Hi Friends,
I got the following interesting post on birdchat in repsonse to my post
about bats being killed by wind turbines. I though it might be of interest
to people with an interest on bats on birding-aus.
John Penhallurick
Canberra
-----Original Message-----
From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line)
On Behalf Of Erdman, Thomas C
Sent: Thursday, 17 May 2007 12:11 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Effects of Wind Turbines
John: Having conducted research on turbines and towers it still remains a
bit of a mystery. The bats being killed are mostly migrant species. In
Wisconsin this has been Red, Silver-haired and Hoary bats. They are not
being hit by blades. It appears from the ones I've x-rayed that they are
being smashed into the ground by the turbulence of the blades, which can
exceed 200 mph at the tips. This turbulence would not be detected by the
echolocation of the bats. This turbulence may also affect insects that may
then change feeding paterns of bats. Bats recovered are whole carcasses,
often with limited damage. Being tree bats they must climb to take flight.
Being forced to land in open farm lands or similar habitat spells doom.
Some of our wind farms are places in alfalfa, hay and corn fields. Often in
autumn (August and September). we have large numbers of beetles from alfalfa
weevils and small moths from corn bores which provide ample food for
migrants. I suspect these food sources may attract bats. Agricultural plant
selection at some sites may reduce bat mortality.
Tom Erdman, Curator
Richter Museum of natural History
UW-Green Bay, WI
-----Original Message-----
From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line)
On Behalf Of John Murray Penhallurick
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 7:50 AM
To:
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Effects of Wind Turbines
Hi friends,
In an article in the New Scientist I recently received (12 May,2007,p.4), it
was reported that although wind turbines did not seem to cause signficant
problem for birds, it has been found in the US that the main vitims of such
turbines are bats. The article speculated that possibly the high frequency
noise from the turbine's gears might disrupt the bats' echolocation system.
I find this very worrying. Any thoughts?
John Penhallurick
86 Bingley Crescent
FRASER, A.C.T. 2615
AUSTRALIA
S 35° 11' 40.2"
E 149° 03' 26.2"
Home Telephone: (61 2) 6258 8428
Mobile 0408 585428
Please visit my website
http://worldbirdinfo.net <http://worldbirdinfo.net/>
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