Experts warn wind expansion could increase golden eagle deaths

Experts fear more golden eagles will die in wind turbine collisions as wind power expands, Yle reports. One golden eagle has so far been confirmed killed by a turbine in Finland, but researchers say the true scale of the risk is uncertain.

The confirmed death occurred in Vaala in 2024. Biologist and experienced birdwatcher Vesa Hyyryläinen verified the case from photographs after a wind power company reported it. The eagle had been found “in pieces” beneath a turbine. It had nested in the wind farm area for years and had been ringed as a nestling in Pyhäntä 19 years earlier.

Fingrid, Finland’s national electricity grid operator, estimates that wind power generation could double within five years and quadruple within ten. Finland currently has about 2,000 wind turbines. Anni Mikkonen, chief executive of the Finnish Renewables association, estimates that Fingrid’s forecast would require about 1,000 more turbines to be built in five years.

Finland has fewer than 500 breeding pairs of golden eagles. Including young birds and adults that have not yet paired, the population is about 2,000. The species is classified as vulnerable in Finland.

Wind farm assessments commonly estimate that about one per cent of golden eagles flying in risk areas could collide with a turbine. Hannu Tikkanen, a leading Finnish golden eagle expert, said the actual proportion could be lower or higher. Golden eagles often live in remote areas, where turbine collisions may go unnoticed.

More than 80 white-tailed eagles have been reported killed by turbine blades through monitoring by the Osprey Foundation, a raptor conservation organisation. The actual number is likely higher. International studies have found that golden eagles can avoid turbines, but Hyyryläinen said experts remain concerned about the effects of increasing turbine numbers on golden eagles and other birds of prey.

Golden eagles and wind power projects favour some of the same areas, where winds are strong and human disturbance is limited. In 2023, regional land-use plan assessments identified about 12,500 potential turbine locations. Tikkanen said well over half were within golden eagle territories.

In North Ostrobothnia, most golden eagle territories are already used for wind power or have projects planned. The territories’ core areas have been excluded from wind power development.

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation has criticised the role of Metsähallitus, the state-owned organisation responsible for managing state lands. Its nature services are responsible for golden eagle protection, while its property development division works on energy projects. More than 80 per cent of Finland’s golden eagle nests are on Metsähallitus land. The organisation also develops large wind and solar power projects and data centre projects, according to Yle.

Association chair Hanna Halmeenpää said Metsähallitus could do more to protect the species, in addition to the work of regional councils.