Is it possible to turn off the wind turbines or feather the blades during times of high bird migration?
“Curtailment” is the term for changing operating periods to minimize impacts. As a technical matter, this can be done, depending on the wind turbine (some turbines are not designed to be turned on and off). Site-specific and species-specific studies about bird and bat migration and usage patterns would be needed as the basis for curtailment strategies, since conditions are so site-specific. In addition, there are other operational and economic issues. For example, given the current economics of wind power, there might be economic issues with reducing generation time.
