The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has warned that wind turbines are a threat to federally listed birds such as the endangered whooping crane which, according to the Washington-based organisation, “has to run a gauntlet of 24,000 wind turbines twice each year” because of the turbines being located in the centre of its migratory route.
Furthermore, an additional 50,000 wind turbines are planned.
Michael Hutchins, director of ABC’s Bird Smart wind-energy campaign, said: “Wind turbines are among the fastest-growing threats to our nation’s birds.
“Attempts to manage the wind industry with voluntary — as opposed to mandatory — permitting guidelines are clearly not working. By 2030, it is estimated that more than 1.4 million birds could be killed annually by wind turbines.”