474
edits
Adverse impacts of wind energy: Difference between revisions
→Wildlife
(→Bats) |
|||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
==Wildlife== | ==Wildlife== | ||
For flying animals – birds, bats, and insects – the giant turning blades pose a direct threat. The blades sweep a vertical airspace of 1.5–2 acres at tip speeds of 150–200 mph.[http://aweo.org/windmodels.html] | For flying animals – birds, bats, and insects – the giant turning blades pose a direct threat. The blades sweep a vertical airspace of 1.5–2 acres at tip speeds of 150–200 mph.[http://aweo.org/windmodels.html] Animals on the ground are affected by the destruction and fragmentation of habitat as well as the noise and vibration. | ||
:''See also:'' [https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/category/wildlife/?titles=on Wind Watch documents concerning wildlife] | :''See also:'' [https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/category/wildlife/?titles=on Wind Watch documents concerning wildlife] | ||
| Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
===Birds=== | ===Birds=== | ||
Migrating birds generally fly far above the heights of wind turbines — except in conditions of fog or low-lying clouds. On landing and taking off, they have been observed to avoid wind turbines – but only in clear mild conditions, not in fog or rain or at night. Raptors (predatory birds: eagles, falcons, hawks, owls, vultures, etc.) are at risk of collision with wind turbine blades while they hunt, when their attention is focused on their prey, which is more usually more abundant around wind turbines. Thus, wind turbines, as they do with bats, attract the activity of raptors. | |||
:''See also:'' [https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/tag/birds/?titles=on Wind Watch documents tagged for birds] | :''See also:'' [https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/tag/birds/?titles=on Wind Watch documents tagged for birds] | ||