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Re: [Carolinabirds] Raptors and turbo-turbines



Hi Jan-Joost and Carolina-birders,

I found the web site for Enron Wind Corp. showing one of the turbines
(website links below - look at some of the California pictures), they
have quite narrow, propeller-like blades.  It's not that they're
invisible but tend to blur and look somewhat transparent and may not
be perceived as a problem.  I've driven past the wind farms in
Tehachapi, California; these are in the area for the proposed new wind
farms in California Condor habitat.   Again, I don't think anyone is
certain of what happens when the raptors are killed - whether they're
soaring, get too low, and run into the blades, whether they are
stooping on prey (not the case for condors, obviously) and don't see
the towers, or what.

I quote from the Condor-pass website:  "What is astounding is that
once in flight and searching for food, the condor can become oblivious
to anything in its path."

Enron:  http://www.wind.enron.com/
Audubon:  www.audubon.org/campaign
Condor-Pass:  www.condor-pass.org

A more deadly and pervasive energy issue, mostly out west, that kills
large raptors consists of older, poorly constructed electrical lines -
condors *have* been killed by these as have other large raptors.

Jan-Joost:  if I get a minute in between hurricane preparation, I'll
look for more information and forward it on to you .....

Elise Schmidt
Columbia, SC