Sensitivity of birds to wind turbine noise: a pilot study in black-tailed gulls

Abstract

Wind power is attracting attention as a major renewable energy source, but the noise generated by wind turbines may affect wild birds. To obtain basic information on the relationship between wind turbine noise and birds, we evaluated the hearing sensitivity of a coastal bird, the black-tailed gull Larus crassirostris, to noise. Four wild gulls were trapped and their electrocardiograms were measured in the laboratory while they were exposed to 60 dB of wind turbine noise from a loudspeaker. Significant increases in heart rate were recorded in response to noise in one of the four individuals. This result suggests that at least some black-tailed gulls can detect wind turbine noise.