Are Wind Turbines Massive Bird Killers?

Increasing costs, depletion of resources as well as strong criticism over environmental damage related to fossil fuels have meant that the governments world over have gradually started exploring renewable energy options. As a result number of power plants are commissioned to utilize renewable energy sources like wind, solar power, hydropower, etc. Among these, wind energy is a popular option. Usually, turbines or long wind fans are built to accumulate energy from the wind to generate power. However, certain social media posts claim that wind turbines kill birds massively.

Specific social media claims try to convince the public that wind turbines kill birds massively.

This is an unspoken reality of green tech. It kills a lot of birds. Some estimates in the United States have it anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 birds.

This is what the Federal Government wants us to transition to completely. Away from safe, reliable, and affordable energy from Natural Gas to wind turbines that result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands or more birds every year.

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Another popular debate among climate change activists and skeptics is around wind turbines and their contribution towards the deaths of birds of prey as seen in the below Tweet
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What We Found!

First, we checked research studies done by subject experts related to this issue.

The wind energy industry is considered a part of renewable energy and has been spreading worldwide rapidly. According to our observations, many studies on wind power and the number of bird deaths caused by collisions were done decades ago. However, the actual number can be higher now compared to the number stated in past research. Therefore, in this article, we are trying to get data from relatively new studies.

Due to the lack of global data to explain the issue, we decided to take data from the US to discuss this matter.

The number of birds dying due to collisions is taken from three main studies, primarily considering the United States of America. The studies are named Loss, Smallwood, and Erickson. Accordingly, to these studies, an average value of 234,000, 573,093, and 291,000 birds die annually respectively due to collision with rotating wind turbines in the USA. Although, these values have varied considerably due to field and analytical methods, monitoring duration, and the size and height of the wind turbines monitored for fatalities.

The study by Loss and others reported that there were 44,577 turbines in operation in 2012, while the U.S. Wind Turbine Database indicated that there are 65,548 today — an increase of 47 percent. Considering the industry growth, we can predict an approximate proportionality to the rise of bird deaths. The US wind turbine database can be reached from here.

Joel Merriman, a wind specialist of a US-based charity, Bird Conservancy, states that those numbers are misleading due to various issues in reporting methods, etc. He suggests that around 1.7 million birds die annually only within US borders due to collisions of wind turbines. Joel Merriman’s views can be read here. Archived.

However, Joel goes on to explain that these 1.7 million deaths are below 0.02% of total birds in the US, stating that there are around 7 billion birds living in US and Canadian territory.

According to data from US Fish and Wildlife Service, 5–6.8 million birds are killed annually by communication towers, 60–80 million are killed by automobiles, 67–90 million are killed by pesticides, and 365 million to one billion are killed by cats each year in the US. The biggest threat to birds comes from cats. Accordingly, concerning those stats, 1.7 million bird deaths caused by wind turbines are relatively low. The data can be reached from here, Archived.

However, it`s a common concern that every living being has some value and a right to live. Hence, minimizing these bird deaths from the collision with wind turbines is necessary.

Wind turbines can be established in less risky areas for bird collisions, and that`s a primary step that can be taken to reduce bird collisions. Wind turbines must be separate from the migratory bird paths. Ultrasound boom boxes can be used to prevent bats from colliding with turbines.

Some developers use different colored turbines instead of the typical white colored turbine to reduce the collisions as white color can easily lure the birds. Some restraint methods can also be used to mitigate collisions.

Additionally, larger, more powerful wind turbines are scientifically proven to have a lower ecological impact. Work of several wind turbines can be completed by a single turbine consuming less space and money.

Furthermore, radar technology can be used to pre-identify the flocks of birds and temporarily stop the turbines and avoid collisions. More details about this can be read here. Archived

According to our investigation, it`s clear that wind power plants do not contribute massively towards the death of birds. So, those social media posts trying to convince the public were misleading. Many other causes, like cats, communication towers, windows, etc., are more responsible for bird deaths.  However, wind power operators have been taking steps to avoid collisions between wind turbines and flying birds.