[Raptor235]

Wind turbines are hailed as a environmentally friendly source of renewable energy. And while gales will continue to blow and generate power, there are hidden costs. One criticism of wind turbines is their aesthetic impact on the view. But they are also lethal to flying animals. Annually, in the US alone, 20,000-37,000 birds are killed through collision with turbines.

Songbirds are one hard-hit group. A recent study shows that nocturnal birds are particularly susceptible to mortality. In some areas, the species at risk are raptors, whose populations are typically long-lived and slow to recover. In addition, bats are caught in the blades where wind turbines are placed in forested ridges. In the Mid-Atlantic Highlands, a large greenbelt area straddling a number of eastern US states, an average of 22-60 bats are killed per turbine each year.

Many bird species migrate along traditional routes, known as flyways; birds expend less energy flying where winds updraft, making longer distances more manageable. The same strong wind conditions that characterize many parts of flyways make them good candidates for wind turbine placement. You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/alternative...ative-energy-2

[Simon47]

Never more than in our current times are we realizing the errors of bad planning or mismanagement. Ontario is currently looking at opening the boreal range to more intense logging which will tend as it usually does; to displace wildlife through the disruption or devastation of habitat. Consider the devastation to geese and duck populations to the reduction of habitat and wetlands for resources and sites for human development. One of the key principles of sustainability is to reduce our impact and our further intrusion of nature. We must seek an equilibria in our development and grow our ciivilization in true harmony with nature and not to overcome nature by beating back the wilderness all the time. Once it's gone; we haven't the capacity to remake it.

Good points man

Sim