Save The River ~ Wolfe Island bird kills raise wind power concerns

Save the River, an environmental group based in Clayton, NY, asked for a three-year delay in development of more wind power along the St. Lawrence River.

A spokesperson for the group says there are proposals for some 400 wind turbines in the Thousand Island region. Preliminary numbers from a study at an 86-turbine wind farm on Wolfe Island, a Canadian island near Kingston, Ontario, show higher than usual mortality among birds and bats. Martha Foley has more.

<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Wolfe Island bird kills raise wind power concerns . The Bird and Bat mortality rate study from July to December of 2009, at Wolfe Island’s 82-turbine wind farm raised concerns among environmentalists. Wolfe Island is Canadian territory, located where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River. This report found 600 birds and more than a thousand bats were killed by the windmill blades in a six month period. Nature Canada called the numbers “shockingly high.” Ornithologist Bill Evans says the real question is which species of birds died. Evans directs Old Bird, Inc. in Ithaca and has consulted for both wind power companies and environmental groups. He told David Sommerstein Wolfe Island is a designated important bird area, so ornithologists predicted high fatalities. Evans says the number of hawks, owls, and other raptors was the most alarming. The newest mortality figures were released Monday by TransAlta, which owns and operates the 86-turbine, 197.8-megawatt facility. A TransAlta environmental services manager was unavailable for comment Tuesday. A consultant's report estimates that 549 birds and 450 bats were killed between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2010. Save The River announced their the 22nd annual Save The River Winter Conference, it is to be held on Saturday, February 5th at the Clayton Opera House. featured in their packed conference agenda ~ “Wind Turbine Impacts on Birds and Bats: Sorting Out the Truth and Moving Forward.” Bill Evans, Executive Director, Old Bird, Inc. Video of Save The River statement Below is a copy of a letter from Save The River to Thomas Rienbeck asking that a moratorium on wind development be established . Their request fell upon deaf ears . Just prior to their sending the August 2009 letter Rienbeck was quoted in the Watertown Daily Times July 10,2009. "“The projects are too far along, I don’t think It’s fair to the wind companies” Mr. Rienbeck said. “We don’t want to suspend those. One is almost complete”. > Wolfe Island Wind Post-Construction Avian & Bat Mortality MonitoringReport 2011-01-24