位数量 Number of wind turbine sites	死亡鸟类数量 Number of dead birds	每个风机点位平均死亡鸟类数量 Average number of dead birds per wind turbine site
农田 Farmland	20	19	0.95
农田防护林 Farmland shelterbelt	5	7	1.4
鱼塘 Fishpond	15	15	1
滩涂 Mudflat	10	0	0

生境类型 Habitat type	风机点位数量 Number of wind turbine sites	死亡鸟类数量 Number of dead birds	每个风机点位平均死亡鸟类数量 Average number of dead birds per wind turbine site
农田 Farmland	20	19	0.95
农田防护林 Farmland shelterbelt	5	7	1.4
鱼塘 Fishpond	15	15	1
滩涂 Mudflat	10	0	0