This piece was created for BSU's Art-Science Integration course with an overarching theme of Air.

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Wind energy developments have rapidly increased on a global scale to combat some of the effects of climate change. Utilizing the natural movement of air, turbine blades are spun by the
wind to generate energy. The same landscape features that are desirable to wind energy developers are often also features that promote avian migration. Millions of birds use the same
winds and airspace as these turbine developments during their migratory journeys, risking colliding with the fast-spinning turbine blades.

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This work is a reflection of the absolutely breathtaking experience of watching thousands of birds of many different species make their migratory journey through the Strait of Gibraltar. Depicted are over 200 birds of 14 species. Species groups up into the tens of thousands, the most abundant being Eurasian Griffons and Black Kites, roam the Andalusian hills waiting for the perfect conditions to cross the 8.6 miles over the strait from Spain into Morocco. This long journey happens twice a year for some species and is a natural cycle completed by millions of birds across Europe and Africa. I had the amazing opportunity to spend a summer studying this movement in Tarifa, Andalucía, Spain, and have since begun my Master’s degree in Raptor Biology studying this system. The strait is regarded as one of the most important migratory bottlenecks in Europe, and despite this, the coastline of southern Spain is covered in wind-energy developments. The switch to renewable energy is happening across the globe to combat the negative impact of climate change, but that doesn’t mean it is without risk. Volant wildlife, such as birds and bats, are at a high risk of collision with wind turbines and of habitat displacement.