Bats and Offshore Wind: Bat Week 2024

You know what’s spookier than bats? Bat collisions!

October 24th - 31st celebrates international bat week - dedicated to raising awareness about these nocturnal animals!

Bats are found almost all over the world, except for the extreme polar regions and some Oceanic islands. With over 1,400 different species, bats provide vital ecosystem services including plant pollination and insect consumption.

The wing of a bat is similar to that of a human hand! They have a membrane that stretches over their fingers.

Some migratory bat species, like the hoary bat, can travel hundreds of miles. On their journey they can fly across land as well as offshore habitats, and can encounter offshore wind farms. Long-distance migrants like the silver-haired bat are especially at risk of collisions with wind turbines.

Offshore wind development has grown rapidly, especially in the mid-Atlantic region. Given the need for alternative energy solutions, BRI researchers are leading efforts to better understand how offshore wind development impacts these vulnerable species and reduce mortality.

While much of what we know about bats and wind energy comes from the terrestrial wind industry, CROWE works to bridge this research gap. A paper published earlier this year led by researchers at BRI presents a framework to understanding the potential effects of offshore wind energy development on birds and bats.

Bats face several threats from offshore wind development, collision mortality, behavioral responses, and habitat-mediated effects.?

Studying bats is often done through documenting their echolocation calls, using acoustic monitoring tools. However, when studying bats in offshore environments, using a combination of visual surveys, tracking devices, and acoustic detectors are used to determine species composition, assess behavioral changes, and detect collisions.

Relatedly, species respond and interact differently with wind turbines. Some bats may perceive wind turbines as a resource for roosting, foraging or mating. However, bat activity around offshore wind turbines is lower compared to terrestrial wind settings.?

As offshore wind development continues to expand in the U.S., there is an increasing need to understand the interactions between bats and wind turbines. Bat populations are declining across the world, and they face threats from habitat destruction and climate change.?

CROWE is leading research efforts to minimize bat fatalities and enhance our overall knowledge of wildlife and ecosystems that may be affected by the development of offshore wind energy.