Bird ‘backpacks’ to track movements

Miniature “bird backpacks” or tiny tracking tags on tail feathers could help reveal how wild birds move around offshore wind farms.

The technologies are among suggestions put forward on behalf of offshore wind farms to come up with more reliable and robust tags to monitor sea birds.

The tags have to weigh no more than 3 per cent of the bird’s overall body weight and have a battery capable of lasting for 12 months. They would be tested around wind farms in the Moray Firth.