Tags
birds Ontario, endangered species Ontario, environmental damage wind farms, green energy, Ontario wildlife, wind farm, wind power, Wolfe Island, WPD Canada
![South Shore Prince Edward County: how did a power plant get approved for this? [Photo Point 2 Point Foundation]](https://ottawawindconcerns.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/southshorepec.jpg?w=529)
South Shore Prince Edward County: how did a power plant get approved for this? [Photo Point 2 Point Foundation]
Note the testimony about Wolfe Island (the turbines there are now relatively small compared to what is being built and planned) and how many birds are being killed; compare to the wind power developer’s consultant opinion. Not even close.
Report on Environmental Review Tribunal Hearing on White Pines Wind Project
December 1
by
Paula Peel, APPEC
Hutchins cited a recent U.S. study showing significant displacement of breeding grassland birds in mid-western states after turbine construction. White Pines will displace protected Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and Eastern Whip-poor-will, and the impact could easily result in local extirpation.
Bill Evans has researched the impact of wind projects on birds and bats for 20 years. Evans was qualified as an expert in avian acoustic monitoring and nocturnal bird migration. He said that a number of species in Ontario, including the Purple Martin, have been in long-term decline, but Stantec did no surveys of Purple Martins during late summer when large numbers gather to roost. Evans noted that Purple Martin collision fatalities are increasing at Ontario wind facilities and made up 6.09% of all bird fatalities in 2014, higher than in 2012.
Dr. Shawn Smallwood was qualified as an ecologist with expertise in avian wildlife behaviour and conservation. In addition to 70 peer-reviewed publications Smallwood has done research at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (WRA), a California wind project notorious for its high raptor mortality.
Smallwood recommends that serious and irreversible harm be assessed from a biological perspective, not from population analyses. Fatalities cause harm not only to the individuals killed but also to mates, dependent young, and social connections. Serious and irreversible harm should not be based only on body counts.