Wind energy is renewable, clean and plentiful. But some people are concerned that too many birds would be killed by giant wind farms. According to the American Wind Energy Association and other websites that have assessed wind turbine damage to birds, death rates are low.
The average wind turbine kills less than two birds per year. That’s less than the average car. Less than the average house cat. Less than the average picture window. – Wind Blog
Window collisions are still the number one cause of bird deaths. Thankfully, birders are becoming more and more aware of the problem and are beginning to take action. Including the Lights Out Program in big cities.
Spring has barely arrived and I have already seen almost a dozen feral, wandering cats in my own neighborhood.
Wind power has the potential to increase the survival of birds by creating a cleaner environment. However, research is still needed to make sure that wind turbines do not disrupt major flyways or other high-risk areas for birds.
This is indeed interesting data. The issue of wind farms and their effect on bird life has been a raging topic amongst birders here in Australia over recent months. One project was even abandoned due to its proximity to the site of the highly endangered Orange Bellied Parrot.
Many birders here in Australia are very opposed to wind farms.
It is amazing how many issues really are international. In the U.S. there seems to be a lot of places where wind farms could work really well. At the very least there could be localized wind farms to help improve power problems in certain areas. But it would be really awful if a wind farm was created in say, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico where so many migrant birds pass through.
These are excellent points that birders should take to heart. Proper siting is essential to ensure that turbines aren’t located in critical flyways, but at the end of the day, wind power is a solution that ultimately helps wildlife. It would probably be even more effective if there was a way to entice feral cats into the blades…
Nice post. Looks like wind power is really starting to get some serious consideration in Australia now.