Wind farms are often in the news for the wrong reasons – they kill soaring birds, and are particularly adept at killing raptors, despite the raptor’s legendary vision.

As an Endangered species, with a very small global population and low genetic diversity, Black Harriers require concerted protection from all anthropogenic impacts.

As more wind farms come online in South Africa, so more raptors and bats will interact with operational turbines. But how do birds behave around these farms?

Data from 22 operational wind farms in South Africa showed that an average of 4.6 fatalities occur per turbine per year.

Satellite-tracking of raptors and bats allows us to understand their foraging, breeding and migratory behaviour and to assist developers in placing turbines with sensitivity to vulnerable species.

Some collision-prone species require special survey techniques to understand where they breed and how they are affected by power lines.