What Is Wind Power’s Risk to Birds?

Students will learn about the controversy surrounding bird mortality and wind turbines. They will research bird patterns and behaviors to gain a better understanding about wind’s risks to birds. Students will conduct a simple avian risk assessment at a potential wind farm site.

The Details

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Grades
6th - 8th Grade
9th - 12th Grade
Time Required
1-2 class periods

Materials

  • Student reading passages and student worksheets
  • Calculators

Next Generation Science Standards

Cross-Cutting Concepts

  • Stability & Change

Disciplinary Core Ideas

  • ETS1.A Defining & Delimiting an Engineering Problem
  • LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics Functioning & Resilience

Learning Objectives

  • Know about some avian behaviors such as feeding, migrating, and nesting
  • Be able to collect, evaluate, and use data from a variety of sources
  • Understand how birds can be impacted by turbines