Raptors--a class that includes hawks, falcons, and eagles--are daytime predatory birds. They migrate in windy areas where, for obvious reasons, wind turbines are best sited.
Siting these wind turbines so that they pose the least possible threat to migrating raptors is a difficult, but worthwhile, challenge. The potential of wind power is being evaluated in states like Montana where the wind blows almost continuously and hard in the eastern part of the state, where raptor species like the Ferruginous, Swainson’s and Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons and Golden Eagles migrate and nest.
During their migrations raptors can either fly high in huge kettles or clusters, or fly in at low altitudes, vulnerable to wind turbines.
Raptors have the tendency to fly against the wind following updrafts right into the sites of wind turbines.
These turbines are already placed where they can, and do, negatively affect raptors and other forms of wildlife. Wind energy is a viable form of alternative energy that is supported by the NRDC in its fight to curb the affects of global climate change on wildlife.
There do exist guidelines to put wind turbines in places so that the impact on raptors and other forms of wildlife is minimal to non-existent.
By heeding these guidelines and more responsibly siting wind turbines, we can protect raptors and all other birds, bats and butterflies as well as other animals as we we develop wind energy and place wind turbines to best mitigate and arrest global climate change.
[Photo from flickr user benefit of hindsight]
I would just like to remind everyone, that hydro-electric was the posterchild for " green". We know today that we have destroyed millions of acres of habitat and have very little to show for it, only a small percentage of the energy we us comes from those plants. These industrial wind turbines are huge structures with a huge footprint, we alresdy know these things kill birds, bats, bees. Let`s not make the same mistake, our kids can`t afford it.
Wind energy is already being touted and used as an alternative form of energy. In this comment you are right, but lets use some guidance for putting wind turbines in wildlife areas since we know this technology will be used as an alternative form of energy. I would rather see other alternative forms of energy used in these areas, like solar. Thesein areas we know are going to be used by wildlife. Windpower is being implemented as I write this comment in areas used by raptors, bats and other forms of wildlife. These well-meaning folks putting in their windpower have no idea that there are alternatives to the new problem they are creating for wildlife. A little guidance will go a long ways and help wildlife to boot.
Comment on Windpower
A comment to this post (the first comment) talked about hydroelectric power. This is a comment to that.
The first time I saw wind turbines they were powered by wind. Pronghorn Antelope sat under the turbines. The first thought that occurred to me was that if those turbines were common and cited wrong they might negatively impact migratory animals.
I stand by that thought. I did not write about hydroelectric turbines but windpowered turbines and there citation that would least impact wildlife. This is a pretty straightforward concept.
In States like Montana, where they are encouraging windpower use, I think that windturbines can be placed with a lessened effect on wildlife.
After that day I saw the antelope sitting under the turbines I thought about windpower use and the impacts on wildlife and I thought it might be an issue one day.