A new study has revealed that areas of the Bass Strait earmarked by the federal government for offshore wind farms lie directly in the migration paths of Tasmanian Boobook owls.
The “world-first” research by Monash University used satellite technology to track and map the over-water journeys of the owls migrating from Victoria to Tasmania.
After departing from the coastal headland at Cape Liptrap in South Gippsland, the study found that all tracked birds made the trip south in a non-stop, overnight flight.
Their migration routes passed directly through the declared priority area for offshore wind development south of Wilsons Promontory.
Associate Professor Rohan Clarke described the findings as presenting a “green-green dilemma”, a “conflict that arises when industrial transformation aimed at environmental sustainability causes harm to other environmental or ecological priorities”.
“It’s crucial that conservation and biodiversity experts work closely with those delivering the renewable energy transition to avoid unintended consequences for our wildlife,” Clarke said.
Clarke also noted significant gaps in understanding the migration of millions of Australian land birds, including those crossing Bass Strait.
“Bass Strait is one such area where large numbers of birds fly between Tasmania and mainland Australia, flying north in autumn and returning south in spring, yet the flyway is considerably understudied,” he said.
“This highlights the need to fully understand and carefully manage the effects of development on wildlife, which requires better understanding of bird movement in important flyways.”
