Umeå University's logo

This study assesses the viability of temporarily halting wind turbine operations as amitigation measure to protect bird populations during migration periods. Conducted in thenorthern Baltic, it examines the migration patterns, timings, and altitudes of various birdspecies, aiming to identify the most critical times for implementing turbine stoppages.Utilizing statistical analyses, including F-tests to evaluate migration intensity differencesamong species, the report proposes that strategic, short-duration shutdowns cansignificantly reduce avian collisions. The research emphasizes the importance of species-specific approaches and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of various bird collision reductiontechniques, such as blade painting and thermal detection for dynamic shutdowns. Thisapproach seeks to balance the ecological impact of wind turbines with the necessity forrenewable energy development, offering practical solutions that could enhance biodiversityconservation efforts without substantially compromising energy production efficiency.