Windmills Are Killing Our Birds

[snopes]

On Aug. 13, ExxonMobil pleaded guilty in federal court to killing 85 birds that had come into contact with crude oil or other pollutants in uncovered tanks or waste-water facilities on its properties. The birds were protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which dates back to 1918. The company agreed to pay $600,000 in fines and fees.

ExxonMobil is hardly alone in running afoul of this law. Over the past two decades, federal officials have brought hundreds of similar cases against energy companies. In July, for example, the Oregon-based electric utility PacifiCorp paid $1.4 million in fines and restitution for killing 232 eagles in Wyoming over the past two years. The birds were electrocuted by poorly-designed power lines.

Yet there is one group of energy producers that are not being prosecuted for killing birds: wind-power companies. And wind-powered turbines are killing a vast number of birds every year.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB2000...308399048.html

[bjohn13]

I'm thinking this genius should take the time to try to explain how we could prevent these windmills from killing birds.

[Troberg]

Originally Posted by bjohn13

I'm thinking this genius should take the time to try to explain how we could prevent these windmills from killing birds.

Simple: http://xkcd.com/556/

[BoKu]

...A July 2008 study of the wind farm at Altamont Pass, Calif., estimated that its turbines kill an average of 80 golden eagles per year. The study, funded by the Alameda County Community Development Agency, also estimated that about 10,000 birds—nearly all protected by the migratory bird act—are being whacked every year at Altamont...

Bolding mine. I decline to accept that ACCDA is a neutral and unbiased party.

I do accept that the Altamont farm is not as safe for birds than it could be. Many of the turbines there have truss-type towers that attract birds with nesting opportunities, and most of those are short-span high RPM rotors that have been shown to be more dangerous to birds. But I'm not buying the 10K/year figure.

Bob "Enronious" K.

[Keeper of the Mad Bunnies]

Originally Posted by BoKu

Bolding mine. I decline to accept that ACCDA is a neutral and unbiased party.

I do accept that the Altamont farm is not as safe for birds than it could be. Many of the turbines there have truss-type towers that attract birds with nesting opportunities, and most of those are short-span high RPM rotors that have been shown to be more dangerous to birds. But I'm not buying the 10K/year figure.

Bob "Enronious" K.

Highest end of the estimate in the 2005 study.

We estimated collisions with wind turbines in the APWRA
killed 434 raptors and 1,058 birds before factoring in
carcasses not found due to searcher detection error and
scavenger removal. Factoring in search detection and
scavenger removal, we estimated the APWRA’s wind
turbines killed 1,127 raptors and 2,710 birds, and possibly
as many as 2,277 raptors and 11,520 birds.

Bird Mortality at the Altamont Pass Wind Power Resource Area

More information from the Sierra Club:
Bird deaths and the lessons for wind power of Altamont Pass

[Broken Sword]

Originally Posted by Keeper of the Mad Bunnies

Highest end of the estimate in the 2005 study.

Even the lowest end is still a big number though. The original point is right, I think, that oil companies would be more strongly criticized for killing that number of birds than windmills are.

[bjohn13]

so...how do we solve this problem? Install massive cages around the turbines so birds can't access them?

[JoeBentley]

I've seen some designs for Bird Safe windmills.

For instance here's a small one designed for home use:
http://green.autoblog.com/2007/09/09...ine-available/

And I've seen much larger ones for infrastructure level power production

[lord_feldon]

Originally Posted by bjohn13

so...how do we solve this problem? Install massive cages around the turbines so birds can't access them?

Then we could put a little thing on top that can be pulled so it will rotate back and forth.

[Mycroft]

One of my major gripes- They're not windmills because they do not grind grain; they are wind turbines (I also have a similar problem with the (now disused) wind pumps in Norfolk; usually identified as windmills (although as the drained land was then used to grow grain there are some that are mills)

[snopes]

Originally Posted by bjohn13

so...how do we solve this problem?

Put statues and clean cars all around the wind turbines.

[Beachlife!]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

One of my major gripes- They're not windmills because they do not grind grain; they are wind turbines (I also have a similar problem with the (now disused) wind pumps in Norfolk; usually identified as windmills (although as the drained land was then used to grow grain there are some that are mills)

Yes, that it where the term originated, but it now refers to all of the above.

[bjohn13]

Originally Posted by lord_feldon

Then we could put a little thing on top that can be pulled so it will rotate back and forth.

lol..this made me chuckle...especially since it took a moment or two to figure out what you were takling about it.

Oscillating wind turbines...I like it

[bjohn13]

Originally Posted by snopes

Put statues and clean cars all around the wind turbines.

But wouldn't that attract the birds?

[WildaBeast]

Yes, and lure them away from the wind turbines.

[Artemis]

Isn't that because it's their own fault if they get killed?

[Il-Mari]

This may be an ignorant question, but how many bird deaths would be expected from some 5,500 human structures regardless of what they are?

I'm asking mainly because at the house I grew up in, at least one bird per year would die from colliding with a window.

- Il-Mari

[geminilee]

Originally Posted by Il-Mari

This may be an ignorant question, but how many bird deaths would be expected from some 5,500 human structures regardless of what they are?

That would really depend on what type they were. Skyscrapers account for a lot of deaths, in part because of the surface area and in part because of the glass. Buildings with more windows are going to kill more birds than buildings without. And a structure with a spinny propeller on it that may be difficult to see unless you are aware it is there may kill quite a few.

[Photo Bob]

Michael Fry of the American Bird Conservancy estimates that U.S. wind turbines kill between 75,000 and 275,000 birds per year.

My favorite line.

Estimate or WAG? I am sure Mr Fry had more to say on the subject, but that cracks me up.

[snopes]

The slaughter at Altamont Pass is being raised by avian scientists who say the drive among environmentalists to rapidly boost U.S. wind-farm power 20 times could lead to massive bird losses and even extinctions.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...nd-farms_N.htm