The House hearing discussed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), a law protecting American birds from being deliberately killed. Initially passed in 1916 to prevent over-hunting, it currently protects over 1,100 bird species.
• The hearing aimed to consider changes to the MBTA, including provisions for "incidental taking," which refers to accidental bird deaths.
• Wind turbines are significant incidental killers, estimated to kill over a million birds annually, but this issue was largely ignored during the hearing.
• A utility witness focused on voluntary programs to mitigate bird deaths from power lines and sought regulatory certainty, implying resistance to changes in the MBTA.
• A recent study highlighted declining bird populations, but did not link this to wind turbine impacts.
• Chairman Hageman raised concerns about wind turbines killing birds and mentioned local efforts to address this issue in Wyoming.
• Discussions mainly centered on two problem bird species: black vultures and double-crested cormorants, which are causing issues for farmers and fisheries.
The hearing highlighted gaps in addressing the vital issue of bird deaths from wind turbines. More focused legislative efforts are needed to protect birds from this growing threat, suggesting that wind turbine impacts should be a distinct discussion outside of the MBTA context.
https://www.cfact.org/2026/03/10/house-hearing-on-bird-killing-ignores-wind/
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