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Study eases fear about wind farm risk to birds

In a finding that may make it easier to build more wind farms, British scientists have discovered that wind turbines do not drive out bird populations from surrounding areas.

The study by scientists at Newcastle University, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that all of the 23 species studied, aside from the pheasant, were not affected by two wind farms in eastern England.

The new findings are significant, Reuters reported, because the European Union is committed to generating 20% of its power from renewable resources by 2020 and is also seeking to boost biodiversity.

The study did not address the fears of conservation groups that large birds could become caught in the turbines and that the structures could disturb other species.

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