This was certainly true for first generation turnbines, but the new turbines are larger and spin much slower. Because of this, they kill few birds (skyscrapers and domestic cats, not to mention Global Warming and conventional pollution from coal) kill many more. Siting with respect to nesting areas and flight paths is an issue, but no more than siting coal plants or mines.

Also, do to turbine size, most wind farms are in very rural areas, so noise (even if it had not been reduced) would not be important. We’re talking about a wind farm on the horizon, not in your backyard. I personally think they’re pretty.. like ballet dancers.

One other advantage is water usage… thermal plants such as coal an nuclear evaporate about 1 gallon per 3 kWh produced for cooling. When water is scarce, as it is becoming everywhere, the fact that wind uses none becomes a big deal.