My Wind Turbine Statement-Part One by Kathy Murphy, Member, Western Cuyahoga Audubon

Wind turbines are not as eco-friendly as you may think.

Wind turbines are not as eco-friendly as you may think. 

Did you know that wind turbines kill birds?

Yes, they definitely do kill!

And not only birds, but bats as well.

Ohio is a very nature-wealthy state with its great diversity in topography such as woodlands, marshes, prairies, hills, cliffs, beautiful fresh water lakes, rivers and ponds. This variety attracts many nesting and migrating birds. The word bird includes ducks, swans, raptors, warblers, etc. They desperately need these natural places to survive.

What happens when these turbines kill birds and bats?

There will be a devastating rise in the insect population because birds and bats eat lots of bugs. For instance, a hummingbird will eat 2,000 bugs in one day. Dabbling ducks eat plants and many insects. Bats will eat up to 1,200 bugs in one hour.

BREAKING NEWS...
IBERDROLA RENEWABLES FILES COURT INJUNCTION TO HIDE POST-CONSTRUCTION BIRD AND BAT KILL DATA

More information and details at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory Responsible Wind Energy page here.

Above: Photos by Kathy Murphy. See more photos at the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Flickr account here.

With a loss of birds and bats due to wind turbines there will be a huge growth of the insect population and the following will occur:

• increase of many diseases
• increase in genetically altered foods
• farm animals will need more antibiotics
• farmers will use more pesticides
• the increase of pesticides will be in our food and get into our water system
• more phosphorus will be used to help plants grow to defeat the bugs and this will lead to more runoff that causes toxic green algae (cyanobacteria).
• more toxic green algae will kill more wildlife
• more toxic green algae will also poison our drinking water such as it did in 2015 to the Western Lake Erie basin (see LakeErieAlgae.com for more information)
• more and more problems

Why are birds important?

• they pollinate plants
• they disperse seeds
• salvage carcasses, cleans areas
• recycle nutrients back into the Earth
• eat lots of bugs daily
• are adored and followed by many people
• they add to the local economies, for example, millions of dollars are spent at Magee Marsh when people visit from all over the world in May. Birders travel daily and weekly, they buy gas and eat out.
• people spend money on binoculars, photography, scopes, and clothes for birding

Do you have trouble believing a slim structure can kill birds?  
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that 5 to 50 million birds are killed by communication towers each year.

Above: Taken in October 2011, the worst algae bloom that Lake Erie has experienced in decades. Record torrential spring rains washed fertilizer into the lake, promoting the growth of microcystin producing 
cyanobacteria blooms.[1] By Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon (NASA Earth Observatory) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

As an example in ONE night 5,000 to 10,000 birds were killed on Jan 22, 1998 in western Kansas, one tower involved. (Read the article, "Birds and Tower Kills" at New Jersey Audubon here.) 

Recently on September 26 and 27, 2016 the illuminated Shawnee's Memorial cross killed over 130. There are many more tragic deaths from towers. (See photo and articles below.)

Can you imagine what devastation occurs with a rotating wind turbine?

Above: A scene of bird carnage at Sewanee’s War Memorial Cross on the campus of the University of the South. Read the report, "Migration Event, 26-27 September 2016: Mortality at and near the Sewanee Memorial War Cross" at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on BirdCast here. (Photo credits: Sandy Gilliam). 

How important is Lake Erie to just one of the many species of ducks?  
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An estimated 250,000 Red Breasted Mergansers will group on Lake Erie in one day during late fall. (Read more at Ohio Division of Natural Resources (ONDR)-Division of Wildlife here.)

Lake Erie is likely to be the world's most important staging area. And there are plans now for six wind turbines to be in Lake Erie north of the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

​Also, The Ohio National Guard, Camp Perry base has started work on a turbine. It is directly part of the most important migratory flyway in the state. It is next to the marshes known as the "World's Warbler Capitol"or Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. One of the country's important migratory flyway, resting, and feeding spots. (See the Map)

IT WILL KILL BIRDS!

Read "Camp Perry turbine motion rekindles suit" - Organizations vow to block Air Guard plan published by the Toledo Blade on Friday, October 28, 2016 here.

Above: Photo courtesy of Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

 ​The harm is unconceivable and endless to what this will do to our planet! There are other renewable forms of energy we should invest in. 

If we concentrate more on Solar Energy, this source of renewable power may became more economical for individuals. We would have solar panels on our roof and that's not going to harm our treasured wildlife.

Above: Photo by Kathy Murphy.

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Kathy Murphy is a Member of Western Cuyahoga Audubon who enjoys Second Saturday Bird Walks, Field Trips and photography. Learn more about Kathy at Western Cuyahoga Audubon Member Profile: Kathy Murphy.

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