February 22, 2012
Ontario

Wind turbines threaten swans, says bird expert

CBC News, www.cbc.ca 21 February 2012

Industrial wind farms encroach on Tundra swan habitat, specialist claims

A waterfowl specialist says wind turbines could spell danger for Tundra swans and the economy in Lambton County.

Dr. Scott Petrie said building industrial wind farms in Grand Bend, Ont., will scare the birds from their annual migration stop.

He said the province isn’t considering how the 250 turbines proposed for the area will affect wildlife.

“By putting the turbines in inappropriate places, it actually is tantamount to habitat loss. You wouldn’t put an office tower next to a coastal wetland, why would you put a wind turbine there?” he said.

Petrie said turbines could also hurt Grand Bend economically. If the Tundra swans avoid the area, so will birdwatchers, he said.

Every March birders come out to see the approximately 10,000 swans as they migrate north.

“My concern is that these things are going up everywhere, not only inland, but they will be in the lakes and closely associated with coastal wetlands, inland and off shore,” Petrie said. “So eventually you’re going to have major impacts on all kinds of things.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/22/wind-turbines-threaten-swans-says-bird-expert/