Wind Farm Bird Deaths vs. Fossil Fuel & Nuclear Power Plant Bird Deaths - versus cats.

[Fred Sanders]

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/26/wind-farm-bird-deaths-fossil-fuel-nuclear-bird-deaths/

This article was jointly written by one of CleanTechnica’s readers and Zachary Shahan.

It’s a shame when a beautiful (or even an ugly) animal dies. It’s a shame that wind turbines do indeed kill birds. However, every source of electricity we have kills some number of birds. And while solar panels may fare better than anything else, it’s actually clear (and uplifting) that wind turbines fare better than nuclear or fossil-fueled power plants on this front.

Here’s some info on bird kills per gigawatt-hour (GWh) of electricity produced:

Wind farms kill roughly 0.27 birds per GWh.
Nuclear plants kill about 0.6 birds per GWh. (2.2x wind)
Fossil-fueled power stations kill about 9.4 birds per GWh. (34.8x wind)


http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/26/wind-farm-bird-deaths-fossil-fuel-nuclear-bird-deaths/

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(Not to mention for coal killing fish, wildlife, other animals, polluting the air, water and land and scarring the landscape forever and creating a market for slave labor)

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Domestic and feral domestic cats - 1.4 billion bird deaths, 10.2 birds per cat.

I suggest we ban all domestic and feral cats.

[MohRokTah]

1. My six cats are responsible for zero bird deaths.

Indoor cats who are allowed supervised play time in the fenced back yard weather permitting (and for short periods of time.

We even have rabbits make their nests and have their babies in this yard. We encircle the nests with garden fencing while the cats are outdoors and insure cats and fencing are gone before twilight.

[0rganism]

4. i don't think that's really the point

do you think the OP is actually advocating a ban on domestic cats?

[MohRokTah]

7. No, the OP simply noted the statistics for cats.

My point was to demonstrate that the number is actually higher for feral cats and cats that are allowed to roam unfettered due to people like me with indoor cats.

All of our energy choices come with consequences, but, as is the case with pet cats, we can make choices to minimize the consequences.

[JEB]

5. Thank you for being such a responsible cat owner.

[Fred Sanders]

6. You know, I have had a dozen cats in my short life,loved them all. Except one.

Anyway, my most recent cat is a real birder, and my back yard full of birds, which I also love.

What to do? Real conflicted. Keep him inside and it is mental torture for him, outside it is likely death for a beautiful song bird...what to do?

[MohRokTah]

9. We have a bird feeder right outside our front iving room windows. The cats all enjoy cat TV.

Of course, they get a real treat every now and again when the bird feeder becomes a hawk feeder.

I see hawks get at least one bird each week at our bird feeder.

[progressoid]

20. Except for the cat food they eat.

Chicken, turkey, etc.

[MohRokTah]

21. The statistics involved wild birds.

Point taken, though. Cats are omnivorous with strong leanings towards carnivorous diets. Most of their grain needs are met by consuming creatures that feed on grains and consuming the stomachs of those creatures.

[JEB]

2. Cats are an invasive specie.

They make fine pets, but should neutered and kept indoors.

[immoderate]

10. Humans too!

--imm

[JEB]

13. Yes, correct. And it is illegal for humans to kill song birds.

Bring on line all the solar panels and wind generators we can as soon as possible.

[Duppers]

16. Ha!

Yep.

[napi21]

3. Perhaps true, but how many people have been killed by each?

I dont know the answer, but I would think neiclear would or could far surpass killing any people, animals & plants (think Chernoble)or at least WOULD is something went wrong, or if we can't find a solution to disposing of neuclear waste.

[Zorra]

14. List of nuclear and radiation accidents by death toll

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_by_death_toll

[liberal N proud]

8. You can't sell cats for energy

Which is the whole problem with wind energy. They can't keep you from using it without paying them.

[cui bono]

15. Damn, I guess I bred these thousands of cats for no reason.

[rustydog]

11. How many birds are killed by skyscrapers?

Evil buildings

[Politicalboi]

12. Cats miss so much being indoors

I have 3 and one growing kitten I'm still looking to get rid of. Any takers???? They love the outdoors. Yes they kill birds "sometimes". I don't like it when they do, but they don't always catch birds. Mine are more into lizard hunting. Again, I don't like it, and I try and save them before they become a play toy till they die. And I've saved about 6 or 7 of them. One had his eye out, but he lived. Those lizards are lucky I am not afraid to pick them up.

Cats like to lay and roll in the dirt, and soak up sun and chew grass, and run, and feel the breeze of the outdoors. To me it's cruel to keep them indoors. They have a whole other life outside.

[Arugula Latte]

18. "Catios" are a nice compromise...

Outdoor enclosures for kitties where they get the sun and grass and breeze but stay safe.

[ThoughtCriminal]

17. What are we?

[Arugula Latte]

19. "Ban cats"

Sorry, but that is just fucking stupid.

Never gonna happen.

Cats rule.

You were perhaps being facetious.

However, there are nutballs on DU who would seriously say that.