There are many advantages of wind turbines and wind farms. They are important in providing green energy. However, there are also some disadvantages. One of these is that giant blades on turbines kill thousands of birds. Many birds accidentally fly into blades and die. Researchers have found solution. They say painting one blade black could help birds see rotating blades. This could cut bird strikes by up to 70 per cent. Researcher Dr Roel May said: " collision of birds...is one of main environmental concerns related to wind energy development." findings of research have been published in conservation journal "Ecology and Evolution".
Dr May and his team conducted research on how to reduce death rate of birds due to wind-turbine blades. They painted one blade of four different turbines black. data showed that over four years, turbines with one black blade saw reduction in bird deaths of over 71 per cent. Dr May said: "Few effective measures have been developed to reduce risk of collision." The RSPB, bird protection group, welcomed idea. It stressed the importance of wind farms needing to "take place in harmony with nature". It added: "Wind turbines are right technology when we find right places for them." It said wind farms should be put in places where there is little risk to wildlife.
