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Estimates of bird collision mortality at wind facilities in the contiguous United States
Science Direct ^
| December 2013
| Scott R. Loss, Tom Will, Peter P. Marra
Posted on 09/23/2019 3:02:06 PM PDT by CedarDave
Abstract
Wind energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, yet the impacts of wind facilities on wildlife remain unclear. Prior studies estimate between 10,000 and 573,000 fatal bird collisions with U.S. wind turbines annually; however, these studies do not differentiate between turbines with a monopole tower and those with a lattice tower, the former of which now comprise the vast majority of all U.S. wind turbines and the latter of which are largely being de-commissioned. We systematically derived an estimate of bird mortality for U.S. monopole turbines by applying inclusion criteria to compiled studies, identifying correlates of mortality, and utilizing a predictive model to estimate mortality along with uncertainty. Despite measures taken to increase analytical rigor, the studies we used may provide a non-random representation of all data; requiring industry reports to be made publicly available would improve understanding of wind energy impacts. Nonetheless, we estimate that between 140,000 and 328,000 (mean = 234,000) birds are killed annually by collisions with monopole turbines in the contiguous U.S. We found support for an increase in mortality with increasing turbine hub height and support for differing mortality rates among regions, with per turbine mortality lowest in the Great Plains. Evaluation of risks to birds is warranted prior to continuing a widespread shift to taller wind turbines. Regional patterns of collision risk, while not obviating the need for species-specific and local-scale assessments, may inform broad-scale decisions about wind facility siting.
TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: birdgenocide; birds; climatechange; commienimbys; ecoterrorism; energy; fakenews; fakeproblem; hoas; irrelevance; ohnoes; peta; windenergy; windgeneration; windmills
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Highlights:
- We estimate bird mortality at monopole wind turbines in the contiguous U.S.
- Between 140,000 and 328,000 birds are killed annually at monopole turbines.
- Mortality increases with increasing height of monopole turbines.
- Mortality rates appear to be lower in the Great Plains relative to other regions.
An older article but very relevant to today's bird mortality.
More current article published September 22 regarding migratory bat mortality: Oregon State study says wind turbines threaten migrating bats
1
posted on
09/23/2019 3:02:06 PM PDT
by
CedarDave
To: CedarDave
2
posted on
09/23/2019 3:04:44 PM PDT
by
TigersEye
(This is the age of the death of reason.)
To: TigersEye
Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the decline in bird populations could it? Nah. That was DDT.
3
posted on
09/23/2019 3:07:44 PM PDT
by
rktman
( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
To: CedarDave
4
posted on
09/23/2019 3:14:56 PM PDT
by
CedarDave
(Google has blacklisted Free Republic in its search engine. Use duckduckgo for searching.)
To: rktman
Couldnt possibly have anything to do with the decline in bird populations could it? Nah. That was DDT. I am no fan of wind turbines but the biggest killer of small birds, especially song birds, is feral house cats.
Wind turbines get the blame for killing raptors.
5
posted on
09/23/2019 3:16:40 PM PDT
by
Pontiac
(The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
To: CedarDave
I repair wind turbines for a living. I never see dead birds surrounding the turbines. HOW are they dying exactly?
6
posted on
09/23/2019 3:20:41 PM PDT
by
This_Dude
To: CedarDave
Bald eagles and other endangered or threatened bird species are almost certainly in this count of bird deaths from wind turbines. Imagine any other type of project, especially a conventional power plant, that would ever get environmental approvals for construction projecting this kind of damage to bird life. Obviously environmentalists are looking the other way when these approvals are given.
7
posted on
09/23/2019 3:20:55 PM PDT
by
The Great RJ
("Socialists are happy until they run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatcher)
To: Pontiac
We got coyotes keep in cats down around us.
8
posted on
09/23/2019 3:20:57 PM PDT
by
rktman
( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
To: Pontiac
Oh bullcrap.
The biggest killer of small birds is the same biggest killer as every other animal in nature.
It is starvation. They outstrip the food supply.
9
posted on
09/23/2019 3:29:11 PM PDT
by
MrEdd
(Caveat Emptor)
To: rktman
DDT.
I’m sure you meant DJT. I hear he hates birds.
10
posted on
09/23/2019 3:30:30 PM PDT
by
gundog
( Hail to the Chief, bitches!)
To: rktman
Also the chihuahuas, the poodles...
11
posted on
09/23/2019 3:31:11 PM PDT
by
MrEdd
(Caveat Emptor)
To: CedarDave
These are the days where “environmentalists” want to choke plants by limiting the CO2 they breathe, and kill birds with giant sky cuisinarts.
12
posted on
09/23/2019 3:34:00 PM PDT
by
Dr.Deth
To: This_Dude
” I repair wind turbines for a living. I never see dead birds surrounding the turbines. HOW are they dying exactly?”
I’m no expert, but could coyotes and other scavengers clean them up?
13
posted on
09/23/2019 3:34:51 PM PDT
by
READINABLUESTATE
(You cannot solidify control and power over people who are able to defend themselves.)
To: CedarDave
I live in an area that has many Wintering Eagles....
Some are year round....
The closest wind field was given an exemption..or a quota?? Of how many Bald Eagles...it could kill every year.
I kid you not!!
14
posted on
09/23/2019 3:34:57 PM PDT
by
Osage Orange
(Whiskey Tango Foxtrot)
To: CedarDave
Not to mention what it’s doing to the bat population.
15
posted on
09/23/2019 3:35:46 PM PDT
by
Osage Orange
(Whiskey Tango Foxtrot)
To: This_Dude
Many wind “farms” have people to pick the birds on the ground up..regularly.
16
posted on
09/23/2019 3:37:07 PM PDT
by
Osage Orange
(Whiskey Tango Foxtrot)
To: CedarDave
17
posted on
09/23/2019 3:45:01 PM PDT
by
Old Yeller
(Auto-correct has become my worst enema.)
To: CedarDave
18
posted on
09/23/2019 3:47:36 PM PDT
by
I want the USA back
(The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it. Orwell.)
To: Osage Orange
Bingo...it’s a stain on the enterprise to be anti-environment. What would look worse than a pike of dead birds ? Keeps ‘em below the quota.
19
posted on
09/23/2019 3:58:59 PM PDT
by
chiller
(As Davey Crockett once said: Be sure you're right. Then go ahead. I'm goin' ahead.)
To: CedarDave
Wind energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels
When the first half of the first sentence is a lie, you dont need to read the rest.
20
posted on
09/23/2019 4:01:31 PM PDT
by
Jim Noble
(There is nothing racist in stating plainly what most people already know)
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