Do Wind Turbines Kill Many Birds?
In short: Yes, birds do get killed at wind turbines — on average about 10–15 per turbine and year, predominantly common species. Measured against other causes of death, that is a small number. The real problem is not the overall total but the risk to individual rare, collision-prone species such as the red kite. That is precisely what surveys, setback rules and shutdown systems address.
The Numbers in Context
The nationwide PROGRESS study recorded collisions systematically. Extrapolated, the order of magnitude is around a dozen collision victims per turbine and year. That sounds like a lot, but it is put into perspective when compared with other human-caused bird losses:
| Cause of death (Germany, rough order of magnitude) | Birds/year |
|---|---|
| Window glass / window collisions | ~100–115 million |
| Domestic cats | tens of millions |
| Road traffic | ~70 million |
| Power lines | ~2.8 million |
| Wind turbines | ~100,000–200,000 |
Wind energy's share of total losses is therefore small. From a nature-conservation standpoint, however, what counts is not just the absolute number but the effect on the population of a species.
Why Individual Species Are Nonetheless a Problem
For common species, the loss of individual animals barely registers. For rare, long-lived species with a low reproductive rate, the death of even a few breeding pairs can endanger the local population. Raptors and large birds are particularly affected, as they look downwards on their search flights and perceive the rotor blades poorly:
- Red kite — Germany bears a special responsibility for this species (more than half of the world population breeds here)
- White-tailed eagle, Montagu's harrier, marsh harrier
- Common buzzard — common, but the most frequent collision victim among raptors
- White stork as well as migrating large birds
How Species Protection Is Handled in the Permitting Process
In the permitting process, an avifaunistic survey (breeding-bird and resting-bird mapping) is mandatory. It clarifies which collision-prone species breed in the surrounding area. Since the 2022 amendment, § 45b BNatSchG (Federal Nature Conservation Act) sets nationwide near-zones (Nahbereiche) and assessment zones (Prüfbereiche) for each species — replacing the previously inconsistent rules of the individual federal states.
If the distance to the nest is insufficient, avoidance measures are deployed before a site is rejected.
Anti-Collision Systems: Shutting Down Instead of Preventing
Modern technology detects approaching large birds and briefly shuts the turbine down:
- Camera systems (e.g. IdentiFlight, BirdVision): detect raptors at several hundred metres and trigger a demand-controlled shutdown
- Phenological shutdown: fixed standstill periods during harvest/mowing, when raptors hunt over the area
- Habitat steering: making diversion areas away from the turbine more attractive
The yield loss from such shutdowns is usually small (often in the low single-digit percentage range) and makes otherwise non-permittable sites possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do modern wind turbines rotate more slowly and are therefore safer?
The rotational speed of modern large turbines is lower than that of old small turbines — but the blade tips move faster. What is decisive for the risk is less the rotational speed than the site selection (distance to breeding sites) and the shutdown technology.
Do bats also die at wind turbines?
Yes, bats are in fact more strongly affected than birds. They are protected via a separate bat survey and wind-speed-dependent shutdowns.
Can a site be rejected outright because of a red kite?
Yes, if the killing risk remains "significantly elevated" despite avoidance measures. However, § 45b BNatSchG has standardised the assessment and introduced reasonableness limits for shutdowns, so that more sites become permittable.
Bird collisions at wind turbines – the numbers in context, endangered species and protection systems