Blaming the wind? The impact of wind turbine on bird biodiversity

Abstract

We quantitatively assess the impacts of onshore wind turbines on bird diversity using citizen science data in China. Results show that a one-standard-deviation increase in wind turbines reduces bird abundance by 9.75% and leads to a 12.2% reduction in bird species richness at the county level. The negative impacts are more significant in migrant birds, birds in forests, urban and farmlands than others. Biodiversity protection helps to safeguard bird abundance against wind turbines. We also find that habitat loss rather than food chain change after the wind turbine installations contributes to biodiversity loss. The net impact of wind turbines on the environment is positive when considering the carbon reduction effects.