We live in a time when technology advances faster than we can even say the word. There always seems to be something new to explore, something with the potential to make a greater impact on the animals that share our world. As new technologies emerge, they often open the door to new fields of study aimed at making our planet a safer place for all living things. One such emerging field is called aeroecology, which focuses on observing birds from the ground as they move and interact within the atmosphere above.
A New Way To See The Skies
Aeroecology began at Boston University, where researcher Thomas Kunz helped jump-start and shape the concept. He encouraged the continuous observation of night skies to gather valuable data that could advance new and beneficial studies. With the help of modern technologies, such as weather radar (NEXRAD) and other radar systems, along with high-tech thermal cameras capable of detecting infrared radiation, researchers can now generate and analyze imagery more effectively. Recently, you may have seen reports referencing bird migration using weather radar. This is a form of “aeroecology” that is in greater use these days.
In 2012, a workshop was held at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK, with a group of scientists that included meteorologists, biologists, engineers, and others from four countries and 22 institutions. The goal was to enhance a scientific approach that more effectively monitors the airspace where birds travel. The lower atmosphere is filled with countless birds moving from place to place, each driven by a variety of motivations for their journeys. Until aeroecology, a useful study of the nighttime skies was minimal.
Today, advancements in technology allow researchers to capture almost anything of interest, supporting scientific communities in exploring new areas of study. The airspace is now recognized as a habitat in its own right, one that can be examined more deeply than ever before. With more than 11,000 species of birds and bats, there is still much to discover in this evolving field. Because most birds migrate under the cover of night, researchers can now conduct more targeted studies using these advanced tools.
Coupling all that we already know about the natural forces of the aerosphere, we are now becoming better equipped to combine that rich data with more effective imagery that improved radar equipment can supply.
A sad reality is that roughly 30 birds die in the air every second, with some fatalities caused by collisions with turbine blades. An example of the usefulness of aeroecology is its potential to help energy producers develop solutions to reduce these deaths. Turbine blades generate wind patterns that birds often seek out to conserve energy during flight. Unfortunately, unaware of the danger, many birds are struck by the fast-turning blades. Advancements in aeroecology may provide ways to deter birds from these dangerous collisions.
Aeroecology is a rapidly growing field of study that promises to become an invaluable tool in protecting wildlife in the years to come.
