The State of the Science on Land-Based Wind Energy and Birds

The 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report revealed that birds are suffering rapid population declines across the United States from impacts like habitat loss. Audubon’s science shows that two-thirds of North American bird species are at risk of extinction unless we take bold action to cut pollution and slow the rise in global temperatures. Increasingly extreme weather conditions and shifting seasons are already altering ecosystems and threatening species’ survival.  

When done responsibly, developing more land-based wind energy can help protect birds from these escalating threats. As demand for energy continues to grow, it is essential that we plan thoughtfully for how to meet those needs. Wind energy is one of many ways that human activities interact with bird populations and habitats, with other structures like buildings having greater impacts, and research efforts over the last several decades have continued to improve understanding to avoid or minimize risks. That's why Audubon advocates for planning and siting projects based on the best available science and working with local communities to ensure that development benefits both people and wildlife. 

The latest publication from the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI), Wind Energy Interactions with Wildlife: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Based on the State of the Science, provides a comprehensive summary of publicly available information about how land-based wind power interacts with birds and bats in North America. It also highlights the latest strategies to avoid and minimize impacts like collisions and habitat degradation, underscoring that early and meaningful engagement with state wildlife management agencies, careful planning, research, and collaboration can help advance the clean energy projects we need.  

Responsible Land-Based Wind Development 

Responsible wind development involves siting and operating projects in ways that advance renewable energy while reducing risks to birds and other wildlife. Best practices and advanced mapping are used to identify low-conflict areas and avoid sites that are critical for birds. Collision-reducing technologies, conservation offsets for any unavoidable impacts, and rigorous monitoring before and after construction also help ensure that projects continue to minimize impacts to birds over time. 

Audubon is a founder and Board member of REWI, an independent nonprofit convening renewable energy companies, conservation and science organizations, and public agencies to develop and leverage peer-reviewed science on renewable energy, wildlife, and ecosystems. With over 120 years of conservation science, Audubon works with developers and decision-makers on responsible land-based wind energy development.

For example, Audubon’s collaboration with wind projects in the Tehachapi Mountains of California resulted in experimentation with advanced technologies to detect Golden Eagles and California Condors if they enter a project area in order to turn the turbines off in around 30 seconds. Many of the wind projects also provided conservation benefits to California Condors in advance through captive breeding programs and other measures through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) permit that provides conservation before any Condors have been harmed. Since then, no Condors have been killed or injured at a wind project and the population has grown through the permit.  

Key Takeaways from the REWI Summary 

• In recent decades, extensive research has examined how land-based wind energy interacts with wildlife and their habitats. Audubon has been part of these efforts since the first meeting of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC), a precursor to REWI, in 1994. REWI’s summary synthesizes publicly available, peer-reviewed, scientific studies conducted by professional biologists and analyzed using rigorous, impartial methods.  
• For many birds, the current rate of estimated mortality from wind turbines would not be expected to have a population-level impact. The species most frequently affected by turbine collisions tend to be common perching birds like Mourning Doves with large populations and high reproductive rates. For these species, the impact from wind turbines is typically less than 0.02 percent of their total population, which is remarkably low compared to other, far more widespread causes of bird mortality such as building collisions.  
• However, some bird species are more vulnerable to population level impacts than others. Species with declining populations that are sensitive to any additional sources of mortality or disturbance, such as Greater Sage-Grouse, Ferruginous Hawk, and Lesser Prairie Chicken, are a high priority for Audubon when engaging on a wind project. A 2020 report from USFWS revealed that populations of Golden Eagles are stable, but cumulative impacts from various stressors like lead poisoning, shooting, and electrocution on power lines may contribute to further declines. Because Golden Eagles have relatively small populations and slow reproductive rates, any additional mortality from turbine collisions can have a greater impact on their overall population trajectory.  
• New technologies are currently deployed at wind projects to minimize the risks for those species that could have elevated levels of impact from wind energy. For example, camera-based systems coupled with machine vision algorithms can detect and classify raptors like Golden Eagles in real time and can substantially reduce fatalities by automatically shutting down turbines. Research continues in additional technologies and operating practices that may avoid and minimize harm to birds like contrast painting of turbine blades.  

Responsibly sited and operated land-based wind energy projects are essential to safeguarding the future of birds and people. Researchers, conservationists, and industry partners are working together to develop and implement strategies to avoid, minimize, monitor, and offset impacts. With the best available science, continued collaboration, and community input, we can build a clean energy future that benefits the climate, people, and conservation. 

For more information about REWI's new publication, visit Wind Energy Interactions with Wildlife: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Based on the State of the Science.