Further devastating evidence of the toll that onshore wind turbines take on local eagle populations has emerged in Tasmania. The local Wedge-tailed eagle is thought to be down to just 1,000 individuals, but over the last 12 years at least 270 birds have been killed or injured in the vicinity of wind farms. According to a recent paper in Australian Field Ornithology, a further 49 vulnerable White-bellied sea eagles have also been killed in this period.
The scale of depredation is shocking but it could be much worse than reported. According to author Gregory Pullen, information about eagle deaths is not readily available, “nor readily made available”. His calculations arise from a number of primary sources including annual reports. He suggests that unrecorded casualties are higher since most are recorded anecdotally and are not the result of systematic survey. The Tasmanian sub-species of the Wedge-tailed eagle is listed as endangered under both federal and state threatened species legislation.
Large birds of prey such as eagles are at particular risk from giant wind turbine blades revolving at speed since they rely on air currents for sustained flight. The Daily Sceptic has covered this developing story, noting that few activists, bird conservation groups and writers seem able to rouse themselves to complain when the natural flight path of raptors stands in the way of green progress. The Australian climate journalist Jo Nova has stood out from the unquestioning crowd, noting that in Tasmania the greens are destroying nature – again. “It’s not about the environment is it,” she said. She went on to add that there are plans to build up to 10 wind turbine parks across Tasmania – “and if one tower misses, the next will get them”.
It’s not really about the environment over in California either, where America’s national bird, the bald eagle, and many other raptors face mass slaughter in the local wind farm avian graveyards. This follows the state Democrat-controlled legislature’s recent decision to relax controls on wildlife protections to allow permits to kill previously fully protected species for renewable energy and infrastructure projects. However, evidence continues to emerge that the slaughter has been going on for years. Last year, NextEra, one of America’s largest utility companies, was fined $8 million after 150 eagles were killed at its wind farms across eight states. According to the Golden Gate Audubon Society, a wind farm complex in Altamont has been killing 75-100 golden eagles every year since the 1980s.
The animal slaughter does not stop at large birds of course. A number of scientific studies have point to the destruction of millions of bats and smaller birds every year by turbine blades capable of travelling at the tip at speeds approaching 150mph.
Alas, it is not as if the deaths of these wildlife green martyrs are helping to produce much worthwhile economic activity. In the U.K., the small number of jobs being produced by green technologies is starting to be noticed. Gary Smith, the leader of Britain’s largest trade union, recently said that communities along the North Sea can see wind farms, “but they can’t point to the jobs”. Possibly exaggerating to make his point, he added that much of the green work seems to be either London-based lobbying or clearing away the animal casualties of wind farm blades. “It’s usually a man in a rowing boat, sweeping up the dead birds,” he observed.
Green activists are increasingly being caught between a rock and a hard place on these impact issues. It is becoming obvious that many of the green technology solutions proposed to replace fossil fuels come with heavy environmental costs. Whether it be open cobalt mining with child labour, or digging up vast quantities of the Earth’s crust to help construct second-rate solutions such as windmills, the terrible impact is all too obvious. At the moment the typical stance seems to be that voiced by Audubon California Policy Director Mark Lynas, who said we need renewable energy resources, and he did not want to see the eagle deaths “being used to push against clean energy”.
Another area where ecology fights are breaking out is on the east coast of America, where whales are beaching on the shores of New Jersey and New York in alarming numbers. In the first half of this year over 40 whales have died in this way. Large areas of the local ocean are being turned into industrial wind parks, with particular concern arising over 24-hour sonar soundings. The veteran environment campaigner Michael Shellenberger has said the massive offshore works are wreaking environmental damage in previously pristine waters. “It’s the biggest environmental scandal in the world,” he charges.
The waters off the U.S. east coast are important feeding and breeding grounds for large mammals such as whales and dolphins, including the rare North Atlantic right whale. Shellenberger has recently produced a documentary called Thrown to the Wind which presents evidence of whales hit by ships, and high decibel sonar that is said to separate mothers from their calves, sending them into harm’s way. The film shows environmentalists checking the sonar which is said to measure 150 dBs at sea – equivalent to about 90 dBs on land. The noise is a relentless drum beat that is said to pound across the ocean throughout the day and night. On land, the sonar noise would be equivalent to a hairdryer. For humans, prolonged noise much above 70 dBs may start to damage hearing.
