May as well start out the new quarter with a bit of good news!!

- Ross.

posted to ClimateConcern

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/50419/story.htm

Study Eases Fear About Wind Farm Threat to Birds

UK: October 1, 2008

LONDON - Wind turbines do not drive birds from surrounding areas,

British researchers said on Wednesday, in findings which could make it

easier to build more wind farms.

Conservation groups have raised fears that large birds could get

caught in the turbines and that the structures could disturb other

species.

But scientists found only one of the 23 species studied, the pheasant,

was affected during their survey of two wind farms in eastern England.

The findings published in the Journal of Applied Ecology could help

government and business efforts to boost the number of wind farms as a

way to increase production of renewable energy.

"This is the first evidence suggesting that the present and future

location of large numbers of wind turbines on European farmland is

unlikely to have detrimental effects on farmland birds," Mark

Whittingham, whose team from Newcastle University carried out the

research, said in a statement.

"This should be welcome news for nature conservationists, wind energy

companies and policy makers."

The survey studied the impact of two wind farms on about 3,000 birds

in the area, including five species of conservation concern -- the

yellowhammer, the Eurasian tree sparrow, the corn bunting, the

Eurasian skylark and the common reed bunting.

The researchers recorded the density of birds at different distances

from the turbines and found that aside from the pheasant, the

structures posed no problems.

The new findings are important because the European Union is committed

to generating 20 percent of its energy from renewable resources by

2020 and is also seeking to boost biodiversity.

The study did not look at the danger of the birds colliding with the

turbines, which has been a worry of conservationists, Whittingham said.

Spanish utility Iberdrola, Germany's E.ON and Scottish & Southern

Energy all operate wind farms.

In August, Czech power group CEZ announced plans to build the biggest

onshore wind park in Europe. (Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by

Avril Ormsby)

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE