There are many advantages of wind farms. One is they provide green energy. However, there are also disadvantages. One is the blades on turbines kill thousands of birds, which accidentally fly into the blades. Researchers have found an answer. Painting one blade black could help birds see the blades. This could cut bird strikes by 70 per cent. A researcher said: "The collision of birds...is one of the main environmental concerns related to wind energy development." The research has been published in the conservation journal "Ecology and Evolution".
Researchers looked at how to reduce the number of birds dying in wind-turbine blades. They painted one blade of four different turbines black. Over four years, the turbines with one black blade saw a huge reduction in bird deaths. A researcher said: "Few effective measures have been developed to reduce the risk of collision." A bird protection group welcomed the idea. It said wind farms needed to be "in harmony with nature". It added: "Wind turbines are the right technology when we find the right places for them." It said wind farms should cause little risk to wildlife.