AN Osprey found fatally injured at the base of a wind turbine is believed to have crashed into the blades, according to campaigners.
The male, which was found a fortnight ago at Moy, south of Inverness, had to be put down due to the extent of its wounds.
The Scottish SPCA and the RSPB have confirmed its injuries were “consistent” with hitting turbine blades.
Pat Wells, from pressure group Strathdearn Against Windfarm Developments (SAWD) said: “In our objection to Moy windfarm, we flagged up the serious risk to osprey and other raptors with flight paths across the local hills.
“The Moy windfarm environmental statement admitted the scheme posed a risk to red kite, breeding golden plover and curlew.
“And yet it stated that ‘due to the lack of breeding evidence and/or low levels of activity to all other key species, the development is unlikely to have the potential to affect other species to any significant extent.”
SAWD maintains that ospreys have nested within a few miles of the Moy site for years.
Obtaining conclusive windfarm birdstrike data is notoriously difficult.
The World Council for Nature claims that “the British public is being misinformed regarding bird mortality at windfarms”, and that data collated elsewhere in Europe has shown that “birds and bats are being slaughtered by the million”.
Evidence emerged in April of a dramatic reduction in the number of breeding birds in Sutherland since the construction of a windfarm in Gordonbush, Brora.
The number of golden plover crashed by 80% within the site during the first two years of its operation.
The SSPCA explained that post-mortem examination results have since confirmed the bird had multiple fractures to its right wing “consistent with it having collided with a wind turbine”.
Eneco, who operate the wind farm, are working with RSPB Scotland and a conservation expert to try to establish if there are site-specific factors that attracted the bird.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “The Scottish SPCA was quickly informed in line with procedures and the injured bird was taken to a local vet.
“Unfortunately, as a result of its injuries, the bird was put to sleep. This is deeply upsetting.”
She claimed ospreys were “known to have a 98% avoidance rate” and that the site had “not been identified as an area for ospreys according to years of prior survey and consideration”.
A spokeswoman for RSPB Scotland said: “It does unfortunately appear as though the osprey has been killed as a result of a collision with a wind turbine.
“We will now work with the operator to thoroughly assess how the incident occurred and ensure all necessary steps are taken to minimise any such incident occurring again.”
Scottish SPCA Chief Inspector Iain Allan said: “Our officer took the bird to a vets where sadly it had to be put to sleep due to its injuries.
“Post-mortem results have since confirmed that the bird had multiple fractures to it right wing, which is consistent with it having collided with a wind turbine.”
A spokeswoman for Eneco said: “This is deeply upsetting, particularly as ospreys are known to have a 98% avoidance rate and this vicinity was not identified as an area for ospreys according to years of prior survey and consideration.
“Clearly we need to understand the factors that lead to the bird of prey’s death and our senior team will be working with RSPB, and an independent conservation expert, to undertake a comprehensive review of the wind farm to understand if there are any site-specific factors that attracted the osprey.”
