Birds/bats movement tracking with IR camera for wind farm applications

Nocturnally migratory birds and bats are at higher risk of colliding with wind turbines. It is important to gather scientific data in an area which have potential of wind farm development. An IR camera recording and its analysis can provide necessary information to wildlife biologists involve with interaction of birds/bats with wind turbines. An efficient IR video processing algorithm has been developed. The proposed algorithm consists of background and consecutive frame subtraction, frame selection, 3-D region labeling and breakpoint recovery. It is then used to process spring 2011 bird migration data that has been collected in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ohio. Results from this study will be useful for wildlife biologists to make intelligent decision for siting of wind turbines. It will also help policy makers to develop an appropriate public policy for wind farm development in an area with extensive avian activity.