Wind Power and BirdsBird kills are often used to try and discredit wind power. It is true that wind turbines do kill birds. However, relative to many human impacts including those of coal power production and global warming, the effect is minimal. With good location choice and modern design, any negative effects from wind farms can be minimised.When you consider that it is expected that 25% of ALL species on Earth, including birds, will become extinct by 2050 due to global warming, the death of individual birds, even in their 100's, in no way compares to preventing mass scale species extinctions. |
Back to Wind Power Back to Clean Energy Relative kill rates Are you bird friendly? Effect of wind turbines How does coal stack up? The real threat to our birds: Global Warming A real threat to our birds: Cats The planning process and birds World's biggest and oldest bird group supports wind power What about Australian bird groups? Anti-wind groups and birds Home |
||||||||||
Relative kill ratesA closer look at bird kill rates due to human structures (shown below as bird kills per year) reveals that wind towers are relatively benign. For more details, consult the source links.
Particularly relevant is the impact of the ubiquitous communications tower, which we've become completely accustomed to. The US sources on communication towers are especially interesting - take a look at the numbers of these towers in a single US state! |
US data source: Avian collisions with wind turbines Communication tower bird kills US study into birds kills with towers and power lines Individual US communications towers' effects on birds Texan communications towers 
Source: Bird Safe Technologies to limit communication tower and power line bird kills: Bird Safe Inc Top |
||||||||||
Are you bird friendly?If you use fossil fuels, you kill birds.If you live in a house that has windows, you kill birds. If you drive a car, you kill birds. If you use electricity coming from power lines, you kill birds. If you work in a high-rise building, you kill birds. If you use Reflex paper or other products made from native forests, you kill birds. If you use a mobile phone, you kill birds. If you watch television, you kill birds. If you own a cat, you kill birds. |
Top |
||||||||||
Effect of wind turbinesLike much human activity, wind farms do kill birds. The figure is less than 1-2 birds per turbine per year. Most of these birds are common species, the same species that die on your house or car windows.Old wind farms had design faults - lattice towers and fast spinning blades - that made them more dangerous to birds. Today the towers are made from steel cylinders and have blades that spin more slowly. |
Yes2Wind (UK): Debunking bird myths Top |
||||||||||
How does coal stack up?A 1983 study showed that at a coal power station, 3,000 birds were killed in a single night during an autumn migration. This was in the northern hemisphere, which has large bird migrations. However, people who oppose wind power wind also take their wind farm casualty figures from the northern hemisphere. |
Florida Field Naturalist, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 45-49 Top |
||||||||||
The real threat to our birdsGlobal warming: 25% of all species will be extinct by 2050Check out our climate change pages, where we list the wide range of impacts that have either already occurred or are predicted as a consequence of global warming. Predictions include more storms, changing currents, less rain, more fires, sea level rises, and much more.Already climate change is killing millions of birds. If we don't act now, global warming will devastate almost all of earth's ecosystems, not just those of birds. If you truly love birds, halting global warming should be your number one priority. Help create a sustainable energy future, in which wind power will play a key role. |
"Even under mid-range warming, the impacts on birds due to habitat loss will be staggering." Mike Tidwell - Confessions of a bird lover BBC: 25% of species extinct by 2050 - BBC Birds' response to global warming won't be easy Climate change linked to migratory bird decrease Penguins in Rio Penguins - 10 out of 17 species in trouble Worldwatch: reasons for the decline in bird population Top |
||||||||||
A real threats to our birdsCatsIs your cat one of the 10% who never go outside? Is it one of the 10% who are too old or slow to catch anything? Or is your cat one who kills birds? 80% of cats kill birds.Worldwide, cats are expected to have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction. Five Cats were introduced to Marion Island, South Africa in 1948; by the early 1970s there were 2000 Cats present, taking about half a million seabirds each year. Imagine the effect of releasing them into the Australian bush where there is no boundary such as the sea to keep them contained. "In Australia, cats are known to feed on more than 347 native species: that's 186 species of birds, 64 mammals, 86 reptiles, at least 10 amphibians and numerous invertebrates. We know that feral cats are a problem but there is little point in targeting feral cats and leaving domestic cats uncontrolled. A domestic cat will hunt and kill no matter how well fed it is. One study estimated that on average each pet cat kills 32 vertebrates each year. It is estimated that there are 3-million pet