The birds reportedly died at the mountain-top substation that was built for
and is integral to the wind project.
I don't think it is of key importance whether or not the birds actually were
killed by the turbines. The real issue is the ecological impact of
mountain-top development, and wind energy projects on ridgelines just happen
to be a an especially extreme example -with a regional-scale footprint
involving extensive disturbance, turbines, roads, powerlines, and
substations.
Low-cloud cover, which is common enough on mountaintops, becomes a problem
when we put our infrastructure on mountaintops.
More information on the Laurel Mountain incident should be available this
week when official reports are released.
The American Bird Conservancy media release, plus photos of the wind project
and substation involved, are posted on www.VaWind.org.
Rick Webb
Monterey, VA
-----Original Message-----
From: susan brown [mailto:susanbb@xxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 3:10 AM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] massive Blackpoll Warbler kill at WV wind-turbines
I just came across further information on this subject on sialia.org:
Date: 10/29/11 11:01 am
From: Susan Mitchell <susanglenn1...>
Subject: FW: massive Blackpoll Warbler kill at WV wind-turbines In reference
to the birds found dead on Laurel Mountain, actually there were just under
500 birds total, including mostly blackpolls, but also a pied billed grebe,
a rail, cuckoo, buntings, and other warbler species. They were not killed by
the windmills, but by flying into a nearby building in which the lights had
been inadvertently left on. Still, a tragic situation.
Susan MitchellLewisburg
So, not the windmills in this case. It's so difficult to get the straight
story sometimes. I live on the eastern shore, where a testing facility for
wind turbines is about to be built. I would be grateful for any information
anyone has on this.
Thanks, Susan Brown
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