“Not every one sees wind turbines as clean, ecologically safe, energy machines. Some hawk watchers across North America fear wind turbines may be the biggest man-made threat to raptors, other birds and bats since DDT caused massive population declines in the 1960’s. Unfortunately, many of the windiest locations preferred by wind energy developers are already being used by migratory birds and bats that never evolved navigation mechanisms capable of dealing with huge swirling blades.”
Wind Turbines Spin a Web of Worries for Hawk Watchers
The loss of numbers of birds due to windfarms is not the main problem. The problem is types of birds being killed. Both Bats and Raptors reproduce slowly and some species only exist in very small numbers. Even a few killings may have a signficant effect on the species.
Point Pelee: More than 370 species of birds have been recorded in Point Pelee and the surrounding area, making this one of the premiere birdwatching locations in North America. Point Pelee is an important migratory stop-over for neo-tropical migrants, both in the spring and fall.
Holiday Beach: Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth).
Wind Developers will tell you thousands of birds are killed by cats, buildings and cars…and that may be true…but don’t confused the issue. What we are concerned with are the hawks, peregrines, eagles, bats and larger birds like swans, herons and vultures. They are rarely if ever affected by cats, buildings or cars.
Should Commercial Wind Farms Be Built along the Shores of Lake Erie?
Why are Wind Turbines Killing Alberta’s Bats?
Republic Herald:
Birds and Windmills Don’t Mix
New Science Environment:
Wind Turbines make Bats Lungs Explode
Were there high rise buildings and large numbers of cats in the same areas where there are now wind farms?
I think not.
Yeah, the old “high rise-cat” argument…..well, Heroin kills alot less people than heart attacks…so it must be OK!
A lot more people die in car accidents than planes…..so why bother with air traffic control?
Stupid logic.
to lisa betts,
you must live in the city because here in the county there are no high rises….and as for cats. i don’t see too many cats eating raptors. these windfarms are not as ‘green’ as the companies would like to to believe. they’re just money makers for the the companies and the landowners. our county is much too small for the size of the wind farm that they’re proposing here. you won’t be able to turn around without seeing one. i won’t be impressed if they go ahead with them. the light flicker alone will be enough to drive me insane, not to mention the constant ‘whoosh whoosh’ noise.
my father in law has his own registered air strip and has been flying for years and years. if these go up he will have to shut it down. for the greedy few, many must suffer.
I think Lisa was meaning the same thing. There are no cats or high rise buildings around here now…one of the most critical migratory routes in Canada.