For the over twenty-five years I've been working with wildlife, particularly, the birds of prey; eagles, hawks, owls, osprey, falcons and vultures. A day hasn't gone by when I don't feel blessed, fascinated, awed, moved, outraged, fulfilled, educated and motivated.
Not being a hunter myself except, of course, in the supermarket (many of us non-vegetarians forget that don't we? ;) it took a little time to get used to the idea that some of the wildlife I worked with, helped when they were injured, nurtured through sleepless nights and released back to the wild would become food for other wildlife. But it didn't take long to realize that this is the way nature works and out in the wild everyone is literally eating everyone else, by design. And in fact, vegetarians or not we humans are all eating something that was once alive, be it animal or plant or both.
One of the things that working with the birds of prey, raptors, has taught me is that there is no judgment about it on their part, no ill intent and no waste. I like that.
The predator prey relationship is interesting. And we all depend on it. On the surface it might appear attacker and victim but it isn't. In fact, it is an intimate dance and a vital relationship, with both parties affecting and needing the other to survive.
The raptors keep the prey populations healthy since they go after what is easiest to catch and won't put up much of a fight, since they could be easily injured in a fight and might not survive those injuries. So they look for the easy prey; the sick, the slow, the... well, for lack of a better word, stupid who make mistakes. This way the prey population stays at the top of its game; healthy, strong and alert.
On the other side of the coin, the prey keep the raptors healthy and actually are in control of the raptor populations. If there is a problem or decline in the prey population, there will be less food and thus less raptors that survive. It is a delicate balance. But one that works.
Enter Man.
I know what you are thinking "here comes the blame and guilt trip" but, really, it's not all bad... read on.
As a wildlife rehabilitator with over twenty-five years in the trenches, 99 percent of the injuries I saw and treated were either the direct or indirect result of Man's impact on the environment. Of course, wildlife do die from causes other than Man. But, the ones we find are most always injured or killed by something in Man's world be it collisions with our automobiles, trains, cars, trucks, planes, windows, power lines, cell phone towers, wind turbines or shooting, trapping, entanglement in barbed wire or things we throw away or by poisoning with pesticides, rodenticides and herbicides either directly because we want to kill them or indirectly when they eat prey that has been poisoned and the list goes on to include attacks by our pets, feral cats and dogs and other causes and then there is the domino effect... when the parents are killed by any of the aforementioned causes, the babies become orphaned and may too die.
But, as I said, it isn't all bad. We do have the ability to help, turn things around and apply common sense and sensitive solutions to our mistakes. Over the years our recognition of those facts have brought many species back from the brink of extinction. The Bald Eagle is a prime example.
Our National symbol, the Bald Eagle (native only to this country) was on the brink of extinction due to the spraying of the pesticide DDT. But through the ban of that substance, captive breeding and release programs by people who cared, the Bald Eagle is now flying off of our Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List and can once again be found in most all of its historical sites. We can be proud of that and other comebacks like our Peregrine Falcons. But we must remain vigilant that it will not happen again.
And, there are new and ongoing threats to our magnificent birds of prey, wildlife and endangered species that heed watching and need to be thought through even in the midst of human need.
At one time DDT was an environmental 'hero'. But short-sighted thoughtless over-spraying turned it into an environmental nightmare.
Presently, we are in the midst of an energy crisis. Unfortunately a crisis often results in actions we might later regret. And there are scores of examples in the history books like the spraying of DDT.
Our over-use of fossil fuels, for example, has resulted in pollution, dependence on foreign oil, and not so friendly sources of supply and, some say, Global Warming. Unfortunately, our answer to this crisis is to create more industry and thus we are in danger of exacerbating the problem.
More industry especially unbridled development and short term fix often results in more problems in the long run.
For example, industrial wind 'farms'. On the surface, they look good. They use non polluting wind to generate electricity and wind is free. What could possibly be wrong with that? Well, let's just say the devil is always in the details.
Technical issues aside, let's just concentrate on the balance of nature.
