Voorkomen van vleermuizen (KB-14-005-053)

Several studies in Europe, North America and South Africa showed that onshore wind turbines can cause high numbers of fatalities amongst bats. Recent research shows that bats also occur frequently in the Dutch offshore wind farms. Bat fatalities therefore may also occur at sea.

Bats foraging around wind turbines have (probably) a higher fatality risk compared to bats who are just passing by. Characteristics of echolocation calls which are used when foraging differ from so-called transit calls. The sound characteristics therefore are indicative of the behaviour of a bat.

The goal of this project is to establish the relationship between the sound characteristics, behaviour and the fatality risk.