Psychology

The survey was conducted on grassland passerines in summer of year 1995 on the Buffalo Ridge Wind Resource Area that is located in south-west of Minnesota (Leddy et al., 1999). Its aim was to examine the behavioral effect of wind turbines present there on population sizes of highland nesting bird species in Conservative Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands.

The behavior of bird species was examined along forty meter transects that were adjacent to wind turbine strings within three CRP areas and in three CRP areas, where there were no turbines. CRP grasslands of 180-m with no turbines turned out to have a larger population of grassland birds than the 80-meter land with a certain number of turbines. According to calculations, the numbers were 261.0-312.5  males100  ha and 58.2-128.0  malesl00  ha respectively (Leddy et al., 1999).

The human intervention, the turbine loud noise and the physical movement of turbines, when running, were said to be a disturbing factor for these nesting birds. It was recommended that wind turbines should be established within cropland habitats, as these areas hold less population of grassland passerines than those determined in CRP grasslands (Leddy et al., 1999).

Though wind turbines do not increase the death rate in the direct way, the functioning of wind turbines can indirectly have a negative impact on the population of local grassland bird species. The wind turbines also decrease the size of grassland habitats that nature has given to breeding birds (Leddy et al., 1999).

The comparison of the destiny and richness of bird populations on these two territories showed that the number of birds on the grassland of 180-m without turbines was almost same as that observed in CRP land where there were no turbines.  Another study completed in the Netherlands also has shown that turbines prevent waterfowl and wading bird species from using any other appropriate habitat (Winkelman 1990, Pedersen and Poulsen 1991). The mechanism that stopped bird species from using grasslands near turbines were not mentioned.

Proposal for a New Study
 Wind turbines, though a good resource of cost effective energy production, are a nuisance for nesting birds. Our new study will find a new solution. The basic study proposed the placement of wind turbines in the cropland region instead of CRP grasslands. Cropland will support lower densities of grassland passerines (Leddy et al., 1999).

Little research has been carried out to study the habitat impact of wind turbines on the nesting birds. Most researches deal with short and long-term disturbances, but, occasionally, there are studies on the indirect impact. We must consider the post-construction impact on the habitat of birds. Wind turbines must not produce much noise.
Independent and dependent variables
Independent variables include the following a field, an area, a cropland.
Dependent variables include the following the number of birds, the number of turbines, the noise of turbines.
Design of the study

The design of the study proposes the usage of alternative sources of energy in places, where this is possible, as well as the use of low noise turbines. On certain croplands new turbines will be placed and in some places, where alternative sources of energy are used, it will be checked, if the number of birds reduces or not as compared to croplands with old turbines.
Findings of the basic study that can be applied to the social problem
The basic study suggests placing turbines in cropland region. However, in addition to this, we suggest a more suitable technology to be applied, where it is possible, such as the use of solar energy or new turbines with lower noise levels to lessen the interference with the birds habitat.

Potential ethical issues
Wind turbines, though not the cause of direct killing and mortality, they may affect the population of local grassland birds and decrease the habitat and breeding birds in the grassland area. Research has shown that turbines have caused the reduction of the habitat of waterfowls, wading birds and bats in the areas they live, which would have been otherwise a good habitat to develop. The most probable mechanism of preventing birds from inhabiting certain territories are the noise, movement of turbines, human noise, which disturb their environment.

Only recently, the American government passed a bill in Copenhagen regarding the protection of the endangered wildlife species, the harm the overall environment is facing and global warming issues. The considerable threat to the wildlife around the globe is never-ending, despite the countless efforts to preserve it to the maximum.