In order for wildlife to survive they need places to safely nest, feed and breed. In our modern world there are less and less of those available do to 'development (I put quotes around development because what could be more developed in terms of Mother Nature, on which we all depend, than a field, a wetland, a mountain, a jungle, an ocean?) and human encroachment. We are pushing our wildlife out, pure and simple. Fortunately, there are people, organizations and government agencies that are set up to protect wild places. But unfortunately, many of these people, organizations and government agencies are selling out to the almighty dollar. There was a time when no not for profit organization, with integrity, would accept money from environmentally harmful businesses but that has changed. Today, many will allow themselves to be used by the perps in the quest of power, recognition, credibility and funds. And, here is an interesting term... they help those perps to 'greenwash' themselves by aligning with them.
There was a time when precious wildlife habitats, open spaces and important wild places and even human and family values were sacrosanct. But, no longer. Human need and, okay I will just say it, greed has gotten the best of us. Or so we are led to believe. And I don't buy that.
I just don't buy that we no longer care about life and the beauty of our planet including all of its awesome life forms. Especialy the ones that are living now. We do. All we need is to be asked to consider them and make decisions accordingly. A sense of place is, to me, one of the most important of human needs.
We want forms of alternative energy that do not pollute our planet and foster our dependence on foreign oil. But what choices are we given? The only one available is wind power. All of the others are on the back burner waiting for the funding and recognition that the wind lobbyists have usurped.
In order for us to get on the band wagon for this new industry we are made to feel un-American and un-Environmental if we even question it, much less don't buy into it.
But, these whitewashed green monsters kill wildlife and wildlife habitat. And whether we know it or not killing them, will kill us. When you kill the king, you kill the kingdom. When you save the king, you save the kingdom.
Raptors are at the top of the food chain. When we kill them off we kill what is under them. And we are not immune to that death. It will affect us. Maybe not today, but tomorrow. Since, we are all connected in this great web called life.
Industrial wind farms kill raptors (which reduce mice, rats and other species that are designed to over populate) and bats (which reduce the insect population and pollinate trees and flowers) by the thousands... millions. Why? Because they are hunters.
Both raptors and bats are beautifully adapted to survive. When they hunt they are completely locked onto their prey. And that is why they, above all other flying animals are so badly impacted by wind turbines. They can not afford to be distracted by ambient sight and noise and so they die in the blades because they don't see or hear them. All over the world raptors and bats are dying at industrial wind farms. And it is not the out of date ones. It is the brand new ones like the Smola Wind Farm off the coast of Norway where the entire breeding population of the endangered White-tailed (Sea) Eagle has been killed off including the breeding adults and all of their babies in less than one year. BBC Article Here.
Can we afford these deaths? I say no. We do not need to sacrifice the wonders of nature in order to save it. Once they are gone, we will never be able to bring them back.
Not only do these industrial wind farms directly kill birds and bats but they wipe out entire ecosystems on which they (we) depend in order to be constructed with the infrastructure they need. They blast the tops off of our mountains, dredge the life out of our seas, wipe out our forests and kill what is left of our prairies. And to save what? What will be left to save?
We, as Americans, pride ourselves on our ingenuity, intelligence and ability to solve problems. And we can do it. We only need to be asked to conserve and protect our precious natural resources while we come up with answers that will help to save All life on this incredible place we call home, today and for the future.
Please, don't be fooled by the hype of a growing industry. Look into it and then decide.
For more information visit these web sites: National Wind Watch, Industrial Wind Action Group, Country Guardian, Kirby Mountain and then follow their links to concerned citizen's opposition around the world.
Thank you so much for your consideration and generosity of heart and mind.
AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY WIND ENERGY POLICY
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
BirdLife International report on windfarms and birds
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Comments: 13
This weekend we are traveling to northern Maine where 20 turbines just went up on Mars Hill. It will be interesting to hear what the locals think, and what consideration was given to the effect on wildlife.
I would be interested to hear what the locals think about the turbines too and if the site is being monitored on a daily basis. One of the problems is that many of the birds and bats are scavenged before people find them so daily monitoring is important. Unfortunately, monitoring is an after the fact and mitigation a huge problem.
