Wind turbines kill birds, but they don’t have to—here’s how to do better

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Here's a stomach-churning video of a wind turbine karate-chopping a vulture. Watching it will probably change the way you look at wind turbines. (Seriously, bird-lovers be warned: It is intense.)

This video, originally captured by a tourist in Greece, vividly illustrates what happens 440,000 times a year, according to the American Bird Conservancy. If that sounds like a lot -- it's nearly one bird every minute -- just imagine what will happen as wind power ramps up to many times its current footprint.

Fortunately, there are solutions. ABC says that bird strikes can be minimized if regulations force wind power companies to:

• Site their farms mostly on land that's already disturbed (I.e. farmland.) Also, keeping them out of migratory flight paths will reduce the threat.

• Make the transmission lines that connect to wind farms more bird-friendly, as per the recommendations of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee.

• Carefully monitor the impact of wind farms on birds.

• Compensate the families of affected birds. Birds don't use money, though, so instead, the money could be used to buy land to be set aside as bird habitat.

We're surprised that ABC didn't list any technological solutions. At least one scientist suggested that painting wind turbines purple -- or really, anything but white -- could help.

• straight to the source
  
• Policy Statement on Wind Energy and Bird-Smart Wind Guidelines, American Bird Conservancy

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think we should just burn coal and oil instead. Who cares about polar bears, we have to save vultures!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Could be a Darwin affect on birds, Those stupid enough to fly into a generator die removing their genes from the pool leaving the smarter ones to breed.

[mawilson 2,133]

I think it's silly. How many birds get killed by wind turbines? My guess is fewer than the number of people killed in car accidents.

Have a sense of proportion, for goodness sake!

P.S. I just googled it and found this link:

"It is a common myth that modern wind turbines kill large numbers birds especially with modern turbines. The blades are far too large and move far too slowly for them to cause a significant number of fatalities. According to the 2001 National Wind Coordinating Committee study, “Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: A Summary of Existing Studies and Comparisons to Other Sources of Avian Collision Mortality in the United States," there are 2.19 bird deaths per wind turbine per year which is hardly a number when compared to 100 million to 1 billion birds that die a year from colliding into windows alone."

[Azzudiin 26]

Yes lets take farmland out of production to build a wind turbines to avoid killing birds. How many people in this world don't have enough food everyday already? Sometimes the logic of animal lovers is beyond stupid, kill a human, Save a bird.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Yes lets take farmland out of production to build a wind turbines to avoid killing birds. How many people in this world don't have enough food everyday already? Sometimes the logic of animal lovers is beyond stupid, kill a human, Save a bird.

The logic comes from one being an innocent life, the other not so much.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think it's silly. How many birds get killed by wind turbines? My guess is fewer than the number of people killed in car accidents.

Have a sense of proportion, for goodness sake!

P.S. I just googled it and found this link:

"It is a common myth that modern wind turbines kill large numbers birds especially with modern turbines. The blades are far too large and move far too slowly for them to cause a significant number of fatalities. According to the 2001 National Wind Coordinating Committee study, “Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: A Summary of Existing Studies and Comparisons to Other Sources of Avian Collision Mortality in the United States," there are 2.19 bird deaths per wind turbine per year which is hardly a number when compared to 100 million to 1 billion birds that die a year from colliding into windows alone."

Don't forget either that our beloved little kitties kill an estimated 500 million birds a year in the US alone. That compares to less than half a million birds that fall victim to wind turbines in this country. We need to focus on the real bird enemy and just get rid of them cats.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Don't forget either that our beloved little kitties kill an estimated 500 million birds a year in the US alone. That compares to less than half a million birds that fall victim to wind turbines in this country. We need to focus on the real bird enemy and just get rid of them cats.

I like #####....

cats that is.

Edited April 11, 2011 by Paul and Vanessa

[natty bumppo 297]

I think it's silly. How many birds get killed by wind turbines? My guess is fewer than the number of people killed in car accidents.

turbine kill ... fresh meat for the hungry. why waste a fresh tender morsel ...

probably causes less damage to the meat than roadkill ....

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

turbine kill ... fresh meat for the hungry. why waste a fresh tender morsel ...

probably causes less damage to the meat than roadkill ....

just think of all the ammo one could save - have one on your property, check it frequently and voila, dinner is served!

[mawilson 2,133]

just think of all the ammo one could save - have one on your property, check it frequently and voila, dinner is served!

Beautiful.

[_Simpson_ 250]

• Compensate the families of affected birds. Birds don't use money, though, so instead, the money could be used to buy land to be set aside as bird habitat.

or send that money to Africa and feed a child for a year.

[Zero Sum 305]

Great information, Steven. Those concerned that windmills kill wildlife should now have one less thing to worry about (gripe about) when it comes to wind power.

[Vi-Jay 218]

Stupid bird dies. Smart bird lives.

Evolution is 1 of God's laxatives!

[_Simpson_ 250]

Great information, Steven. Those concerned that windmills kill wildlife should now have one less thing to worry about (gripe about) when it comes to wind power.

You shouldn't encourage this sort of silly behavior.