Orji Ruth
Claim- Wind Turbines are the greatest cause of Aves in our today’s society.
A recent post made by @GatlinDidier a granny Youtuber stated and I quote “Wind Turbines aka “Bird killers” are the biggest killers of avian life”. In her documentary titled “Farm Facts”, she stated that wind turbines ought to be taken down coz it was murdering birds in their numbers and that is not contributing to a sustainable environment for all lives, reiterating that it was doing more harm than good.
This post has since gathered 2.4million views; 1.9million likes; 6400 comments; 1200 shares.
https://youtube.com/shorts/F4HxPusGMlw?si=QNGasnlnHNe0UiNg
NatureNews, Africa’s foremost news publications on climate change, which is dedicated to providing accurate insights to stop the spread of fake news particularly among users of social media, subjected the claim to fact checking.
Findings: Using the Google search tool in conducting this research, NatureFact, the fact checking unit of NatureNews, accessed a few papers and studies.
A thorough fact-checking investigation has revealed that this assertion isn’t equivocally precise.
A counter, non-subjective analysis was done by @WFAA a verifier of claims channel on YouTube. He gave a stoic aggregate of avian deaths- he stated that Wind turbines kill 234,000 birds per year, Communication towers kill 6.6 million birds, Cars kill 200 million birds, Tall building windows kill 599 million and cats kill 2.4 billion birds excluding their natural predators. Compared to the other mountainous killers of birds, Wind turbines pale in comparison.
https://youtu.be/zAj00IFpq_g?si=ZG_NVnz0pS0W0UyH
He also stated that mitigative methods are being put in place to combat the death of birds via Wind turbines by painting the rotors with the color black so the birds can see them.
@HollandCooke also attested to this analysis
https://youtu.be/eNFEG46Mx8A?si=3ascYl16HgohcdrY
@MITClimate gave a deeper analysis on this and also stated mitigative methods to reduce Wind turbine avian deaths like AI mechanism to stop the rotors when a bird is spotted close to it.
https://youtu.be/IJlH4n6LAxA?si=zk7ndDDbQhdIRkFQ
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Birds face a myriad of threats that significantly impact their populations, ranging from natural predators to human-made hazards. Understanding these threats is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
- Wind Turbines
Wind turbines, while being a sustainable energy source, are responsible for a notable number of bird deaths (Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory). Estimates suggest that in the United States alone, wind turbines kill between 140,000 and 500,000 birds annually. Birds often collide with turbine blades, particularly during migration periods when they fly at altitudes that intersect with the turbine’s rotor-swept zone. Certain species, such as raptors and bats, are more vulnerable due to their flight patterns and habitats overlapping with wind farm locations.
- Buildings
Buildings, especially those with large glass windows, are among the deadliest structures for birds (Source: American Bird Conservancy). Birds do not recognize glass as a barrier and often collide with windows, mistaking reflections of sky and vegetation for open space. This leads to an estimated 599 million to 1 billion bird deaths each year in the United States. High-rise buildings in urban areas are particularly problematic, but even residential homes contribute significantly to these numbers.
- Power Lines
Power lines are another major hazard for birds, resulting in approximately 10-100 million deaths annually in the United States (Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service). Birds can collide with power lines or be electrocuted when they perch on them. This is a significant problem for large birds such as eagles, hawks, and owls, which have large wingspans and are more likely to bridge the gap between two energized lines.
- Vehicles
Collisions with vehicles are a common cause of bird mortality, with an estimated 89-100 million birds killed on U.S. roads each year (Source: Federal Highway Administration). Birds are often struck while feeding on roadkill or when they fly across roads and highways. High-speed traffic and the expansion of road networks increase the risk of these fatal encounters.
- Other Human-Made Threats
Beyond the prominent threats mentioned, birds are also affected by other human activities and structures:
- Communication Towers: Birds, especially during nighttime migration, are attracted to the lights on communication towers and often collide with the structures or their supporting wires (Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service). This results in 10-20 million of bird deaths annually.
- Agricultural Practices: Pesticides and habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion also contribute to bird mortality (Source: Audubon Society and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Pesticides can poison up to 10 million birds directly or reduce their food supply by killing insects.
- Hunting and poaching: 10 million to 50 million birds per year (Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature). While some hunting is regulated, illegal poaching and overhunting contribute to bird population declines.
- Natural Threats
In addition to human-made hazards, birds face natural threats such as predation by other animals. Domestic and feral cats are particularly deadly (Source: American Bird Conservancy, International Union for Conservation of Nature), with estimates suggesting they kill over 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds annually in the United States alone. Natural predators like hawks, owls, and snakes also take their toll on bird populations, though these are part of the natural ecosystem balance.
- Habitat Loss
One of the most significant long-term threats to bird populations is habitat loss. Urbanization, deforestation, and the conversion of land for agriculture reduce the available natural habitats for birds. This not only leads to direct mortality but also affects breeding, feeding, and migration patterns, putting additional stress on bird populations.
- Climate Change
Climate change poses an overarching threat by altering habitats, food availability, and migration patterns (Source: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, birds may find it difficult to adapt quickly enough to the shifting conditions, leading to population declines.
Verdict– False. While wind turbines contribute to bird mortality, it pales in comparison and are only a fraction of a broader spectrum of threats that include buildings, power lines, cats, vehicles, and habitat loss.