It is estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 birds are killed by wind turbines in the United States each year. This includes both commercial and residential turbines. The vast majority of these deaths occur during the spring and fall migration seasons.
While this may seem like a lot of birds, it is important to keep in perspective that wind energy only accounts for around 0.2% of all human-related bird deaths in the United States. The leading cause of bird deaths is collision with buildings, which kills an estimated 600 million to 900 million birds each year. Cats also kill a significant number of birds, with domestic cats alone responsible for the deaths of between 1.4 and 3.7 billion birds each year.
Other related questions:
Q: How many birds are killed by wind power?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question as the number of birds killed by wind power varies depending on the location and number of turbines. However, a study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that wind turbines in the U.S. kill an estimated 573,000 birds each year.
Q: Do windmills kill birds?
A: There is no evidence that windmills kill birds.
Q: How does wind energy affect birds?
A: There is some evidence that wind energy can affect birds, although the exact nature and extent of these impacts is still not fully understood. One potential issue is that wind turbines can kill birds if they collide with them. Another potential concern is that wind farms can disrupt the habitat of birds, particularly if the turbines are placed in areas that are important for birds to nest or forage. Additionally, the noise from wind turbines can also disturb birds.