Abstract
This paper further develops the 2007 recommendations of the Working Group of German State Bird Conservancies for the conflict between wind energy use and bird protection. This renewed version has arisen from new scientific knowledge and new developments, such as the increasing use of wind energy in forests. For inland and coastal areas, requirements for distances of wind turbines to important areas for birds (including protected areas and sites with large bird congregations) and breeding sites of birds sensitive to wind turbines are recommended. The latter include species of grouse, herons and egrets, storks, raptors, falcons, Common Crane, Corncrake, Great Bustard, waders, gulls, terns, owls, European Nightjar and Hoopoe. For the first time, minimum distances are recommended for Honey Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Woodcock, European Nightjar and Hoopoe. For a majority of species with large home ranges, ranges of verification around wind farms are recommended beyond the minimum distances, where an increased likelihood of occurrence should be checked for and taken into account. In addition, potential cumulative impacts of wind turbines, in connection with other impact factors, are pointed out, as well as the need to keep areas of high densities of large bird species free of wind turbines due to potential impacts at the population level.