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Wind Power News: Wildlife
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.
Quebec introducing new rule to reduce bat deaths linked to wind farms
Quebec’s Environment Department says it is introducing a new measure to mitigate the impact of wind farms on bats native to the province. The government will require all future wind farm projects to increase turbine cut-in speeds – when the blades start rotating and generating power – to 5.5 metres per second at night between June 1 and Oct. 15. Those months coincide with the period of the year when bats are most active in North America – and when they are most . . . Complete story »
Wind farm off New Jersey likely to ‘adversely affect’ but not kill whales, feds say
The lone remaining offshore wind project in New Jersey with preliminary approval is likely to “adversely affect” whales and other marine mammals, but its construction, operation and eventual dismantling will not seriously harm or kill them, a federal scientific agency said. In a biological opinion issued Monday night, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the Atlantic Shores project, to be built off the state’s southern coast, is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species of endangered . . . Complete story »
Several groups of birds and mammals displaced by wind turbines, finds review
While wind power is an important part of the green transition, its downsides include the disturbances caused by wind turbines in animal habitats. According to an international review by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), many bird and mammal groups avoid wind power. The full or partial displacement of individuals from the wind turbine area may reduce population sizes, which will especially have an adverse impact on rare and threatened species. The research is published in the journal Biological Conservation. . . . Complete story »
Impact of wind turbines on wildlife: Significant displacement in bird and mammal populations
Wind turbines, a crucial component of green energy transition, have been found to adversely affect various bird and mammal groups, causing them to avoid these areas. Research conducted by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) involved a comprehensive review of 84 studies across 22 countries, analyzing the impact of wind turbines on these animals. The studies revealed that 63% of bird species, 72% of bats, and 67% of terrestrial mammals displayed avoidance behavior, steering clear of wind turbine areas. Particularly . . . Complete story »
Gedämpfte Zuwächse und massive Verluste
[Modest gains and huge losses – The documented loss of 11 imperial eagles contrasts with the successful flight of 47 young this year. The majestic griffin has found its place in the lowlands of Austria, although reproductive success was significantly lower than the average of the last 10 years. There was an increasing number of collisions between large birds and wind turbines.] Gedämpfte Zuwächse Nachdem der Kaiseradler (Aquila heliaca) bis zum Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts in Österreich ausgestorben war, etabliert sich . . . Complete story »
Robbins Island wind farm ruling ‘devastating’ for orange bellied parrots
A tribunal has overturned a requirement for a proposed wind farm to shut down for five months each year to protect migrating orange bellied parrots, in a major win for the industry. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Monday welcomed as “pragmatic” an appeal ruling by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on the Robbins Island wind farm, proposed for the state’s far northwest. He said the decision effectively overruled an Environment Protection Authority ruling that would have killed the $1.6 . . . Complete story »
As the US begins to build offshore wind farms, scientists say many questions remain about impacts on the oceans and marine life
As renewable energy production expands across the U.S., the environmental impacts of these new sources are receiving increased attention. In a recent report, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examined whether and how constructing offshore wind farms in the Nantucket Shoals region, southeast of Massachusetts, could affect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. The Conversation asked marine scientists Erin L. Meyer-Gutbrod (Assistant Professor of Earth, Ocean & Environment, University of South Carolina), Douglas Nowacek (Professor of Conservation Technology . . . Complete story »
Killing koalas to save wind farms?
Protecting koalas’ has been the favourite mantra invoked by Green groups and local councils to prevent basic services being built. Roads. Dams. Farm sheds. They are all killed off in case they upset fluffy tree bears. ‘Environmentalists’ used to wander down our dirt road and pluck unsuspecting koalas out of the trees to ‘protect’ them in conservation concentration camps. The koalas never seemed to be too pleased by the welfare checks. Mostly, they used to sit in the middle of . . . Complete story »
Bird migration endangered by World Energy GH2 project
I am writing in response to a recent article by birding columnist Bruce Mactavish, “Surprise bird spottings during autumn trip to Codroy Valley area.” I’ve been following the development of the World Energy GH2 project on the west coast of Newfoundland with great concern since its announcement in July 2022. The second proposed wind turbine site at the Anguille mountains in the Codroy Valley was a late addition to the project. The people there – and around the province – are only . . . Complete story »
Cape Vultures are on ‘collision course’ with wind farms
On 23 November last year, one of VulPro’s rehabilitated Cape vultures was struck by a wind farm turbine in the Eastern Cape. It was the first time a tracked vulture had been hit. “This particular bird was being monitored with a tracking device and we noted his movements had stopped and then landed up in urban Cape Town,” explained Kerri Wolter, the founder of VulPro, a non-profit conservation organisation dedicated to the preservation of vultures. “Zooming into the map, one . . . Complete story »
