Home Wind Turbine: Do They Really Kill Birds?

Home wind turbine technology has come a long way in a short period of time. But, they still kill birds that fly by and are responsible for a lot of wildlife deaths. This can be a key problem for people trying to integrate renewable energy technology into their lives. Why do they endanger wildlife and birds in particular?

Hypnotizing effect - Studies have indicated that people like looking at these devices. Especially vertical axis when turbines which can have a psychologically calming affect. Wildlife is no different and birds and other animals can get entranced by the rhythmic quality of the home wind turbine. This is not a problem for home wind turbines alone. For years utility grade wind turbines and large wind turbines located in rural areas have had this problem as well. As a matter of fact, the negative press associated with these larger operations has spilled over to the home wind turbine market and thereby tainted it.

Wildlife is curious - Things not found in their natural ecosystem are going to be investigated. The fact that birds and animals can get close to these devices without anyone really noticing is a key problem and a reason for this aspect of the issue. Most wind turbines on towers can be located out in the country and therefore it are not around people. Over time, birds and other wildlife approach the wind turbine and can even form nests in the latticework that the towers are made from. The animals naturally get complacent and are not as sensitive to what the wind turbine might do next as a human being would be and they can therefore get caught in the blade system.

Move slowly and hard to time - Also, the blades can move slowly at times because of their weight. When the home wind turbines shift from a fast speed to a slow speed they can cause a timing problem for birds and other wildlife as they pass through the area and can often cause them to run into the blades.

Move fast and can't see them - Conversely, if the blades are moving too fast-and this is especially true of a small home wind turbine-wildlife and birds can fly right through them without even seeing the blade system.

Summarizing, home wind turbine products are not immune to the problems associated with bird and wildlife interference. They are also a danger to local wildlife, albeit not as pronounced as with a utility grade device or of the wind turbine found on a farm for example.