Hey -
The piece Keith refers to can be found here at the link below.
Both transcript and video are available.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec10/bats_11-29.html
In terms of Australian wildlife, we already know of the threat that
the wind farms pose to the Tasmanian wedge tail - despite huge
efforts a small number of birds are killed each year. Other birds
are also effected (though there is no evidence this includes OBP
that I am aware of). Work in Europe suggests that migrating birds as
well as bats are at risk because the farms tend to built in
migration pathways - the wind being consistent there. We can
anticipate the possibility that, as we see more wind farms in
Australia, numbers of migrating birds will also be killed.
Australian wind farms are already killing fruit bats (flying-foxes).
It is not clear why - fruit bats have very good eye sight.
Finally, this is a gratuitous link because it amuses me, work done
in Britain indicates that white or grey turbines attract insects
more than other colours. The least attracting colour was purple.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9067000/9067721.stm
Keith is right, wind farms are not very green at all if one
considers their impact upon the flying animals in the area around
them. Unfortunately every kind of energy production has a cost of
some kind.
cheers
storm
On 1/12/2010 10:50 AM, Keith Brandwood wrote:
Hi everyone, on the PBS news hour yesterday which for those of you who don't know is USA based news program featured daily at16-30 hrs on SBS 1 there was a segment on Windfarms in Oregon. The disastrous news was that thousands of small bats were being killed by the wind turbines.Death was caused not only by the blades hitting the bats but the differential in air pressure caused by the turbines caused blood vessels in the bats to rupture.Not very green energy after all.
the beautiful Hawkesbury 60km N/W of Sydney
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