Wind Turbines Turn Deadly in Desert Biodiversity Hotspot
A warning from India’s deserts as wind energy expansion clashes with efforts to save imperilled species.
Bird deaths outpace expectations
A major study in India’s Thar Desert has documented alarmingly high bird mortality at wind turbines, with an estimated 1.24 bird deaths per turbine per month - amounting to nearly 4,470 bird deaths annually per 1,000 km². The research, led by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, marks the first comprehensive mortality estimate in this renewable energy hotspot, which overlaps with crucial bird habitats including the range of the Critically Endangered Great Indian Bustard.
Of the 124 bird carcasses found in turbine surveys, nearly 40% were raptors from families such as Accipitridae and Falconidae. Notably, carcasses of the White-rumped Vulture, Tawny Eagle, and Laggar Falcon - all globally threatened species - were among the fatalities. No carcasses were found at nearby control sites without turbines, underscoring the role of wind infrastructure in the deaths.
Factors driving mortality
Bird deaths were not evenly distributed. Mortality was highest around single, isolated turbines compared to those in clusters. Flat grassland and scrubland habitats saw more fatalities than undulating grasslands. Taller turbines were associated with higher mortality rates, suggesting hub height is a critical factor in collision risk.
Contrary to expectations, the study found that neither the flight heights of bird families nor their body size or wingspan could reliably predict vulnerability. This suggests that other behavioural or ecological factors may be at play, complicating the task of identifying high-risk species in advance.
Raptors at risk
Raptors were among the most vulnerable groups, both in terms of absolute numbers and adjusted for their flight activity. These species are particularly susceptible due to their large size, open-habitat preferences, and tendency to exploit wind-generated thermals for soaring - conditions that bring them perilously close to turbine blades.
While the Blue Rock Pigeon accounted for the most fatalities overall, researchers noted that their synanthropic behaviour and large populations mean this has little conservation impact. In contrast, continued losses among scarce and slow-reproducing raptors could have serious population-level consequences, particularly given their widespread global declines.
What can be done?
The study advocates urgent reforms to India’s wind energy expansion strategy. Researchers call for wind farms to be excluded from key habitats for vulnerable bird species, especially raptors and bustards. The effectiveness of mitigation measures like painting turbine blades to increase visibility should be systematically tested and, if effective, widely implemented.
The authors stress that wind energy - while vital in the transition away from fossil fuels - must not come at the expense of biodiversity. The Thar Desert, with its unique open natural ecosystems and high avian diversity, cannot afford to be a blind spot in the country’s renewable energy rollout.
Power lines compound the problem
Although the focus was on turbines, associated power lines also contribute significantly to bird deaths. Earlier studies in the same region estimated power line mortality at over 20,000 birds per year. As wind power infrastructure grows, so too will its ecological footprint unless robust safeguards are put in place.
With India aiming to increase its wind energy capacity to 140 GW by 2030, the authors argue that now is the time to integrate ecological considerations into siting and design. Without such measures, the clean energy revolution risks becoming a silent killer for some of the region’s most iconic bird species.
June 2025
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