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Wind Power News: Birds
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
1916 Migratory Bird Treaty: a centennial anniversary of progress
The rate of avian deaths from wind turbines continues to grow. The USFWS estimates that 440,000 birds were killed by wind turbines in the US in 2009, and another 573,000 birds were killed in 2012. “In 2013, the USFWS forecast that bird deaths from wind energy operations will exceed one million by 2030,” says a report by the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. “Bird deaths at wind energy projects impact many species that are protected by the MBTA.” Complete story »
Wind, birds and bats: recent legal migrations
Wind energy has rapidly migrated from a small to significant source of energy generation, resulting in increased attention to and regulation of wind energy’s impact on birds and bats. This article provides a high-level overview of recent developments and items to monitor in terms of wildlife protection. Enforcement To date, the federal government has entered into only two plea agreements (with PacifiCorp in December 2014 and Duke Energy in November 2013) with respect to alleged Bald and Golden Eagle Protection . . . Complete story »
Big challenge as California ramps up wind power: Golden eagles
California’s history with wind power goes back decades – as do its troubles with turbines killing birds, including federally protected golden eagles. With state officials now planning to ramp up renewable energy, an uneasy tension exists between protecting wildlife, and fighting climate change. Ecologist Shawn Smallwood has found mangled eagles several times in wind farms like those at Altamont Pass, near Livermore. The place has a reputation for turbines killing birds. Alameda County estimates 35 golden eagles were killed there in . . . Complete story »
Maui wind farm owner wants higher limit on bat, nene kills
SunEdison Inc., owner of two wind farms on Maui, wants the government to increase the number of endangered Hawaiian hoary bats its turbines are allowed to kill. SunEdison said it has confirmed three bat fatalities at the second of its two wind farms since it began operations in 2012. It is allowed to kill 14 bats over the 20-year life span of the second wind farm, which has 14 turbines. The company wants to be permitted to kill 80 bats. . . . Complete story »
Windkraftanlagen Windkraft im Wald zerstört Leben
[A new study describes the fatal consequences of wind energy for bats and endangered bird species.] Ihre riesigen Rotorblätter drehen sich hoch über den Wipfeln der Bäume, ihre langen Türme fußen auf gerodeten Flächen, die immer für Fahrzeuge zugänglich sein müssen: Windkraftanlagen im Wald sind ein Szenario, das künftig in Deutschland häufiger zu sehen sein wird, geht es nach dem Willen der Politik und der beteiligten Konzerne. Aber es ist auch eine Aussicht, die viele Naturschützer mit Skepsis begleiten. Sie . . . Complete story »
Controversial wind farm in Lesotho gets the go-ahead
The controversial wind farm proposed for Lesotho’s Maluti-Drakensberg received the go-ahead from the Lesotho Government in October 2013. Conservationists are concerned that this decision does not bode well for the future of vultures in the region or for the reputation of the fledging wind energy industry in southern Africa. “Approval of the Letseng project is a source of great concern to BirdLife”, said Ken Mwathe, BirdLife International’s Africa Policy Programme Coordinator. “African governments must tread carefully on renewable energy projects . . . Complete story »
Bird conservation groups announce intention to sue over Ohio wind turbine in key bird migration corridor
Eagles and endangered Kirtland’s warbler among the turbine’s likely casualties. (Washington, D.C., January 8, 2014) The Ohio National Guard facility at Camp Perry, near Port Clinton in northern Ohio, is the focus of possible legal action by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a leading national bird conservation organization, and Ohio’s Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), which today announced the intention to sue the Ohio National Guard in connection with violations of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other federal laws . . . Complete story »
Lake Erie wind project not safe for birds
I am contacting you about a recent article, “Icebreaker ‘safe for birds, bats’” because it truly was one-sided and misleading to readers. I would like to add that I do not believe this was intentional. The expert quoted for the article made the following statement “Biologically significant impacts to any bird or bat species, including those that are endangered and threatened, are highly unlikely”. The article also went on to say that Mr. Kerlinger drew upon survey data collected at . . . Complete story »
SEO/BirdLife presenta una nueva guía para la evaluación del impacto de parques eólicos en aves y murciélagos
[SEO/BirdLife has a new guide for evaluating the impact of wind farms on birds and bats: The more than 18,000 wind turbines in Spain could be causing an annual mortality of 6 to 18 million birds and bats] Los más de 18.000 aerogeneradores que hay en España, podrían estar causando una mortalidad anual de aves y murciélagos comprendida entre los 6 y 18 millones de individuos Durante hoy y mañana se celebrará en Jerez de la Frontera el primer congreso . . . Complete story »
Ontario government refuses to apply environmental law
Places endangered species of Ostrander Point in jeopardy – Picton, ON / September 14, 2011 – The Ontario government has suspended application of its environmental laws to a globally recognized Important Bird Area at Ostrander Point, Prince Edward County. That is the legal opinion obtained from a leading Canadian environmental lawyer and announced today at a news conference in Prince Edward County by the Prince Edward County South Shore Conservancy. The legal opinion states “there is no legal basis for . . . Complete story »