The film makes the point that serious pile-driving to secure the giant turbines to the sea floor has yet to start in earnest. Once built there is a danger that the huge back wash created by the giant blades will disturb and kill off plankton, destroying the food supply for the whales.
It must be noted that many interested parties dispute the claims currently being made about wildlife in the new oceanic industrial parks springing up with generous subsidies from the Biden Administration. Both sides can marshal their arguments and evidence. But at the moment, the deck is rigged in favour of the green lobby. Fracking for oil and gas was banned in the U.K. with Friends of the Earth presenting evidence of local earthquakes similar in force to someone falling off a chair. It is more than likely that multiple eagle deaths would be enough to stop the operation of any oil and gas installation. Seemingly, it will take more than a mere rowing boat full of protected but very dead birds to stop the new Green Barons.
Chris Morrison is the Daily Sceptic’s Environment Editor.
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“Why on earth should anybody believe the fifth [Tory] manifesto that promises cuts to net migration?”
Does anyone on this site know anyone who does believe it?
Obviously this is really corny but..
‘How do you know a politician is lying?’
Her lips are moving.
(Wind up Mogs)
Well hopefully you’re winding me up about winding me up, because I don’t think I’d last long if I were so hypersensitive in what is undeniably a male-dominated site.
The regulars, not the occasional ones. Strange, don’t you think?
Maybe the mods have the actual figures on account holders but I get the impression there’s a dearth of women commenting on the regular and I’m not sure why..
But that’s a random observation actually. Where are all the female posters?
If you look back at the comments sections from yesterday, how many people are there that you know are male vs who you know are female?
One here sister!
Does it really matter what sex a commenter has?
Perhaps ones race matters too. I have only come across only one commenter who identified as black and it mattered so much to me that I cannot remember who it was.
I can see that it might irritate you to be referred to as a third party as “he”, but in the absence of specific gender identification then that is simply a convenience.
I have always valued your comments as a person, not because I thought you were a man.
For the avoidance of doubt I am an old British man and not a Russian.
Well it shouldn’t matter, and that’s not the point I’m making in my original post. I’m merely making an observation and wondering what the reasons are for the lack of female posters. And it also doesn’t matter about gender when we’re chatting or even having a lively debate about more general topics but as soon as there’s an article even remotely to do with gender then you can guarantee some man makes a derogatory remark about women then everybody else chimes in with their support and that’s when it becomes very apparent to me that this place is hugely over-represented by men compared with women.
As I’ve said before on here, point me to a post by a woman who’s made disparaging remarks about men. It’s always one-sided. So that’s why I’m wondering where the rest of the women are.
That’s also why I liken it to being a barmaid working in a Working Men’s Club in the ’70s/80s and routinely overhearing sexist and disrespectful ‘banter’ about women but having to bite your tongue if you want to keep your job. That’s what this place reminds me of at times. Possibly that’s why there is a dearth of women posters too, because some may well find it off-putting and rather an unwelcoming, hostile environment, so there’s overall less input from females. Just a thought. But whatever the case may be I’ll just carry on only engaging with those who know how to behave respectfully and ignore the ones who’ve demonstrated their obvious hostility and contempt.
I often like posts and read them. Only write if I have something useful to add.
Thank you for the downvotes, ladies.
One here too. Although I don’t go for the
this Venus and Mars divide.
I agree Mogs.
Come on the ladies we need your input.
Just a few days ago, Which (previously known as the Consumers Association) called on all parties to the election to commit to the appointment of a “Minister for Fraud”. I sense that there must be a plentiful supply of suitable-qualified candidates for this challenging new postion. As they say, “You couldn’t make it up.”
As I posted the other day, I am beginning to think that a large portion the rump of voters still saying they are intending to support the Tories are people who have always voted that way because they are middle class white CofE and that’s what people like us do – I wonder if they think about policy at all. Either that or they don’t want to vote Reform because that Farage man is a bit vulgar.
To be fair, that’s an accusation you might also level at Labour or, indeed anywhere that a demos exists.
