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Stripy wind turbines could prevent fatal seabird collisions

Based on principles of bird vision, researchers propose that seabird deaths at offshore wind farms would be reduced by painting black and white stripes on blades

By Jason Arunn Murugesu

28 February 2023

Wind turbine with black and white stripes

Illustration of the proposed wind turbine design to reduce seabird collisions

Graham Martin and Alex Banks

The number of seabirds killed by colliding with wind turbines could be reduced by painting black and white stripes on the blades and poles, say researchers.

Graham Martin at the University of Birmingham, UK, and Alex Banks at Natural England, a public body that has a say in planning applications for offshore wind farms in England, wanted to devise a pattern that could be easily painted on to offshore turbines to reduce their impact on bird life.

Between 140,000 and …

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