Birds and Offshore Wind Energy - ENVB40730
This interdisciplinary course explores the ecological impacts of offshore wind energy infrastructure on marine/ coastal bird populations. Students will critically examine the interactions between wind turbines, habitat alteration, and bird behaviour, with a focus on species vulnerability, collision mortality, displacement, and population-level effects. The course integrates concepts from ecology, environmental science, conservation biology, and environmental policy. Students will review and evaluate peer-reviewed literature, environmental impact assessments, and case studies from around the world with a focus on Ireland.