Marshall County IN-Wind Farm: Bird and Bat Kills

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bird and Bat Kills

Innocent Victims

There are hundreds of articles and websites that reveal the bloody truth about large wind farms: world-wide, both birds and bats have been killed by the turbines. At a June 16, 2011, Culver Kiwanis meeting, a NextEra representative was asked if birds have been killed by wind turbines and he stated that yes, some birds would be killed, then he added that according to the company’s studies, “more birds are killed in the United States by feral cats than by wind turbines.” It should be pointed out that bird mortality caused by wind farms is averaged across the country, so while one turbine in a remote area may only have a few (reported) bird or bat deaths associated with it, another which has been placed in or near a migratory path or area that has a high number of song birds and water fowl, may end up killing literally thousands of the creatures. By averaging the numbers nation-wide, local mortality rates end up being watered down. Additionally, wind farms are being erected at a very fast pace, so statistics about bird and bat kills become obsolete pretty quickly and should be constantly updated.

Although, according to an article in the Rochester Sentinel, NextEra says it plans to put up netting to determine the number of birds and bats in the area, long-term studies of bird and bat populations and (when applicable) migratory patterns through Marshall County should be conducted by an independent group of which all interested parties approve. A raptor specialist in Pennsylvania, Dr. Laurie Goodrich, informs us that such a study of raptors in all directions within several miles of Lake Maxinkuckee, for example, is desperately needed and, in fact, is completely lacking.

Song birds may actually be attracted to the red lights positioned on top of wind turbines. This has resulted in thousands of birds being killed at night in the Southwest U.S.
The rotating blades of the turbines alter the air pressure around them and this appears to be key to the bat problem. In some areas, bats have been found dead beneath or near wind turbines, yet they have no apparent injury. Autopsies have shown that the bats’ lungs and blood vessels exploded because of the change in air pressure caused by the rotating blades. Red bats, Silver-hair bats, and Hoary bats appear to be the most vulnerable to wind turbine kills.
Golden Eagles have been found decapitated by wind turbines in Northern California.

Obviously, the location of any grouping of wind turbines is a major factor. Given the proximity of this proposed project to Lake Maxinkuckee, and the fact that there are streams and wetlands nearby, the Tippecanoe River and Bass Lake to the west, as well as farm land and wooded areas, it is a given that water birds ranging from ducks and loons to herons, birds of prey including hawks, owls, and even eagles, and thousands of song birds and other migraters, are attracted to this part of Indiana. And although people don’t want to have a bat in their house, this creature, particularly vulnerable to wind turbines, is absolutely vital to insect control both near the water and out in the farm land. With West Nile virus being so widespread, birds and bats that feed on mosquitoes are by far more preferable than a broad range use of pesticides. Formal studies of various bird and bat species populations in Southwest Marshall County, IN, are almost completely lacking and should be carried out over a long period of time In order to include all seasons, migratory paths, and nesting sites.

Resources and References:

Rochester Sentinel: Wednesday, July 6, 2011, p.1

http://latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-wind-eagles-20110606,0,4078175.story

No comments:

Post a Comment

We are: Concerned Property Owners of Marshall County, IN

A Florida-based wind farm company, NextEra, has its sights on a 17+ thousand acre area for the construction of 60+ wind turbines. The turbines are proposed to be app. 450 feet tall, about the height of a 38 - 45 story building. This wind farm would be located between Culver and Argos in Marshall County (West to East) and from Burr Oak/ Hibbard, Marshall County, to Richland Center in Fulton County (North to South). The wind turbines will be visible from Culver's scenic town park as well as all shores of Lake Maxinkuckee, the Town of Argos, and miles of the surrounding farmland.

As of January, 2012, the most recent map of the proposed footprint/"study area" for this wind complex shows the Town of Argos surrounded on the west, south, and east sides by wind turbines, and the southeast corner of the county would also be affected, as well as the northern part of Fulton County.

A number of other wind farm companies are also eyeing Marshall County for wind developments in various parts of the area.

This project has been adopted by the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund (LMEF).
If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution toward this effort, please make your check payable to LMEF, with a notation written on the check "wind turbine project" in the memo area. You can drop off or mail your check to the office at 116 N. main St., P.O. Box 187, Culver, IN 46511.
Thank you for your support of this important effort.

PLEASE COPY, PRINT, SIGN, AND SEND THE PETITION AGAINST WIND DEVELOPMENTS IN MARSHALL COUNTY. THE PETITION CAN BE FOUND BY SCROLLING TO OUR NOVEMBER 29, 2011, POSTING. THE PETITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE LMEF OFFICE. YOUR VOICE DOES COUNT!

This blog originated at the request of citizens and property owners of Marshall County as a means for them to learn about and share with others the devastating impacts that large commercial wind complexes would have on the entire county. It contains opinion, first-hand observations, and information gathered from worldwide studies, websites, and articles about wind energy. Every effort is made to be as accurate as possible and we do not take responsibility for opinions or posts in the comment sections, or for accidental omissions. Resources and links concerning wind energy, its potential health risks, bird and bat kills, property resale impact, government subsidies, and other information will be posted periodically throughout the blog. We encourage you to do your own research and share with our community any new information you learn.

This project has been adopted by the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund (LMEF).

If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution toward this defense, please make your check payable to LMEF, with a notation written on the check, "wind turbine project", in the memo area. You can drop off or mail your check to the office at 116 N. Main St., P.O. Box 187, Culver, IN 46511. Thank you for your support of this important effort.

PLEASE COPY, PRINT, SIGN, AND SEND THE PETITION AGAINST WIND DEVELOPMENTS IN MARSHALL COUNTY. THE PETITION CAN BE FOUND BY SCROLLING TO OUR NOVEMBER 29, 2011, POSTING. YOUR VOICE DOES COUNT!

This group, over 1,000 strong and growing, is comprised of Marshall County citizens and property owners within the Towns of Culver, Argos, and Plymouth, the lake areas, and on farms and land surrounding the towns. WE ARE SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY and we are expanding throughout our county since this affects us all.

Questions or comments? Reach us at

info@marsahllcountywind.com

This blog about the Southern Marshall County wind development proposal contains opinion, first-hand observations, and information gathered from studies, websites, and articles about wind energy. Every effort is made to be as accurate as possible and we do not take responsibility for opinions or posts in the comment sections, or for accidental omissions. Resources and links concerning wind energy, its potential health risks, bird and bat kills, property resale impact, government subsidies, and other information will be posted periodically throughout the blog. We encourage you to do your own research and share here with our community any new information you learn.