Purple wind farms could save kamikaze birds

A study reveals that hundreds of birds are being killed by wind farms every year

Scientists have suggested painting wind turbines purple to save wildlife. It may not be the best colour for a navigator to see on a dark night at sea, but it would, they say, save hundreds of birds and bats from being killed by the spinning blades.

Most wind turbines today are white or pale grey, but it seems that those colours attract insects by the thousand, and swarms of insects make a tempting meal. As a result hundreds of birds and bats are killed by turbine blades as they flock in for a quick meal.

Experiments were carried out by Loughborough University to determine which colour was least likely to attract insects. Purple carried the day, so easy-to-see white wind farms may become just a fond memory.

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