Concerns Raised About Wind Turbine Infrasound and Bird Eggs

What are the effects of infrasound on our wild birds?

We have no idea. It has been known for many years that other forms of noise can impact the fitness and survival of birds.

Eggs and nesting baby birds exposed to moderate levels of anthropogenic traffic noise experience large, direct, and additive adverse effects on long-term development and fitness, according to a new study. The findings underscore the disruptive properties of noise on physiology, development, and reproduction, leading to lifelong fitness reduction. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science DOI 10.1126/science.ade5868 .

New wind turbines in Sweden may be responsible for the death of chickens while still in their eggs.

A Case Study

The Schwere family in Ljungbyholm, Sweden maintains a hobby flock with five different breeds. The normal hatch rate from 2009 to 2020 wasat least 95% successful hatches after 21 days of incubation. In 2021, a new wind power industry with 12 turbines of 4.5 MW each began operating about 1000 m from the farm centre. During the years 2021-2023, the hens stopped incubating after 16 days, leaving all the eggs dead. Even the few hens that went into the forest returned alone instead of returning with chicks as in previous years. The family’s adult son lives 3 km from the new wind industry also keeps free range chickens. From 2009 to 2023, the hatching success rate has been at least 90%. In 2022, the son moved three of these hens and a rooster to his parents’ chicken yard, 950 meters from the nearest wind turbine. These hens also stopped incubating after 16 days, leaving dead eggs.

Egg Mortality in the Coop During the Period May 1-21, 2023

Note: +1 indicates hatched malformed and died.

(Ref: Why Does Egg Mortality Increase Near a New Wind Industry? Published in “Svensk Veterinärtidning” No 5 June 2024 Vol. 75)

Turbines are getting bigger and produce more low frequency sound and infrasound

Ref: https://lumifyenergy.com/blog/different-types-of-wind-turbines/

It is already known that the sex of birds can change if the eggs are vibrated.