Birds vs. Blades?: Offshore Wind Power and the Race to Protect Seabirds

On a rainy March evening, three scientists climb aboard a small boat and head out onto the Chesapeake Bay. Their mission: to sneak up on seabirds sleeping on the water's surface, safely capture them, and bring them to shore so a team of veterinarians can implant high-tech tags. After surgery, the birds will be released, and the scientists will track their movements.What makes this research so important? Wind farms are coming to the Atlantic Ocean. These farms will be able to turn wind into much-needed clean, renewable energy. Yet the Atlantic coast is also a migration corridor for millions of birds that are an essential part of the ocean food chain. Find out how scientists are getting up close and personal with several bird species to answer a critical question: can we harvest clean wind energy without harming seabirds? Read more