A curious comparison of comments:
Australian wind farms are already killing fruit bats (flying-foxes). It
is not clear why - fruit bats have very good eye sight.
and we already know of the threat that the wind farms pose to the
Tasmanian wedge tail.
If we are surprised about fruit bats being affected, in spite of that
they have very good eye sight, this is rather understated relative to
eagles (given their eyesight). Although the mentality of bats and eagles
is different, that suggests that eyesight has little to do with it.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of storm
Sent: Thursday, 2 December 2010 2:00 AM
To:
Subject: windfarms and bats
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
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