Vattenfall and Spoor study seabird avoidance at Aberdeen offshore wind farm

The research analysed video footage from 19 months of monitoring of one turbine between June 2023 and December 2024 and recorded 2007 bird flight paths near the structure, Vattenfall said. Spoor added that five flight paths were initially identified as potential collisions but none were confirmed as actual impacts after review. The monitoring equipment captured around 95% of daylight hours during the study period. The findings suggest the wind farm is having a smaller impact on seabirds than originally predicted before it was built in 2018. The results also align with previous radar, camera and GPS tracking work at the site showing seabirds typically avoid turbines at distances of 100m to 200m. “This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing how seabirds can avoid offshore wind turbines,” said Eva Julius-Philipp, director of environment and sustainability at business area wind at Vattenfall. “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.”