Hello All,
It has come to my attention that there is some concern in the birding
/wildlife conservation community about wind turbines covering every windy
ridge in Washington State.
Well, fear not. It has also been brought to my attention an article by Dr.
Ollie Skeins entitled " It's the Wind Stupid". Dr. Skeins is a Professor of
Avian Ecology at the University of Kentwood on Windom and is a Wiseacre
Fellow. In his enlightened article Dr. Skeins examines the potential
mortality of avian species from direct contact with wind turbines. Dr.
Skeins maintains that in fact large wind turbines are an aid to migratory
birds by literally propelling them up and away from the turbine blades and
safely on their way. He also maintains that most birds can evade huge wind
turbines and lends little credence to the notion that wind turbines create
any mortality outside of those birds that are killed. The good Doctor even
states that some of the "higher intelligent" bird species find the wind
turbines a "playground of joy". His most interesting idea is that birds may
view large numbers of wind turbines as a "comfort zone" just as they view a
distant forest or riparian area. In closing he maintains that we as humans
will come to a greater appreciation of wind turbines as their sizes and
height increase and apartments are built in the turbine towers. I guess that
this is one view on this first day of April 2005.
Later Mike

********************************************************************
Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
*******************************************************************