Turbines, roads a danger to wildlife

NEW research shows that painting wind turbines purple could save birds’ lives.

Recently, an eagle was killed after being hit by a turbine blade, near Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, and with windfarms increasing in Ireland there is the likelihood of even more accidental deaths of threatened and rare bird species.

Most wind turbines are painted white or grey, but research carried out by doctorate students at Loughborough University in England found that these colours attract large amounts of insects which, in turn, lure birds to the blades of the turbine.

The research team placed coloured cards in a random sequence next to a 13-metre high, three-blade turbine in a field. They found that white and light grey drew more insects than any other colour, apart from yellow.

The students suggested purple as the best colour for not attracting insects, according to a report in Cage and Aviary Birds. All of which puts the spotlight on the huge amount of animal deaths due to man-made factors.

As well as wind turbines, collisions, such as flying into powerlines or being hit by trains, are also a serious risk to large birds of prey. In Germany, collisions with trains are one of the most significant causes of accidental death of white-tailed eagles.

In Scotland, at least two reintroduced white-tailed eagles have been hit by trains, while two reintroduced red kites, in Co Wicklow, have also been killed in this way.

Studies in Hungary have also shown that 40,000-170,000 birds are killed annually by electrocution, with 36% of the victims being birds of prey (raptors), including 42 Imperial eagles recovered dead between 2001 and 2009.

The cumulative effects of man-made mortality factors such as poisoning, collisions, electrocution and turbine strikes has serious long-term implications for raptor populations, especially eagles which have low reproductive rates.

However, in Hungary there is now an agreement to convert all dangerous powerlines to make them raptor-friendly by installing a plastic cover on the pylon crossarm. In Ireland, anyone travelling the roads can see that an enormous number of wild animals are run over, evidenced by dead foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, rats and birds to be seen along the kilometres. In some areas, signs are erected to warn of deer which can be deadly dangerous when they get onto roads.

The countless number of dogs and cats being killed is another question. At one time we used to be warned to watch out for ‘the (unexpected) cow around the bend’, but you rarely see cows on Irish roads anymore.

The extent of wildlife road deaths in Ireland has never been quantified and the website, Biology.ie, is currently carrying out an online survey with the support of the Department of the Environment. Recently, I’ve noticed a large number of dead badgers on the roads. As they move around at night and are quite dark in colour, badgers can be difficult for motorists to see.

Surveys have been carried out in some countries to determine exactly how many badgers die on the roads. In Britain, it is estimated the number is 45,000 each year. In the Netherlands, experts say about one-fifth of the badger population is killed on the roads.

In some countries, road designers have included wildlife crossings and walkways in their plans, but it could be some time before this practice becomes the norm in Ireland. Researchers at the Department of Ecology at the Autonomous University of Madrid have spent several years studying how various animal species use the wildlife walkways and other structures that enable them to cross highways.

According to the scientists, these crossings, which may be specifically designed for the purpose, or have mixed use (drains, subways and bridges,) reduce traffic accidents through collisions with animals.

In Australia, signs warning of animals crossing roads are commonplace. Kangaroos and wallabies are the most likely species to be involved in animal-related road accidents that result in human death or injury and vehicle damage in New South Wales (NSW) roads. A recent study has found more than 5,000 such accidents were recorded in NSW in a decade, resulting in more than 1,700 people being injured and 22 killed when drivers collided with, or tried to avoid animals. But the real toll is likely to be higher.

“Vehicle accidents related to the presence of an animal on a road are significantly under-reported. Often, drivers swerve to miss animals only to hit roadside obstacles, such as trees and poles or oncoming vehicles,” the researchers noted.

In America, 190 million vehicles take to the roads each day and they hit a million animals, it is reckoned. And that’s not including bugs and insects. How come nobody cares about the poor insects?