Bird Buzz

So I did a little research on the bird issue. I still couldn't find migration patterns, but I did look on Cape Wind's website (http://www.capewind.org/news491.htm) to see what they said about birds.

The Cape Wind project was compared to the Altamont Pass, a wind farm in California, despite the fact that it is in a completely different locations. It would be best to compare it to another offshore wind farm. A study was done at at Nysted, one of the offshore wind farms in Denmark with 72 turbines. Over the turbine's 6 year operation period, observation of wild fowl show that less than 1% of ducks and geese in the area fly close enough to be threatened by the turbines. They also apparently flew further away at night. This study, along with another at Horns Rev, also in Denmark, used infrared cameras to monitor some of the turbines. Out of 2,400 hours of footage, only 15 birds and bats, and one moth, flew close enough to be recorded. Only one bird/bat actually collided with a structure. (http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/18167/)

I realize that I'm still being a bit harsh and getting my data from those who will benefit from the wind farms. The Birdlife International website (http://www.ornithologiki.gr/gr/politiki/wind_birdlife.php) made an interesting and importand point. They said, "Climate change is widely recognised as posing the most serious threat to people and global biodiversity." We need to begin weaning ourselves off of fossil fuel dependence and seek out new, renewable energy sources. This may involve sacrificing a few birds for the greater benefit of the biosphere at large.