Stereo-optic High Definition Imaging: A Technology to Understand Bird Avoidance of Wind Turbines

Monitoring bird interactions with wind turbines is a challenge in any environment. New technologies are needed to document bird behavior around turbines at a variety of spatial scales, particularly those that can identify... [ view full abstract ]

Monitoring bird interactions with wind turbines is a challenge in any environment. New technologies are needed to document bird behavior around turbines at a variety of spatial scales, particularly those that can identify species of conservation concern, quantify movement patterns accurately, and consistently monitor turbines in a variety of environmental conditions. As Bald and Golden Eagles are significant issues for wind farm permitting in terrestrial environments, we focused our development efforts on these species to improve the opportunities for mitigating collision risk and understanding the mechanism of turbine avoidance. To address this need, a collaboration between Biodiversity Research Institute, HiDef Aerial Surveying, Sun Edison, and the University of Maine has been developing a stereo-optic high definition camera system designed to detect animals then track their movements around wind turbines. Using motion segmentation, this system can automatically detect moving objects and mask aspects of the image that are not moving allowing focus on objects of interest. The system employs two offset ultra-high definition cameras to create a stereo-optic view of the area surrounding the turbine for estimating the position of animals in each frame they are observed. To assess the camera system’s ability to detect and track eagles in 3-D, the system was deployed at an operational wind farm as well as sites with high eagle activity in Maine. Here, we report on the results of the efficacy of the system in detecting eagles and other birds around turbines and other study sites. Eagles were consistently detected by the system, which allowed for position estimation. Further developments to the camera system should provide enhanced capabilities for filtering objects, in turn improving eagle detection. Understanding eagle (and other protected species) movements around wind farms will be important for reducing permitting uncertainty for developers and reducing the adverse effects of wind energy development to birds.