SUMMARY OF WIND TURBINE IMPACTS ON BATS - ASSESSMENT OF A CONFLICT

Abstract

The different effects of wind turbines on bat behaviour are discussed here and collisions during bat migrations play an important part. Very little is known about the impacts of turbine ultrasounds. A change in space use due to shifting and loss of summer foraging habitats has been proved for the Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), but in the same time the Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) was apparently not affected. For wind farm projects it will be necessary in the future, as a matter of principle and as a precaution, to take into consideration the interests of bat conservation.