PacifiCorp, OSU in midst of bird fatality study at windfarm
Will painting a single wind turbine blade black keep bird fatalities down? Scientists intend to find out if it makes a difference.
GLENROCK — Following Norway's lead, PacifiCorp, Oregon State University and other partners have painted 36 turbine blades black to study a theory that a single painted blade on a wind turbine will decrease bird mortality at wind farm sites.
The endeavor, located at PacifiCorp's Glenrock / Rolling Hills Windfarm, began in 2023, following a 2020 program begun by Norwegian scientists.
At the Glenrock site, 28 blades were painted in 2023, with the remaining eight completed in 2024. The estimated cost to paint the blades black is estimated between $500,000 to $700,000.
In addition to PacifiCorp and Oregon State University, the public / private partnership includes the U.S. Geological Survey, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Invenergy, U.S. Department of Energy and NextEra Energy Resources.
Experts hypothesize that both eagles and diurnal non-eagle birds can perceive painted blades resulting in higher turbine avoidance.
According to PacifiCorp, recent research in Norway documented a nearly 72% decline in turbine blade-related bird collisions as a result of painting one turbine blade black. Painting blades is thought to visually disrupt what otherwise may appear to the bird as a uniform airspace, making the turbine more visible and helping trigger avoidance behavior, resulting in fewer bird fatalities.
PacifiCorp's trial operates in a highly elevated, landlocked sagebrush ecosystem and is tracking three groups. Golden eagles are the primary species of concern for Western U.S. wind developments. Golden eagles hunt close to the ground, scanning downward for prey, the company stated, which makes them highly vulnerable to "motion smear" from spinning blades. Bald eagles frequently pass through Wyoming wind corridors while migrating or nesting near water bodies.
The third category of avians in the study are diurnal non-eagle birds. This includes daytime active raptors and migratory birds like red-tailed hawks, Swainson's hawks and American kestrels that occupy open prairie.
The study is also monitoring bat populations to test a second hypothesis. As bats rely primarily on echolocation rather than daytime vision, researchers expect no change in bat fatalities, confirming the black painted blades are strictly a visual mitigation tool for birds.
PacifiCorp Director of Compliance / Permitting Travis Brown said in a press release the study is an extraordinary partnership of scientists, federal regulators, wildlife managers, nongovernmental organizations, academia, developers and utility companies who are "working together to find solutions to reduce the impacts of critical electric infrastructure on birds."
"If proven effective, the manipulation could reduce bird fatalities at wind facilities that would be realized over decades, with minimal maintenance, infrastructure or other constraints required of current technologies," Brown said.
Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute Senior Scientist Shilo Felton said the study at PacifiCorp's facility allows them "to study this interaction at an impressive scale ... We're honored to be part of the team and excited to see the results of the project progress."
Should the study prove successful in replicating Norway's study and results, PacifiCorp is hopeful the black painted blades will be implemented at other windfarms.
PacifiCorp's project is designed as a multiyear scientific study and is ongoing; at this point there are no definitive results publicly available, as all data will eventually be verified by federal and academic agencies before formal results of the study can be published.
Responsibly sited and operated renewable energy and transmission are critical to reducing pollution, lowering global temperatures, and protecting the two-thirds of North American bird species at risk of extinction due to climate change, officials stated in PacifiCorp's press release.
National Audubon Society Senior Director for Climate Strategy Garry George said conservation and wind energy generation must go hand-in-hand to create a future in which birds and people can thrive.
"... This collaboration exemplifies how industry, science and nongovernmental organizations can work together to find climate and biodiversity solutions.
"Painting turbine blades has worked in Norway . . . we are hopeful this will prove to be a simple solution that will reduce impacts on eagles and other birds in North America," George said.
This story was published on July 22, 2026.
Ensure These Stories Are Told
Despite the challenges facing independent local journalism, what sustains us — and fills us with deep gratitude — is the loyal support of readers who believe our communities deserve accurate, trusted, and locally rooted news.
It is no exaggeration to say that we are here because of you. Every story we report, every local issue we follow, every public meeting we cover, and every community voice we lift up is made possible by readers who understand the value of an independent newspaper.
Your support does more than fund articles. It helps protect the independence that allows us to report honestly, ask important questions, and keep our community informed without fear or favor.
If you are able, please consider supporting the News Letter Journal by donating to our Unabridged Fund today. Whether your gift helps cover reporting time, printing costs, video, photography, editing, or distribution, every contribution helps keep local journalism strong in Wyoming.
All gifts are deeply appreciated. Your support helps ensure that local stories continue to be told, local decisions continue to be watched, and local voices continue to be heard.
Thank you for standing with independent community journalism.