Or skyscrapers or airplanes or … While the wind-generators are a problem for the birds, there are new technologies to mitigate it, making them much safer.
Prof danglais – the blades are not slow moving, it is a visual effect due to the size of the thing. The tip of a medium size wind turbine blade can turn at a speed of 300 kmh, that’s 190 mph. No animal on earth has the reflexes to avoid an object going at that speed.
Not to mention that wind energy is twice as expensive to produce as oil or coal fired generators. However if we can shut down the coal industry and double the price of oil, wind can compete.
Turbine fatalities for migratory birds range from 0 to 4 birds per turbine annually; not only do birds avoid the turbines, current wind farm planning includes mitigating efforts and not siting them in migratory paths.
In contrast, window strikes (especially of skyscrapers) kill up to 975 million birds per year, and high tension power lines kill somewhere between tens of thousands and over 170 million.
Birds face a lot of threats from humans, but wind farms are not exactly in the running as the worst.
These comments made me realize that, no matter what your position, you can pull out some facts to support it (especially if you ignore some other facts).
I respect and love nature and want birds and all to survive. Funny how the clamor for “poor little birds” heated up when windpower got bigger… until then , they were just some more dead birds. Look at what else kills them!
Unlike oil, I can’t drive my car on wind power. Unlike rich people, I won’t be able to afford a 500% increase on my electric bill. Not mention supporting all those unemployed coal mine workers with higher taxes.
Studies of the Danish off-shore wind farms show that most birds see it all as a unit and fly around the whole array. The exceptions are gulls and cormorants, who find the service platforms ideal for nesting and fly under the blades..Daviddeer: No, but if we weren’t controlled by the awl bidness, we would have both electric cars and electric trains for longer distances (which would recharge the cars en route). Both could be ultimately get their electricity generated by wind, sun, tides, waves, geysers, etc. For very short distances, feet (directly or through pedals) are good too.
swr: more reliable? Tell that to the folk in Chernobyl and Fukushima. The only way “renewables” are less reliable is if you depend on only one type. A mix will cover needs without killing people.
roskenwer over 11 years ago
keep your eyes open
willikiii over 11 years ago
Ah, yezzz, the ubiquitous Kalifornia Kondor Kuisenart!
cdward over 11 years ago
Or skyscrapers or airplanes or … While the wind-generators are a problem for the birds, there are new technologies to mitigate it, making them much safer.
cabalonrye over 11 years ago
Prof danglais – the blades are not slow moving, it is a visual effect due to the size of the thing. The tip of a medium size wind turbine blade can turn at a speed of 300 kmh, that’s 190 mph. No animal on earth has the reflexes to avoid an object going at that speed.
RR208 over 11 years ago
Constructing wind turbines has the highest death rate for workers than any other energy related field. Surprised me.
t jacobs over 11 years ago
i did a project about a quater mile from one last year and they are noisey
johnmanjaybee over 11 years ago
Not to mention that wind energy is twice as expensive to produce as oil or coal fired generators. However if we can shut down the coal industry and double the price of oil, wind can compete.
lbatik over 11 years ago
Turbine fatalities for migratory birds range from 0 to 4 birds per turbine annually; not only do birds avoid the turbines, current wind farm planning includes mitigating efforts and not siting them in migratory paths.
In contrast, window strikes (especially of skyscrapers) kill up to 975 million birds per year, and high tension power lines kill somewhere between tens of thousands and over 170 million.
Birds face a lot of threats from humans, but wind farms are not exactly in the running as the worst.
Davepostmp over 11 years ago
These comments made me realize that, no matter what your position, you can pull out some facts to support it (especially if you ignore some other facts).
Yammo Premium Member over 11 years ago
If you haven’t yet seen one of these wind mills, these things are gigantic! (and no, that’s not just what she said)
jlinstrom over 11 years ago
I respect and love nature and want birds and all to survive. Funny how the clamor for “poor little birds” heated up when windpower got bigger… until then , they were just some more dead birds. Look at what else kills them!
Stormrider2112 over 11 years ago
Yup, there isn’t a limited supply of wind…especially when the right wingers start talking about renewable energy.
Daviddeer over 11 years ago
Unlike oil, I can’t drive my car on wind power. Unlike rich people, I won’t be able to afford a 500% increase on my electric bill. Not mention supporting all those unemployed coal mine workers with higher taxes.
hippogriff over 11 years ago
Studies of the Danish off-shore wind farms show that most birds see it all as a unit and fly around the whole array. The exceptions are gulls and cormorants, who find the service platforms ideal for nesting and fly under the blades..Daviddeer: No, but if we weren’t controlled by the awl bidness, we would have both electric cars and electric trains for longer distances (which would recharge the cars en route). Both could be ultimately get their electricity generated by wind, sun, tides, waves, geysers, etc. For very short distances, feet (directly or through pedals) are good too.
hippogriff over 11 years ago
swr: more reliable? Tell that to the folk in Chernobyl and Fukushima. The only way “renewables” are less reliable is if you depend on only one type. A mix will cover needs without killing people.