I too am feeling railroaded by the media into believing that wind power is the only clean energy option readily available to us.
You have written a very poignant and insightful article about wildlife that reminds us that sharing this environment with them is both a gift and a responsibility.
Casey Denis brings up a very important point. There is so much downplaying being conducted by wind industry interests about the adverse impact to wildlife by these towers.
I am sickened that some members of the ornithological community have sold out to wind energy interests to "monitor" bird deaths by wind towers. How perverse it is that some bird "advocates" count bird carcasses for money! What is most troubling to me about the Cape Wind project proposed for Nantucket Sound is that this is an area of documented endangered species, mammals, fish and birds.
People must understand that erecting a 400' tower, higher than the Statue of Liberty, times 130 towers, in an ecosystem and flyway, is asking for trouble.
Keep spreading the good word, Dona. I understand that many wish to believe that things will be okay if the Cape Wind project is constructed in this habitat.
Keep the information coming from around the world that demonstrates the devastating effect that this industry's towers have on wildlife populations. The truth must be told, these birds and bats don't "just fly around wind towers"--that is pure bunk that serves wind developers, not wildlife.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by how they treat their animals."
Mahatma Gandhi
California Wind Power Worries Environmentalists
Written By: James M. Taylor
Published In: Environment News
Publication Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: The Heartland Institute
"Under pressure from environmental activist groups such as Defenders of Wildlife and the Los Angeles Audubon Society, the California Energy Commission on August 10 released bird and bat protection guidelines for local wind power permitting agencies.
Although the guidelines are neither mandatory nor enforceable, the move represents growing concern that industrial wind farms are taking an unacceptable toll on bird and bat populations.
The most recent avian mortality studies show between 1,750 and 4,700 birds are killed every year at California's Altamont Pass wind farm alone. Similar mortality numbers are reported at industrial wind farms in Solano County and other parts of the state.
The Los Angeles Audubon Society says there is a lack of research into how industrial wind farms, many of which are located in migratory flyways, affect songbird flight patterns. The group is seeking a moratorium on turbine operation for several hours each day during the spring and autumn migration seasons.
Full Impact Unknown
Defenders of Wildlife contends any new wind farms should be required to comply with a long list of siting considerations in addition to the guidelines designed to prevent them from being built in roadless forest areas or avian flyways. The group says species other than birds and bats, while not directly killed by the giant blades of wind turbines, may be significantly affected by the turbines.
The group says studies must be conducted to determine how industrial wind farms change the behavior of small mammals and migratory species, for example.
"We are concerned about where wind farms are placed," said Kim Delfino, California program director for Defenders of Wildlife. "There are some areas that are more sensitive than others. There are also many impacts beyond direct bird and bat deaths, especially along migratory bird routes. Very few studies have been done on potential disruption of [the migration of] songbirds."
Delfino also noted wind farms often require substantial infrastructure, which destroys still more pristine wilderness.
"Ground-disturbing activities, such as road construction and the clearing of forests for new power lines, also result from wind farm construction," Delfino said. "We want to make sure that the state maximizes protection for species. We don't want another Altamont Pass. There are a significant number of wind power projects proposed in California, and the current regulatory system is not set up to deal with all of the attendant environmental impacts."
James M. Taylor (taylor@heartland.org) is managing editor of Environment & Climate News.
Mahatma Gandhi
And of course, him. We need human beings like Gandhi to guide us with wisdom, compassion and intelligence, now more than ever.
In Geneseo, we see hawks and turkey vultures all the time. I love watching them soar overhead, drifting on the air currents, or circling as they seek nourishment below. There is nothing more magnificent, a true gift from on high. ;o)
The picture of Annie is stunning.. I have never seen such beautiful eyes on a bird.
We live in northern Illinois and I have always wanted to go to the eagle feeding/ nesting grounds up here on the mississippi.. I guess outside of Alaska it has the most eagels that come down during the winter. Your article has cemented the idea to go firmly in my head.