Yeah But… Wind Farms Kill Birds, Whales, and Forests

This is the ninth in my “Yeah But…” series. And it comes up a lot:

“Yeah but wind farms kill birds.”

“Yeah but they’re killing whales!”

“Yeah but they’re destroying forests and habitat!”

It’s usually said with mock concern, often by people who’ve never lifted a finger for conservation. But let’s take it seriously anyway - because unlike fossil fuel executives, I care about birds, whales and forests. A lot.

First, Some Perspective

Yes, wind turbines do kill some birds. But do you know what kills far more?

• Buildings and windows: ~100 million birds per year in Australia alone

• Cats (especially feral): Over 500 million birds and 1 billion reptiles annually

• Fossil fuels and climate change: Whole ecosystems, migratory patterns, breeding grounds, and food webs.

If you care about wildlife, the worst thing we can do is keep burning coal and gas.

What About Whales?

The idea that offshore wind farms are killing whales is being pushed by fossil-funded think tanks and politicians in the US and Australia. I wrote a blog on this a few years back. And here’s what the science actually says:

• Independent investigations by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and marine mammal experts have found no evidence linking offshore wind to whale strandings or deaths.

• The real culprits? Ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and climate-driven changes in ocean temperatures and food availability.

Whales are dying, yes - but not because of wind turbines. They’re dying because the oceans are heating, fish stocks are shifting, coal ships and striking them, and our global addiction to fossil fuels is changing the sea itself.

What About Forests?

Yes, wind farms - like any major infrastructure - can affect land. But here’s the truth:

• Most wind farms in Australia are built on cleared farmland, ridgelines, or degraded areas with minimal impact on native forest.

• The handful of examples where forest clearing has occurred are the exception, not the rule. And even then, the impact is far less than that of logging, mining, roads, or fossil fuel extraction. Developers are also required by law to avoid, reduce and offset the impacts on threatened species.

• Unlike coal and gas, wind power doesn’t permanently poison ecosystems, doesn’t dig up Country, and doesn’t heat the planet.

And while we’re at it. Climate change is the biggest threat to Australia’s forests. It’s making bushfires more frequent and intense, causing dieback, and shifting rainfall patterns. If we want to save forests, we need to slash emissions - fast.

Smarter Wind, Safer Wildlife

Today’s wind farm developers don’t operate in the dark. Here’s what they’re doing:

• Siting wind farms to avoid key habitats and flyways

• Using radar and AI systems to pause turbines during migration periods

• Spacing offshore turbines and limiting sonar noise to protect whales and dolphins

• Avoiding areas of high conservation value through environmental impact assessments.

Compare that to fossil fuel operations. Mining, drilling, pipelines, seismic blasting, methane leaks, coal dust, oil spills, and runaway climate impacts - all approved for decades with barely a thought for nature.

The Bigger Picture

We’re in a biodiversity crisis. The warming caused by burning coal, oil, and gas is already driving species to extinction - not hypothetically, but right now. Koala populations are collapsing. Coral reefs are bleaching. Wetlands are drying. Bushfire seasons are lengthening.

We need to move to renewables - including wind - because it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to protect nature.

Final Thought

If you’re suddenly concerned about birds, whales, or forests, good. But focus that concern where it actually matters: on stopping fossil fuels, not slowing down clean energy.

Because here’s the truth: birds, whales and forests aren’t at risk of extinction because of wind farms. They’re dying because of the fossil fuel status quo.