The Golden Eagle, a majestic bird of prey known for its impressive wingspan and formidable hunting prowess, is facing a significant threat to its survival.
This bird, which can weigh up to eight pounds and boasts a wingspan of over seven feet, is a symbol of the wild, untamed landscapes it inhabits. Found across the northern hemisphere, these raptors are particularly prevalent in the rocky terrains of the Rockies in the United States.
However, their numbers have been dwindling since the 1980s, with the population dropping from around 80,000 to a mere 30,000. Alarmingly, the rise of wind-power mills could push this magnificent species to the brink of extinction.
According to RedState, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act stipulates that the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) cannot issue more "take" permits, which allow for the killing of these birds, than the population can sustain. Two recent studies suggest that the current rate of golden eagle deaths due to wind turbines is at or beyond this limit. This is a disturbing revelation, especially considering that these deaths are entirely preventable. The advent of these large, unsightly wind turbines, often touted as a solution to our environmental woes, has been met with criticism from many quarters.
One of these studies, titled "Age-specific survival rates, causes of death, and allowable take of Golden Eagles in the western United States," published in Ecological Applications in January 2022, indicates that we have already reached the "allowable" number of eagle deaths. The study estimates the permissible death rate from human action under the law and compares it to the current death rate. The estimated allowable take is around 2,227 deaths per year, while the actual take is greater, at 2,572 annual deaths. These figures suggest that we are already at the allowable take, and the addition of more wind turbines could push the Golden Eagle towards extinction.
The second study, "Estimated Golden Eagle mortality from wind turbines in the western United States," published in Biological Conservation in February 2025, attempts to quantify the actual wind-kill numbers. The results are disheartening. The study concludes, "Anthropogenic mortality is the primary cause of death in adult Golden Eagles and recent trends indicate their population may be declining. If the current rate of growth of the wind energy industry continues, it could have conservation implications for Golden Eagle and other raptor populations."
The study uses a collision risk model that combines the spatial population density of the eagles with the spatial density of the spinning blades. This model takes into account the increasing size and number of wind turbines. The conclusion is clear: windmills, promoted by advocates of green energy as a solution to climate change, are killing one of the most magnificent creatures on the planet, and we may be nearing the point of no return.
When windmill farms are approved for construction, they are assigned an allowable take for birds in general. However, the specific problems with golden eagles, such as their low population density compared to other raptors and their habit of using updrafts off rocky ridges to soar, are not adequately considered. These are the very places where windmills, due to their near-constant wind, generate more reliable energy. The death of an eagle, particularly since they mate for life, can further endanger the species.
It is baffling that the United States Fish & Wildlife Service is withholding information about the number of raptors and other birds killed by windmills. Extinction is a reality, with nearly 99 percent of the species that have lived on this planet now extinct. However, this does not justify reckless endangerment of one of the most magnificent predatory birds on the planet by an expensive, unreliable, and low-energy-density source of power like wind energy.
The United States Fish & Wildlife Service owes it to the American people to disclose how many raptors are killed by wind turbines and to halt the issuance of further permits in areas where golden eagles are found.
This should continue until a more comprehensive evaluation of their population is available. The survival of the Golden Eagle, a symbol of our wild, untamed landscapes, may well depend on it.
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