Accelerated deaths of the Tasmanian wedge-tailed and white-bellied sea-eagles are a grim reality if thousands of new wind turbines are built. According to a study published in Australian Field Ornithology, wind turbines and transmission lines have caused the deaths or injuries of 321 threatened eagles in Tasmania over the past decade. The study focused on Australia’s two largest raptors, the wedge-tailed and white-bellied sea eagles. However, the actual number of deaths is believed to be higher due to incomplete surveying at wind farms and a lack of systemic research and public information.
The study found that from 2010-2022, wind farms caused the deaths of 268 eagles and injured 53. State-owned power company TasNetworks reported 139 deaths, while eagle rescuers witnessed 91 deaths and 50 injuries. Gregory Pullen, the author of the study, emphasized the need for an urgent solution to mitigate further harm to these vulnerable species. He noted that the real number of deaths is likely higher, as surveying at wind farms is incomplete and often excludes certain areas.
Of particular concern is the fact that 272 deaths involved the endangered Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, and 49 involved the vulnerable white-bellied sea eagles. Both species could face even greater risks as wind turbine construction continues to expand, driven by the Australian government’s push for net-zero emissions.
Mr. Pullen warned that if thousands of new wind turbines and hundreds of kilometers of transmission lines are erected across Tasmania to meet the doubling of renewable energy production by 2040, the accelerated deaths of these eagles will become a grim reality. The study estimated that less than 1,000 Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles remain, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring to prevent their extinction.
Despite guidelines in place to protect threatened eagles, the study found that these guidelines have not influenced real-life decisions regarding wind farm placement. Currently, there are no designated “no turbine zones” in Tasmania, despite significant variations in eagle densities across the region. While some have proposed fitting Tasmanian eagles with GPS trackers to better understand their movements, this concept has yet to be widely adopted in wind farm planning.
Concerns about the reliability of large-scale renewable energy generation have also been raised. One Oxford University mathematician and physicist criticized wind power, calling it historically and scientifically unreliable. Professor Emeritus Wade Allison argued that governments prioritize “windfarm politics” over numerical evidence and deploy vast renewable energy projects without considering the damage they may cause to the environment and wildlife.
The study comes at a time when the Tasmanian government is pushing towards net-zero emissions and collaborating with international partners to expand renewable energy production, particularly in the green hydrogen sector. While renewable energy offers opportunities for sustainability, it is essential to consider the potential harm to vulnerable species and the overall reliability of such systems.