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Wind farms 'not major bird mincers'

BBC News -- Many bird species are unaffected by wind farms, concludes a study carried out by UK bird charities.

Scientists with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and RSPB found that building the turbines was more disruptive than operating them.

Impacts varied between species, with red grouse numbers recovering after construction, curlews declining and not recovering, and skylarks increasing.

Their findings are published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

This is the latest in a long line of studies on wind farms' interactions with birds, but differs from most in its scale.

Ten species of birds were included, and 18 wind farms in upland areas of the UK were studied - most were monitored before construction began, during construction, and again afterwards.

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Submitted Apr 12, 2012 By: PhilMils

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Martinman Champion Author Mississippi Posts:14,729 Points:2,091,880 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 14, 2012 9:33:15 AM Ignore Martinman Report Abuse feldos from Florida posted... "Other studies conclude the opposite" ----- That is due to the region in which this study was conducted. Most of the concerns indentified by studies in the U.S., involve bird-mortality for migratory species and soaring species (primarily birds of prey).
jeffbone Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,356 Points:398,985 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 7:21:57 AM Ignore jeffbone Report Abuse what dbecks44 said...let the market decide...
feldos Champion Author Florida Posts:2,640 Points:549,000 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 12:04:55 AM Ignore feldos Report Abuse Other studies conclude the opposite
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,005 Points:1,186,100 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 11:21:53 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse It is a kind of disaster for wildlife. But who really cares now?
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,186 Points:716,710 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 10:34:07 PM Ignore davenles Report Abuse Surprised a large grant wasn't issued to study this situation. Sounds like just the thing the government likes to spend money on.
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,005 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:48:06 PM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse Hmmm... study shows wind farms are not a "major bird mincer". How about a study on ground animals, insects, invertebrates and organic plants effected after construction by the constant noise, vibration and shadows created by these monsters??
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,250 Points:981,155 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:10:07 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Could be a good source of food when the (bird) $hlt hits the fan.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,064 Points:1,446,375 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 7:52:50 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Very true, MidNJ, as long as these wind farmers are away from bird-sensitive areas. There is no such thing as a risk-free energy production. All our energy sources will have some risks involved; just make the risks minimal and tolerable.
dbecks44 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,337 Points:430,480 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 7:42:49 PM Ignore dbecks44 Report Abuse To me, the problem isn't the bird mincing. It's the fact that the government won't simply let them operate on their own merits in the free market. Too many incentives.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,542 Points:1,171,330 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 7:01:33 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Seems that when I am driving 65 MPH down the highway the birds always veer off and quickly fly off in another direction. Yes, some may get caught in a wind turbine, but there is a thing called survival of the fittest. Most birds will quickly learn how to avoid the blades.
eric2theem Sophomore Author Riverside Posts:105 Points:30,155 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 5:52:30 PM Ignore eric2theem Report Abuse its too bad they charge so much for wind energy in California but if it was available i would probably use it. As for the bird issue i don't think its a big deal if a few of those birds are picked off i mean the uk has been ruining there environment for decades with textile production and fall out.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:5,175 Points:1,115,915 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 5:50:34 PM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse Well, THAT ought to settle that.
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:13,698 Points:2,112,185 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 5:36:25 PM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse got one down the road from here and never saw any issues with all the ducks and geese that are at the park. never heard any noise from it either.
djwhit Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,997 Points:1,205,530 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 4:53:58 PM Ignore djwhit Report Abuse GET IT DONE.......
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,984 Points:1,739,885 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 4:25:07 PM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse who ever actually believed that 'fossil fooler' spin control anyway?? no slag, no radiation, no spills, no leaks, no CO2, no waste by products, no mountaintop removal.... the fossil foolers are scared to hell that more of these farms get built... the dinosaurs can tell their end is fast approaching...
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,076 Points:1,383,020 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:52:14 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse It appears the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and RSPB did not receive their funding from BIG GREED OIL & GAS. All studies funded by the BIG GREED show any alternative energy sources to be horrible! BIG GREED OIL & GAS want to be sure we all know that only BIG GREED OIL & GAS truly love us :0\|
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,515 Points:532,260 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:51:20 PM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Another myth debunked!
Vetteblu Champion Author Denver Posts:2,665 Points:778,870 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:42:59 PM Ignore Vetteblu Report Abuse Tree huggers again.
uglytom Champion Author Florida Posts:7,464 Points:1,542,015 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:34:56 PM Ignore uglytom Report Abuse Who suggested they would?
justme888CA Sophomore Author California Posts:205 Points:147,990 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:16:11 PM Ignore justme888CA Report Abuse I would be more concerned about keeping the birds away from airplanes [Edited by: justme888CA at 4/12/2012 4:16:48 PM EST]
tnfran Champion Author Arizona Posts:4,368 Points:840,240 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:11:35 PM Ignore tnfran Report Abuse No matter what is done it seems there is no pleasing the environMENTAL whako's.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,934 Points:751,010 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:01:56 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Ten species included in study out hundreds of species? No raptor studies?? Hmmm... Bird Deaths By Turbine
qwerty17 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,644 Points:1,115,930 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 3:00:37 PM Ignore qwerty17 Report Abuse c'mon. random bird deaths are a major issue?
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,956 Points:849,845 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:59:23 PM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse Oy !!
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:6,993 Points:1,109,495 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:52:56 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse An infusion of facts is always good....... and something the GOP rails against all the time... they hate facts...,.. and would rather deal in fantasy...
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:6,993 Points:1,109,495 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:51:30 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse And Van Halen..... that is because of what????? (grin)... the GOP trying to kill it for decades...
Jeff1944 Champion Author South Dakota Posts:4,222 Points:1,071,780 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:50:14 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse So do you suppose this report will be accepted by the greenies?
Charley_7 Veteran Author New York Posts:293 Points:206,455 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:48:33 PM Ignore Charley_7 Report Abuse And the study did not cover raptors, which are most likely to to affected.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,127 Points:2,369,420 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:37:50 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse this will go on and on, ad nauseum.
Van_Halen Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,844 Points:639,955 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:25:28 PM Ignore Van_Halen Report Abuse . They are also NOT major produces of reliable electricity!
me2002 All-Star Author Toledo Posts:763 Points:319,205 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:22:37 PM Ignore me2002 Report Abuse You mean they can avoid the tower and 50 ft long blade by flying around it and not die. Amazing.
dunedate All-Star Author California Posts:880 Points:146,030 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 2:02:59 PM Ignore dunedate Report Abuse There is a reason some thing is called bird brain