I have yet to meet anyone who can give me chapter and verse on the manifesto promises of the four, or even two, main contenders on just the headliners: education, immigration, environment, defence, health and civil security, and I’d include myself in that.
Most people are swayed by what they hear, read and see on MSM, or vote ‘tribally’, I think?
Yes a lot of voting is tribal, on both sides.
I have voted for all the main parties, and some others, in my voting life. I don’t look at manifestos much any more, as I tend to judge the two main parties by what they have done in the past. I have read the key points of Reform’s manifesto, and those of the two anti-lockdown parties standing where I live. I certainly feel no need to look at the manifesto of any party that was in Parliament during “covid” as they all supported lockdowns etc, except the DUP who I can’t vote for.
You have to admit it takes a special kind of ability to go on TV and do what Penny Mordaunt and other conservatives do with a completely straight face knowing full well that what they are saying is complete and utter shite. And knowing that we know. And knowing that we know that she knows.
You couldn’t pay me enough to do something like that.
You couldn’t pay me enough and I’d be no good at it.
And that is just what we know about: what else is there?
What other surprises are lurking in the wings?
And I second that.
As we would say of Mordaunt here in the North….
She’s got a brass neck.
I thought she looked stoned. Very strange cheeks and eyes blinking slowly. I think she thinks she is Catherine Deneuve/Michael Heseltine reborn? and that her hair is very important. (Actually I do remember David Owen and the can of hairspray which just goes to show that they are all SOOO vain).
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/is-sunak-deliberately-chucking-the-election-and-if-so-why/
Sometimes I do really, really, really get pissed off with TCW.
Wake T F U.
This article is grim and does Kathy Gyngell no favours.
If the author hasn’t yet worked out that the tory party is being demolished from within he has his eyes shut.
Is it any wonder the country is in such a firkin mess when crap like this gets published?
Talk about pissed off.
What’s up Hux ? Without reading said article yet , Kathy’s headline sums up my train of thought that I’ve had for a while .
Have a read Freddy and let’s have your thoughts.
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-covid-part-15-the-pfizer-trial/
Part 15 of Paul Weston’s brilliant series on the Scamdemic.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/movies/scores-of-actresses-turn-down-roles-in-play-critical-of-jk-rowling-s-gender-views/ar-BB1oaclN
Ironically, they’ll probably end up with a ‘Trans’ doing it…
Met Office Lies About Record Temperatures – latest leaflet to print at home and deliver to neighbours or forward to politicians, your local vicar, online media and friends online. We have over 200 leaflet ideas on the link on the leaflet.
Nigel Farage and Reform seem to be aiming for the role of opposition Party. Why support those planning to lose?
As opposition, this would allow them to put on a show without the burden of trying to implement their policies or make any significant change all the while enjoying the taxpayer-funded Parliament theme park.
They seem to be doing it just right to me, which is first bury the Conservatives, build a feeling of success and momentum and then see where it goes from there. No doubt if they start approaching Labour in the polls, they will message accordingly. At the moment it seems absolutely logical to go for the first goal with is to overtake and supplant the Conservative Party.
I think they are just being realistic. I support those whose policies most closely resemble my ideals, as long as they don’t cross any red lines – I still think it’s worth voting or spoiling your ballot paper if you cannot stomach any of them. I would vote tactically for a party I wasn’t 100% enthusiastic about if they were not too dreadful, but all of the mainstream parties are dreadful and have been for a long time.
A tactical vote still keeps everything but the colour scheme.
Every vote is tactical, unless somehow a political party exists that is going to do exactly what you think they should do. It’s just a question of degree. Every vote is a compromise. Do you vote for the party you like best, or the one you like best that stands more chance of winning – if there is not much to choose between them, then maybe you vote for the slightly worse one that might get elected – but you will have some red lines on which you won’t compromise. That’s how I see it, anyway.
Based on the assumption that changing the party while all else remains the same will make a difference.
It will make some difference. In recent times, very little.
Like Labour for the last 14 years then…
“Whole counsel of God”
Thanks for this link, Richard. A good address – not just calling on Christians to active opposition, but arguing why, and how, from biblical principles.