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Wind turbines could pose threat to geese
Credit: The Press and Journal | 15 August 2012 ~~
Most wild geese foraging for grass in Caithness fly at a height that could put them at risk of colliding with wind turbines, according to a new report.
Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned a study of geese and whooper swans that flock to lochs in the county.
It said the research was prompted by an increase in applications for small to medium-sized wind projects.
Almost all the geese were recorded flying in the “collision risk zone” – deemed to be 65.7ft to 492ft.
Whooper swans were also recorded flying at a level that would put them at risk of collision with turbine blades, but a third of the birds flew below 65.7ft.
Researchers counted 1,576 greylag and 6,594 pink-footed geese along with 39 whooper swans.
The report said the agricultural landscape of north Caithness was “heavily used” for foraging by geese and swans from the Caithness Lochs Special Protection Areas.
The report’s authors added: “The current and anticipated numbers of small-scale turbine applications has the potential to present increasing risks to these species from collision, disturbance and displacement.”
The study updated 10year-old information on geese and swans in the Caithness Lochs SPA.
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| Tag: Wildlife |
