Wind and solar power facilities may be causing declines in bird populations

Renewable energy production can kill birds, but little is known about how it affects avian populations. We assessed vulnerability of populations for 23 priority bird species killed at wind and solar facilities in California, U.S. Bayesian hierarchical models suggested that 48% of these species were vulnerable to population-level effects from added fatalities caused by renewables and other sources. Effects of renewables extended far beyond the location of energy production to impact bird populations in distant regions across continental migration networks. Our findings indicate that addressing declines of North American bird populations requires consideration of effects of renewables and other anthropogenic threats on both nearby and distant populations of vulnerable species.

Vulnera-birds

Many species of bird killed by collisions at renewable energy facilities are vulnerable to population-level declines. Researchers studied 23 local and transitory bird species killed at solar and wind power facilities in California, finding on average 48% are vulnerable to further population-level decreases extending far beyond the location of energy production. The effects of renewable power generation facilities on nearby and distant populations of vulnerable bird species should be considered, the authors said.

More information:
Tara J. Conkling et al, Vulnerability of avian populations to renewable energy production, Royal Society Open Science (2022). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211558

Provided by The Royal Society