Response of seabirds to an offshore wind turbine in Choshi, east-central Japan

Abstract

A wind farm was constructed 3.1km offshore of Choshi city, in east-central Japan, The facility was established as a test-case, to allow studies of various related factors, including mechanical, meteorological, and environmental. To assess the risk of offshore wind turbines to seabirds, we studied the tracks of seabirds by using a marine radar in 2013 and 2016. The radar showed that the tracks of seabirds were concentrated in areas more distant from the wind turbine, and were scarcer near the turbine. The seabird tracks that did pass nearby the turbine appeared to follow routes to avoid the turbine. These observations suggest that seabirds altered flight patterns to detour around the wind turbine. On the other hand, seabirds flew significantly closer to the wind turbine in 2016 than in 2013, which may show habituation. Further study is needed to clarify the risk of offshore wind farms on seabirds, and to illustrate in detail the behavioral reactions of seabirds.