Abstract
The recent construction of wind-power plants in Japan has raised concerns about bird collisions, especially involving White-tailed Eagles, Haliaeetus albicilla, in Hokkaido, Japan. Although White-tailed Eagles are protected in Japan, no measures have been taken to prevent collisions. The major objectives of this report were (1) to examine trends and characteristics of White-tailed Eagle collisions with wind turbines based on an analysis of accident reports and some field investigations, and (2) to explore possible ecological and life history traits related to the collision of eagles with wind turbines. Twenty-seven White-tailed Eagle collisions occurred between Feb. 2004 and May 2011, in Hokkaido. Most of the fatalities involved immature White-tailed Eagles, including juveniles, and occurred from December to May, when both residents and winter migrant eagles are present in Hokkaido. This report emphasizes the need for measures to prevent collisions of White-tailed Eagles with wind turbines.
