The question of how to protect winged wildlife is becoming more pressing as deaths rise with the growth of wind power. Wind generation in the United States, for example, is up dramatically, but so are deaths of birds such as the federally protected golden eagle. (See related: "Federal Study Highlights Spike in Eagle Deaths at Wind Farms.")

Over the past several years, wind companies operating at Altamont Pass have made strides in reducing bird deaths across the wind resource area's 58 square miles (150 square kilometers). Part of the progress has come from shutting down in the winter months when the winds are low, and also from removing particularly hazardous turbines. (See related: "Notorious Altamont Wind Area Becomes