Birds will be in danger from turbines
Bob Gaunt, Hagersville, www.sachem.ca 10 April 2012
Once again, we sadly observe that the coveted loon is more powerful than the mighty eagle.
In other words, the promise of relatively few dollars overrides concerns for endangered eagles in the idyllically named Summerhaven Wind Farm Project in Haldimand County.
It may be a haven for investors, who enjoy the complicity of our government to harvest unseemly profits, but it is not a haven for wildlife.
Samsung consultants present a deliberately flawed plan to monitor bird kills after the giant wind turbines are in full operation.
Isn’t that inspecting the barn door after the horse is long gone?
They promise to visit twice a week to record bird fatalities.
A Summerhaven wind turbine blade will sweep an area of almost two acres every revolution, and reach 130 meters (430 feet) into the air.
At the deceptive speed of only six revolutions per minute, the blade tip will be moving at 115 kilometres per hour, or 70 miles per hour.
At the maximum 16 revolutions per minute, the blade tip moves at a stunning 300 kilometres, or 190 miles per hour!
When birds in flight are struck, where do you start looking for the pieces?
Since the dead bird accountants only show up twice a week, do they assume local scavengers- fox, coyote, vultures and others- will wait until their next fresh meal is added to the statistics?
On the bright side, maybe “carrion counter” is one of those promised new jobs.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/10/birds-will-be-in-danger-from-turbines/