The whooper swan satellite tracking project is supported by COWRIE (Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into The Environment). This project encompasses both education and scientific research into the migration routes of Icelandic breeding whooper swans. It will highlight the flight paths of these birds, as well as the altitude and speed at which they fly, with the aim of improving our understanding on the migration routes of whooper swans and their potential for interactions with offshore wind farms.
COWRIE is a registered charity set up to advance and improve understanding and knowledge of the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind farm development in UK waters. Any type of development has the potential to impact on the environment; renewable energy is no different. Although it is a clean source of energy that does not produce carbon emissions it is recognised that offshore wind farms may have both positive and negative impacts on the environment for which research is required.
Through this research project, WWT and COWRIE aim to obtain vital information on the potential risk to whooper swans from offshore wind farms. It is true that we can all benefit from the positive aspects of renewable energy; however, we need to make sure that both the environment and those that depend on it are not being harmed.
COWRIE Ltd is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from The Crown Estate, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA). It is chaired by an independent member and relies on advice from several specialist working groups, comprising representatives of government conservation agencies, non-governmental conservation bodies and the wind industry, in addition to the above organisations. See www.offshorewindfarms.co.uk/Pages/COWRIE for more information.
