Wind, solar power now kills 48% of preferred bird species with ‘population level effects’ – Is it up for that?
From NoTricksZone
Via Kenneth Richard
Of the 23 California vulnerable bird species studied (owls, golden eagles, road owls, golden cuckoos, etc.), the scientists found 11 species are now declining in growth rates. population growth of at least 20% because wind turbines and solar panels are killing them and/or destroying habitat within their limits.
California’s mild winter Mediterranean climate is home to some of the rarest bird ecosystems on Earth.
But California is also home to some of the most ardent advocates of “green” energy policies.
Comparatively because California’s activists are determined to transition their energy infrastructure from fossil fuels to renewables, the United States has generally facilitated wind energy production and solar energy increased from 300% to 9,400%, respectively from 2009 to 2019. Nationally, the solar power industry alone is poised to grow from 0.4 GW of energy capacity in 2009 to 75 GW in year 2025.
Too few advocates for the explosive expansion of solar and wind power focus on the impact of this unprecedented change on local ecosystems – particularly vulnerable wildlife populations. hurt.
To have a “population-level impact” on a vulnerable bird species, the authors of new research clarified that wind and solar-generated deaths in California must have caused “a decrease in population growth of more than or equal to 20%” for the 23 priority bird species they identified. accumulate.
Deeply related to 48% (11) this species is ready affected at the population level to their growth rate as wind turbines and solar panels are killed.
Image source: Conkling et al., 2022
To this end, marine biologists report that to date (2017) there has not been any clear evidence of any population-level effects that “anthropogenic ocean acidification cause” to the abundance or population distribution of any marine species studied in the laboratory.
Image source: McElhany et al., 2017
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