Why Are So Many Bats Dying?
Everybody knows that many bat species do not have the best sight. Instead, they rely on a technique known as echolocation. Bats produce sounds which are channelled towards the objects around them. By analyzing the echo which bounces off those objects, they can navigate their way through the skies safely. Researchers believe that this system is so accurate bats can detect and avoid a spider web. If they can avoid something so small, then surely they are able to detect something as large as wind turbines? Well, they can. Scientists believe that bats are adept at avoiding these turbines. Even though these blades are known to travel at around 100mph, bats can detect their movement and avoid them. What they don’t seem to detect and avoid is the huge change in pressure behind a turbine blade. The physics behind a wind turbine movement leaves a huge pressure drop directly behind the blade. Bats fly into this space and the force ruptures their lungs. Capillaries burst and eventually the bats drown from the fluid collecting in their lungs. So why haven’t bird deaths soared as well? Interestingly, the composition of bird lungs is totally different from bats. Their internal organs are designed to cope with drastic pressure changes.