Protected areas, Key Biodiversity Areas and other recognised sites for birds are identified using surveys and evidence of important breeding, feeding, roosting and staging habitats. However, these assessments do not always capture how birds move between sites, leaving important airspace largely unconsidered.
This is particularly significant during migration, when coastlines, straits, ridgelines and mountain passes can funnel large numbers of migratory soaring birds through narrow bottlenecks that may overlap with wind energy development. Satellite and GPS tracking can help fill this gap by revealing migration routes, bottlenecks, staging areas, sea crossings and seasonal movement patterns. This evidence is especially valuable before sites are fixed, helping avoid higher-risk areas and focus survey investment on uncertainties that could affect feasibility, permitting and finance.
