UK OCEAN WIND PROTECTS RED-THROATED DIVER

Rare birds could hold up 1GW London Array offshore project
Paul Garrett, 6 October 2011 (Windpower Monthly)

"Phase one of the 1GW London Array wind farm could start generating electricity as early as 2012, however phase two of the project could be threatened by the unexpected presence of rare sea birds…

"The first 630MW phase of the joint E.ON, Dong Energy and Masdar-owned scheme is progressing on schedule with two substations and many of the foundations now installed on site…[and] up to 50 vessels now working on the wind farm’s construction…But phase two of the project, located in the Thames Estuary in south-east England, could be held up following the discovery of a colony of rare… red-throated diver birds…[numbering as many] as are usually found in the entire British Isles…"

The Red-Throated Diver (Loon) afloat (click thru for more info)

"This has prompted objections to the wind farm from the powerful RSPB conservation group…[and] Natural England… London Array is now undertaking a further bird habitat study and will evaluate the effect the first phase has on the red throated divers during its first breeding season of operation before the second 370MW phase…

"…[W]ell-known bird expert and BBC broadcaster Bill Oddie has said in response that sea birds currently face a far greater threat from land-based electricity pylons that they do from the presence of offshore wind turbines."