OF WIND AND EAGLES
Wind energy producers usually respond to endangerment of birds. NewEnergyNews will watch this situation as an important test case.
Bird deaths from wind turbines are negligible, especially compared to any other cause. (click to enlarge)Wind farm ‘is threat to eagles’
Paul Rincon, July 3, 2007 (BBC News)
WHO
Golden eagles, wind farm developer Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
Lewis, among the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland (click to enlarge)WHAT
The Pairc wind farm endangers Golden eagles and the landscape, though how much is a matter of debate.
WHEN
Decision pending.
WHERE
Lewis, one of the Hebrides Islands off the west coast of Scotland
WHY
- The proposed SSE Pairc wind farm would be 57 475 foot tall turbines, cost 200 million pounds and generate 205 megawatts.
- The SSE estimate is of 3 eagle deaths/year from turbine blades. This is the highest estimated bird mortality of any British wind project. Golden eagles are highly protected. There are 60 pairs on the island. 3 to 4 pairs in the proposed wind farm’s vicinity and 1 pair at the site. Wind farm opponents estimate 76 eagle deaths over 25 years. Proponents say once the pair at the site is gone, the others will avoid the turbines.
- There is also concern over the danger of peat slides with 26 high or moderate risk sites. A 71-wind turbine installation contributed to a 2003 peat slide at Derrybrien in western Ireland. SSE claims peat slide degradation can be mitigated at Pairc. Residents and environmentalists say not.
- The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) will continue debate and hearings will gather testimony. The Scottish Executive will make the final decision.
handsome critterQUOTES
- Catriona Campbell, anti-wind farm group Moorland Without Turbines (MWT): "The eagle kill is pretty horrific, as is the threat of peat slide…"
- Martin Scott, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Western Isles: "[Pairc] is a significant site, not only for golden eagles but also for sea eagles…Our concern is that the void caused by the loss of the pair would act as a sump to draw other [bird species] into the turbine area, because there are no eagles to chase them away…On Lewis - where there are now three big schemes - when people talk about displacing birds from one area to another, they are simply moving them on to another wind farm."
posted by Herman K. Trabish @ 7:15 AM
1 Comments:
I am glad to see you will be watching and reporting on the dangers of wind turbines to birds.
You are incorrect, however, in your statement that it has been a long time since a turbine installation has been shown to harm endangered populations.
The Smola wind farm off the coast of Norway was responsible for the killing of the endangered white-tailed eagle population and all of their babies in less than ten months. See BBC article from June 2006:
"Wind farm 'hits eagle numbers'"
"Wind farm turbine blades are killing a key population of Europe's largest bird of prey, UK wildlife campaigners warn.
The RSPB says nine white-tailed eagles have been killed on the Smola islands off the Norwegian coast in 10 months, including all of last year's chicks.
Chick numbers at the species' former stronghold have plummeted since the wind farm was built, with breeding pairs at the site down from 19 to one."
As to your ref. to other causes of mortality to white-tailed eagles... cats, buildings,windows and vehicles can be taken off that list as negligible... and you can add a much bigger column for wind turbines.
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