Work

Large-scale mapping of nocturnal bird migration to accelerate a nature-inclusive energy transition

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The energy transition intensifies spatial conflicts between energy infrastructure (EI) and migratory birds, fueling public resistance, litigation and permitting delays. These conflicts are often addressed only at the project level, after EI sites are chosen, leaving little room for proactive impact avoidance. We present a globally scalable method using existing weather radar infrastructure and open data to map nocturnal bird migration at high spatial resolution across large areas, demonstrating its application in the Netherlands. We find that around 50% of migration occurs at altitudes of EI. Contrary to assumed homogeneous distributions or discrete routes, our maps reveal that migration intensity varies over distances relevant for spatial planning. We demonstrate how such maps can inform selection of wind energy sites with considerable variation in migration and wind potential. Our method facilitates early-stage impact avoidance through strategic EI siting, targeted mitigation and faster permitting, offering a low-cost, scalable path toward a more nature-inclusive energy transition. • Lack of nocturnal bird migration data complicates energy infrastructure (EI) siting • Scalable radar-based method enables large-scale impact assessment for EI planning. • Half of nocturnal migration overlaps with EI collision heights in the Netherlands. • Spatial trade-offs emerge between migration intensity and wind power potential. • Maps support proactive avoidance and mitigation in renewable energy planning.

Source: Journal of Environmental Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127753