Scientists studying duck movements

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Scientists studying duck movements

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Biologists are tracking the movements of sea ducks to determine wind effects.

21 February,2012 10:45 pm

The scientists with the state and the University of Rhode Island are studying how to minimize the impact of offshore wind farms on the birds.The university says satellite transmitters were implanted in the abdominal cavities of 26 female eiders in November and December. Scientists are monitoring the ducks daily movements and collecting data on their migratory patterns and breeding sites.Scott McWilliams, a professor of natural resources science at URI, says the goal is to identify hot spots of bird use. That information can then be factored in when officials are trying to decide where to locate wind farms.McWilliams says studies show one of the major effects of wind farms is to displace birds.