Former President Donald Trump recently claimed that wind turbines are responsible for a significant number of bird deaths, describing the areas beneath them as “bird cemeteries” with “thousands of birds dead” beneath them. While his assertion highlights a real issue, the broader context reveals a more nuanced picture.
Wind turbines do indeed pose a threat to birds. Research conducted by specialists at the American Bird Conservancy estimates that wind turbines are responsible for nearly 1.2 million bird deaths annually in the United States. Some of the affected species include vulnerable avian populations such as golden eagles, bald eagles, burrowing owls and peregrine falcons.
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However, while the number of bird deaths caused by wind turbines is concerning, it is relatively small compared to other causes of avian mortality. Cars, pesticides, buildings and the fossil fuel industry collectively contribute to hundreds of millions of bird deaths each year. Even household cats are estimated to kill as many as one billion birds annually in the U.S. alone.
Overall, wind turbine-related bird deaths represent less than 1% of the total U.S. bird population each year. Although some of Trump’s claim is factually accurate, the impact of wind turbines on bird mortality is statistically minor when compared to other human-related threats.
[TRUMP]
You want to see a bird cemetery. Just go under a windmill. You see 1000s of birds dead
[JACK AYLMER]
TRUMP ISN’T NECESSARILY WRONG HERE.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S ASSERTION THAT WIND TURBINES KILL BIRDS IS CERTAINLY ACCURATE.
RESEARCH BY WIND SPECIALISTS AT THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY HAVE FOUND THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY ONE-POINT-TWO-MILLION BIRD DEATHS EVERY YEAR.
IN SOME CASES THREATENING A FEW OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AVIAN SPECIES FOUND IN THE U.S.-
INCLUDING GOLDEN EAGLES, BALD EAGLES, BURROWING OWLS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, AND MORE.
BUT WHILE TURBINES DO KILL THESE ANIMALS-
THE DEATH TOLL ATTRIBUTED TO THEM IS FAIRLY SMALL COMPARED TO OTHER CAUSES.
CARS, PESTICIDES, BUILDINGS, AND THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY combined are RESPONSIBLE FOR hundreds OF MILLIONS OF BIRD DEATHS IN THE U.S. ANNUALLY.
NOT TO MENTION that AS MANY AS ONE BILLION BIRDS are TAKEN OUT BY HOUSEHOLD CATS EVERY YEAR.
So while trump’s claims may not be false – they’re a drop in the bird mortality bucket in comparison to some other factors.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THEIR DEATHS WHICH OCCUR AS A RESULT OF TURBINE STRIKES YEARLY IS EQUIVALENT TO LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE U.S. BIRD POPULATION.
FOR MORE ABOUT THE DANGERS POSED TO BIRDS BY WIND TURBINES-
HEAD OVER TO STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SEARCH WINDS OF CHANGE TO GET A DEEPER DIVE ON THIS ISSUE.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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