The ugly side of Wind Energy ( Windmills)

http://tinyurl.com/Windmillskillsbirds 



Check out this video regarding Windmills

http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds#p/u/33/QRSAvD8VAbI


From ABC Birds Conservancy media press release:

Dramatic Video Shows Bird Strike at Wind Turbine: One Bird Currently Killed Every Minute by Wind Power in the U.S.

Footage available for editorial use - click here to preview
Experts available for interview


(Washington, D.C., April 5, 2011) American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, today distributed dramatic footage showing a wind turbine striking a bird—a poignant illustration of the dangers posed to birds by the burgeoning wind industry. The footage will also appear as part of a wind TV commercial to be run on major networks later this week. The commercial encourages viewers to sign a petition asking that wind power be made bird-smart.

Estimates by the federal government say that currently, about 440,000 birds are killed annually by wind farms in the U.S., nearly one bird every minute.

“While the present bird impacts from wind farms are unacceptable, we are doubly concerned about what will happen as the U.S. increases its wind capacity approximately 12-fold by 2030 to meet federal targets. At the present rate of wind development, we expect to see bird kills in the millions from wind farms in coming years,” said Michael Parr, Vice President of ABC.

“ABC supports wind power when it is bird-smart, and believes that birds and wind power can co-exist if the wind industry is held to mandatory standards that protect birds,” said Parr.

Bird-smart wind power implements siting considerations, operational and construction mitigation, bird monitoring, and compensation to redress any unavoidable bird mortality and habitat loss.

The dramatic video, which was provided to ABC courtesy of instantlyviral.com, was filmed in Crete by an American tourist in the area. It shows a Griffon Vulture striking a large, modern wind turbine similar to those commonly in use in the United States. The bird suffered a broken wing and has been in rehab for over one year, still unable to fly.

“Many people mistakenly think that birds will routinely avoid wind turbine blades, but in reality, turbines kill more than 40,000 birds each month. One encounter with a wind turbine is typically fatal, so there is no learning curve for the birds. Eagles, vultures, and hawks tend to be looking for prey as they soar, so they often fail to see the blades until it is too late,” Parr said.

ABC has scheduled a Congressional briefing on April 8th on the issue. More than 40 bird groups from 25 states have already signed on in support of the bird-smart wind campaign and the list of supporters is growing rapidly.

American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbirds.org) conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity in the bird conservation movement. ABC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization.



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NYCDEP buys more land to protect NYC reservoirs

It may not seem like a big thing but the NYC Department of Environmental Protection which safeguards and manages NYC's drinking water bought 1775 acres of additional watershed recently.  For birds, this means a good thing.....

see the link : http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/11-28pr.shtml

NY Times : Multitude of Species face Climate Threat

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/science/earth/05climate.html?_r=1&hp

JBWR task force meeting April 7th

URGENT NOTICE, CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION


JAMAICA BAY TASK FORCE MEETING

APRIL 7, 2011 @ 6:30 pm

NEW LOCATION--

AMERICAN LEGION HALL ¼ MILE SOUTH OF WILDLIFE REFUGE CENTER ON WEST SIDE OF Cross Bay Blvd.Broad Channel, NY

-209 Crossbay Blvd Broad Channel NY 11693 1-718-474-5029


MAP----http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl


AGENDA

6:30 - 6:45 Sign in, Introductions, Acknowledgement of Elected/Agency

Officials

6:45 - 7:05 Overview of Regional plan Association Proposed Plan for

Expansion of JFK Airport- Environmental Response

Dan Mundy Jr. Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers

7:05 - 7:15 Potential impacts of JFK Expansion

Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense

Council

7:15 - 7:35 JFK Airport Expansion and Bird Hazard issues

Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Guardian


7:35 - 7:55 Marine Life in the targeted areas; A commercial/recreational

perspective from the local Fishing Industry

Captain Vincent Calibri


7;55- 8:30 Discussion, Q & A

Co-Chairs: Dan Mundy, Don Riepe