A new study has found that seabirds are successfully avoiding offshore wind turbines at Vattenfall’s Aberdeen wind farm, with no collisions recorded during 19 months of monitoring.
The research was carried out by Vattenfall and biodiversity technology company Spoor using AI powered bird monitoring supported by manual analysis.
Between June 2023 and December 2024, cameras installed on one turbine captured around 95% of daylight hours. Researchers recorded 2,007 bird flight paths passing close to the turbine during the monitoring period.
Five flight paths were initially flagged as potential collisions. However, further analysis found that none involved an actual impact with turbine blades.
In several cases, birds were flying well clear of the turbine or displaying natural behaviours such as diving for food. The results suggest the wind farm is affecting seabirds far less than originally predicted before construction in 2018.
Previous radar, camera and GPS tracking studies at the site have also shown that seabirds typically avoid turbines at distances of 100–200 metres. This avoidance behaviour is considered a key factor in keeping collision risks low.
Dr Eva Julius-Philipp said: “This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing how seabirds can avoid offshore wind turbines.”
She added: “The findings from Aberdeen Bay demonstrate that modern offshore wind farms can be operated with low risk to wildlife, especially when supported by robust, real-world monitoring.”
The findings could help developers and regulators improve environmental assessments and support future offshore wind projects.
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