What studies have been done on the impact of wind turbines on birds and bats?
Few studies have been done to determine the true effect of industrial wind turbines on birds and bats, and fewer studies still that have been done independently of the wind companies’ control. The evidence is clear, though, that wind turbines present yet another threat to the lives of birds and bats. The risk appears to be much greater in some areas than in others. The first-year study of the “Maple Ridge” facility on the Tug Hill plateau of New York estimated that 2,000 to 4,000 birds and bats were killed by 120 turbines during the 5-month study period in 2006 (click here for the report; click here for May 1, 2007, testimony to the U.S. House Natural Resources subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans).
