Paint It Black?

 

Each UK offshore wind turbine currently kills between 4 and 18 birds per annum. The government's Department of Environment , Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has organised a 4 year trial, to determine whether painting turbines black, will reduce bird deaths. Predicting the potential outcome is difficult. Presumably, the black paint will make turbines less visually obvious. It's uncertain whether birds are  attracted or repelled by these structures  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/27/offshore-windfarms-to-be-painted-black-to-protect-birds). The DEFRA study is clearly needed. There must, however,  be other possibilities e.g. warning sounds or flashing lights. These could be simultaneously trialled to see if they help birds avoid sea-based wind turbines.