One year has gone by since the 9th white-tailed eagle was found at the Smola windfarm, litterally chopped by the turbines - see picture : http://www.ivt. ntnu.no/bat/ mb/vindkraft/ 2006/30aug2006. htm
Around August 2005, we were also told that seven more eagles had crashed into the low voltage power lines that feed the fishermen's houses. Officially, the windfarm power line never killed any.
Then, from August 2005 and May 2006, respectively, the power lines and the turbines became eagle-friendly. That, or the eagles were taught avoidance behaviour by a canny professor who speaks their language. Or, more simply, it was decided to withhold disclosure of eagle mortality. This way, more windfarms may be built where eagles fly, in Scotland for instance.
The fact that the RSPB is conducting a study on the Smola eagles probably has nothing to do with it.
We don't know either if more eagle carcasses have been found at the Hitra windfarm. One had been found in august 2006, and we were told a complete search would be made. But here again, silence seems to be the policy.
Whether RSPB or Norwegian ornithologists are involved, or both, if the wind industry wanted the world to forget about eagle mortality at Norwegian windfarms, they seem to have found the right partners.
(Click to read report)
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In June 2007, the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona reported that 4 more White-tailed Eagles have been killed by the Smola windfarm. That brings the total killed since the windfarm was built to at least 13 birds. The RSBP sent a detailed news story about the disaster to the British mainstream press, which suppressed it.
Brian Unwin posted the following extract from the article on UK Birdnet:
The conflict between turbines and eagles is not disputed by Statkraft, the Norwegian state-owned enterprise aiming to be "a European leader in environment-friendly energy", which went ahead with the Smola scheme despite environmental groups warning of this danger.
Last October the company admitted: "Since start-up of Phase 2 of Smola Wind Farm in August 2005, a total of ten sea eagles have collided with rotor blades on the turbines and died. This is a serious problem and Statkraft is doing everything in its power to find a solution to this situation."
Dr Rowena Langston, senior research biologist with Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which strongly opposed the Smola project, said there was evidence that the eagles faced particular risks during their breeding season.
The birds killed so far had been both adults and juveniles. "Smola had the world's highest concentrations of breeding sea eagles and their fortunes have been hit hard in the two years since the turbines started turning.
"Just as significant is the disappearance of other sea eagles, seemingly unwilling to return to their traditional breeding site. Before the wind farm was built, there were at least 16 nesting pairs where the wind farm stands. We think as many as nine of those territories could have been abandoned with no evidence that the displaced birds are nesting elsewhere on Smola."
Birds that have moved away may well face similar problems in future as more windfarms are planned in the growing international drive to produce clean power in a bid to counter global warming by reducing carbon emissions.
Now the RSPB, which is much involved in the Scottish sea eagle re-introduction scheme, is anxious that the Smola "mistake" is not be repeated in the UK.
Particularly in mind is the controversial proposal to build 181 turbines, each towering 462ft over huge area of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The RSPB fears not only dangers to eagles but also to migrating swans and geese, nesting wading birds and the peatland habitat generally.
Dr Mark Avery, RSPB Conservation Director, said: "The fate of sea eagles on Smola shows just how much harm poorly sited wind farms can do. It is a timely reminder for those now deciding whether to allow a much bigger wind farm on the Isle of Lewis.
"Wind energy can make a hugely significant contribution to tackling climate change and many in the renewables industry have been working with us and others to ensure that turbines are built where damage to wildlife is minimised."
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