Abstract
We analysed the data of reported avian collisions with wind energy facilities in Germany between 1989 and end of 2008. Species, age and population density of collision victims, technical specifications of wind turbines as well as season, weather conditions, landscape and land use in the surrounding area were taken into account. The influences of these factors on the collision risk were analysed in analyses of variance and by means of multivariate statistics. In relation to their population size in Germany birds of prey such as white-tailed sea eagles and red kite can disproportionately often be found among collision victims. Large turbines with a larger rotor swept area cause higher collision risks than small ones, but the overall collision risk per megawatt generated power is decreasing with increasing turbine size. Landscape structures in the surrounding area as well as land use have a significant influence on the collision risk. Among others, wind turbines surrounded by arable fields were more frequently reported as locations of a collision than wind turbines surrounded by grassland.
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