cats in Australia. This adds up to a total of 96-million birds, mammals and reptiles killed each year by domestic cats alone." (Sue Taylor) "The University of Adelaide estimates that in Australia each year cats kill 32 million birds, 60 million mammals and 30 million reptiles." (Dr John Wamslay) "All cats, even well-fed pet cats, can kill wildlife. In Victoria, on average, each pet can kill 25 creatures every year; this adds up to 12.5 million creatures every year. At the same time, feral cats eat the equivalent of seven native rosellas each week, over 70 million creatures each year." ("Protect your cat protect your wildlife " Department Sustainability & Environment) "Even if America got a full half of its electricity from wind power, the annual cumulative bird fatalities would be 0.5% of what US cats kill per year." (Mike Tidwell) In contrast, last year Toora wind farm in Gippsland is believed to have killed only five birds. |
 Safe behind glass Sue Taylor (broadcast November 7, 1999, with Robyn Williams): The Effect of Domestic Cats on Australian Wildlife Dr John Wamslay of Earth Sanctuaries Australia (speaking on Burke's Backyard) Earth Sanctuaries Australia (protecting native wildlife by removing them from risk of non-native predators) Effect of domestic cats on Australian wildlife Impacts of domestic and stray cats in Australia Cat numbers could approach 20 million Mike Tidwell: Confessions of a bird lover Effect of cats on birds (US studies) Predation of Native Wildlife by the Cat, Action Statement No. 80, Department of Sustainability and Environment Vic. Managing cats in environmentally sensitive areas, Cat Management Manual, Department of Primary Industries Vic. Feral cats in Victoria, Department of Primary Industries Vic. Protect your cat protect your wildlife, Department of Sustainability and Environment Vic. Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats, Department of the Environment and Heritage. Top |
||||||||||
The planning process and birdsThe State government has introduced a special planning scheme that requires Environment Impact Assessments for wind sites.The Bald Hills wind farm is a good example of how the system responds to bird issues. In response to concerns about birds, the developer has reduced the number of turbines on the site and increased buffers to wetlands. With appropriate design and siting, the wind farm effect on bird populations will be minimal. Some people have criticised the planning scheme because it has taken control of wind farms out of the hands of local councils. Others, including futureenergy.org consider the scheme a good balance between local concerns and sustainable energy planning. |
|||||||||||
The world's biggest and oldest bird group supports wind powerThe British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sells renewable power to its members to raise money. Part of the power produced comes from wind and hydro sources. With hydro, the RSPB needs to make a trade-off, for bird habitat is drowned when hydro dams are built. Similarly, it considers wind power, when appropriately sited, to be part of the solution to preventing climate change. The society considers the effects of wind farms during the planning phase on a case by case basis, not necessarily endorsing them all."The RSPB supports the sustainable development of renewable energy such as wind power because it helps mitigate climate change, which we believe poses the most significant long-term threat to the environment." (RSPB) "If you care about the future for people and wildlife you can take positive action. Switching to renewable energy is one of the simplest and clearest options available." (Julian Pettifer) |
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: - wind farm policy Julian Pettifer, Environmental Broadcaster and former RSPB President (1994 - 2000): RSPB Green Energy Top |
||||||||||
What about Australian bird groups?Futureenergy.org is in the process of finding out where Australia's leading bird groups stand on the issues of wind power. We'll be asking them if they support the installation of wind power. With what, if any, limitations? If not, what feasible model do they propose for a sustainable energy future that doesn't compromise biodiversity and sustainable populations of most bird species?We encourage you to check out the websites of the bird research and support groups. |
Birds Australia Bird Observers Club of Australia Top |
||||||||||
Anti-wind groups and birdsThe main argument for installing wind power is that it's a clean source of power that will help protect us and the environment from the effects of global warming. Also it is a clean energy source that doesn't damage people's health. By talking about bird kills, anti-wind groups are trying to paint wind farms as anti-environmental.The argument about birds is also designed as an apparently stronger case than just saying "not in my backyard" or "I paid a lot of money for my coastal property and don't want my view spoilt" or " I intend to make a lot of money developing this coast." However, there are also some people, genuinely worried about bird kills, who accept no bird strike losses, while failing to acknowledge that millions of birds are dying because of global warming. We encourage them to join us in seeking best solutions to this critical global issue. Top |
|