SCOTT NIELSEN
For more information
call 800.762.7077 or
visit focusonenergy.com
by Mick Sagrillo Other birds are killed by colliding with the lines. One
Wind Energy Specialist report states: “For some types of birds, power line
Focus on Energy collisions appear to be a significant source of mor-
tality.”2
D
espite sophisticated advances in wind tur-
bine siting and equipment design over the Bird collisions with buildings and houses are also
last twenty years, rumors persist that wind significant. There are five million tall buildings in
turbines are dangerous bird killers. Active wind tur- U.S. cities. Some have been documented as being
bine opponents continue to promote this erroneous continual hazards for night-migrating birds. Although
idea as evidence that construction of wind turbine most of the 100 million houses in the U.S. are in
projects should be halted. towns and cities, most residential bird collisions
occur in rural areas.
Bird watchers, environmentalists and the general pub-
lic remain confused. As a source of renewable energy, There are no ongoing studies of this phenomenon,
wind turbines should be part of the solution, not part but the best estimates put bird deaths from struc-
of the problem. But do wind generators really kill tural collisions at between 100 million and a stag-
birds, especially declining, rare and protected gering one billion deaths annually.3
species? Does wind generation as a technology rep-
resent a serious risk to the general bird population? Lighted communication towers have been found to
be highly dangerous for birds, particularly at night.
BIRD DEATHS FROM HUMAN CAUSES One study concludes, “It is apparent from the analy-
Birds do collide with wind turbines, just as they do sis of the data that significant numbers of birds are
with other tall human-made structures. However, it dying in collisions with communication towers, their
should also be clear that by far the largest causes guy wires, and related structures.”4 Another report
of mortality among birds include loss of habitat due states: “The main environmental problem we are
to human infringement, environmental despoliation watching out for with telecommunication towers is
and collisions with other human-made objects. The the death of birds and bats.”5
vast grid of utility transmission and distribution
lines in the United States is responsible for 130 The number of telecommunication towers in the U.S.
MICK SAGRILLO
million to 174 million bird deaths per year.1 Many currently exceeds 77,000, and this number could eas-
victims are raptors, waterfowl and other large birds, ily double by 2010. The rush to tower construction is
electrocuted when their wings bridge two hot wires. being driven by growing use of cell phones and by the
reach the same mortality level as the Exxon Valdez
event in 1989.
MICK SAGRILLO
% OF ANNUAL BIRD FATALITIES BY SOURCE
Wind turbines 0.1 – 0.2%
Pesticides 7%
Vehicles 7%
Cats 10%
Other 10%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
SOURCE: Wallace P. Erickson, Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc.
NOTES
1 Avian Collisions with Wind Turbines: A Summary of Existing
14 Ibid, pg 2
Residential wind turbines like this one pose little, if any, threat to birds. They are simply too 17 Ibid, pg 67
small and too far apart.
Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable
energy projects. Focus information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not get
completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising
energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state's growing demand for
electricity and natural gas. For more information call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.