A recent report by BirdLife South Africa has revealed that wind farms in the country significantly impact birdlife, with many failing to mitigate their effects, according to MyBroadband. Over an eight-year study ending in 2023, researchers recorded 2 444 bird fatalities across 33 of the nation’s 35 wind farms, spanning over 200 species. Alarmingly, 10% of the casualties belonged to species of conservation concern.
Picture by Karsten Würth on Unsplash
South Africa currently operates 1 421 wind turbines, generating 3 490MW, with plans to expand to 17 700MW by 2030. While wind farms are legally required to report bird deaths to the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and the Environment (DFFE), the study found that some fail to comply, with two not reporting any data at all. The Eastern Cape was flagged as the least compliant province.
‘Many wind farms are doing their best to abide by the necessary legislation, but some are getting away with all sorts of things,’ said BirdLife’s Samantha Ralston-Paton. VulPro researcher Kate Webster alleged that some farm workers in Cookhouse were incentivised to remove bird carcasses to downplay the issue, calling the region a “war zone” for endangered Cape vultures.
BirdLife has called for stricter enforcement, including audits and fines for non-compliant wind farms. The DFFE responded that it takes these concerns seriously and supports enforcement actions. Some farms, like Excelsior Wind Farm, have adopted measures such as bird spotters who issue shutdown commands to prevent fatalities. However, challenges remain, particularly for species like the black harrier, whose unpredictable flight patterns make mitigation difficult.
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