a recent article in the SMH
http://news.smh.com.au/wind-farms-could-drive-bird-species-to-extinction
-conservationists/20080304-1wqi.html gives some information about the
issue of birds and wind farms in the US - and specifically the risks to
migrating whooping cranes. It points out that thes large migrating birds
tend to use wind corridors which are also optimal places for wind farms.
The Australian Dept of Environment and Heritage published a report on
the issue in March 2006 which can be found at
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/wind-farm-bird-risk.html
and which includes sections on specific species such as the orange
bellied parrot and wedgetailed eagles.
Birds Tasmania believes up to 18 wedgetailed eagles may have been killed
by the Woolnorth Wind Farm in Tasmania in its first year of operation
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/03/2130963.htm. the wind farm
is working to minimise the problem (exploring deterrents and turning off
turbines at high risk times).
there seem to be strong opinions on both sides of the debate - I note
that conservationist David Suzuki praises wind farms, saying climate
change (aided by conventional power generation) is likely to cause more
widespread problems for birds than will be caused by bird kill on wind
farms
Sandra Henderson
Email:
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Evan Beaver
Sent: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 11:14 AM
Cc: birding-aus
Subject: mortality at wind farms
I did find a report a little while ago, maybe by Birds Australia? What
ever is was, it discussed that certain families, types of birds, were
far more susceptible than others. Little grounds dwellers were pretty
much safe. The big problems were with gliding hunters and migratory
birds. The former were shown (in some areas) to adapt, using the example
of some raptors in Scotland that could actually tell when the turbine
was off, and used them as a perch to hunt from. The latter were at a
large disadvantage, because the first time they see the turbine will be
while hammering to a feeding ground. Thus some responsibility lay with
the turbine installers to see if they're on a migratory route, and take
measures to keep the birds away if there's a chance. Lots of people are
researching how to do this and some advances have been made.
EB
On 3/12/08, Terry Bishop <> wrote:
> The trouble is, there is not enough wind farms around for widespread
education.
> The birds seem to be very slow to learn about windows.
>
> Terry B
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of John Leonard
> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 9:21 PM
> To: Birding-aus
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] mortality at wind farms
>
> There has been some discussion of bird and bat mortality at wind-farms
> on Birding-aus.
>
> I was reading Darwin's *The Descent of Man* Chap 3 'Comparison of the
> Mental Powers of Man and Lower Animals' in which Darwin argues that
> there is no absolute difference between the mental powers of humans
> and animals, and that animals can, for example, learn from experience.
> In this context he notes: 'I have received several accounts that when
> telegraphs are first set up in any district, many birds kill
> themselves by flying against the wires, but that in the course of a
> very few years they learn to avoid this danger, by seeing, as it would
> appear, their comrades killed.'
>
> I wonder if any studies have shown a declining mortality (without a
> declining population) at wind farms over time as a result of birds
> learning by experience. I suppose the problem is that whereas
> telegraph wires are all the same, wind turbines differ in their
> designs, heights, rate of rotation &c.
>
> --
> John Leonard
> Canberra
> Australia
> www.jleonard.net
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> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
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--
Evan Beaver
Lapstone, Blue Mountains, NSW
lat=-33.77, lon=150.64
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