Do wind turbines kill birds?
Monitoring of existing wind turbines suggests there is no adverse effect on bird populations if the turbine is sensitively sited. According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), evidence suggests that appropriately positioned wind turbines, even in quantity, do not pose a significant hazard for birds. The RSPB supports renewable energy such as wind power because it helps mitigate climate change, which they believe “poses the most significant long-term threat to the environment.” The Planning Application will be submitted to Hastings Borough Council and will be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that includes details of the likely impact of the project on the environment and wildlife, among other things. In considering an application, Hastings Borough Council will consult with a range of stakeholders, including the statutory advisers on nature conservation, as well as others with an interest in the project. This ensures that decisions on whether t
Wind turbines initially got a bad reputation for killing birds because a very few early projects were poorly sited in migratory paths and raptor feeding grounds. The old lattice-type towers were great for nesting, and the smaller, faster turning blades were a real danger. Wind turbines now use a tubular fiberglass tower, and the bigger blades rotate at lower revolutions per minute. Also, it is standard practice now to conduct environmental assessment studies to minimize impacts on wildlife. According to a review of available research, data collected outside California indicate an average of just under two avian fatalities per turbine per year.* By comparison, this review states that utility transmission and distribution lines, the backbone of our electrical power system, are responsible for 130 to 174 million bird deaths a year in the U.S., and cars and trucks kill 60 to 80 million birds per year. Free ranging housecats? The best estimate is 39 million per year – in Wisconsin.** Audubo
