Since the world’s biggest wind farm went up in the Irish Sea, Herring Gulls are down 82%, European Shag down 51%, and Razorbills down 55%. The list goes on…Isn’t there a conspicuous connection?
The Isle Of Man wildlife charity Manx Birdlife has reported a shocking 40% decline in the populations of many species of seabirds around the island’s coast.
The worrying figures emerged following a comprehensive census that took place over two years. Whatever the reason for the sharp decline of the birds, it illustrates that something has gone very wrong.
I’ve noted with interest that this unprecedented drop in populations, of several of the island’s maritime species, coincides with the proliferation of wind farms in the Irish Sea – something which has worried me during the past few years, as I have witnessed the frenzied development of the wind industry in the waters off the western coasts of England and Wales.
World’s Biggest Offshore Wind Farm just a few miles away…
We know that offshore turbines kill birds and bats, though it is almost impossible to estimate the number of casualties because there are no retrievable carcasses to count at sea.
It is also highly likely that wind farms adversely affect many marine mammals.
SEE ALSO: Are ocean wind farms killing already endangered whales?
The world’s largest offshore wind farm is now in operation off the Cumbrian coast at Walney, just 40 miles or so from the Isle of Man, and with the news that nearby bird populations are in free fall, we must seriously ask whether the huge turbines might be killing more birds than we ever anticipated.
The Isle of Man study was, ironically, partly supported by the Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Project. How paradoxical would it be to find that the project itself, with its giant 640 feet turbines, was responsible for the plummeting numbers of seabirds?
The report is full of depressing statistics. Herring Gulls are down 82%, European Shag down 51%, Razorbills down 55%. The list goes on.
Marine Protected Areas “may not necessarily be a major barrier to new projects…”
I’ve been increasingly concerned at the feverish pace of industrial offshore wind farm development in this country and especially in the Irish Sea.
Such a high density of turbines in a confined area – an area renowned for its wildlife – has been watched with dismay by many environmentalists, especially since large parts of the sea have been designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), supposedly limiting the scale of industrial development in precious areas that provide important habitat for so many species.
SEE ALSO: Ireland Declares A ‘Climate Emergency’ As Global Warming Hysteria Spreads
Alas, development has been allowed in vast parts of the sea that fall just outside the protected zones – and there have even been hints that the MPAs themselves may not be off-limits for future wind-farm expansion.
Last year, a report carried out for the Welsh government suggested that “this protection may not necessarily be a major barrier to new projects” – which sounds shockingly irresponsible to me.
Isle of Man plans might seriously threaten birds’ survival
Though the Isle Of Man currently has none of its own offshore wind farms, their government is reportedly close to approving industrial wind development off the island’s coast as early as next year.
Such plans might seriously threaten the survival of species already struggling to cope with the industrialization of their habitat.
Wind energy companies might flaunt their green ideologies for all to see – but their industry nevertheless hides a grim reality. Their ‘green’ energy kills wildlife.
Money Vs Wildlife…
Speaking about the alarming drop in bird populations, managing director of Manx Birdlife, Neil Morris, suggested that “there are a number of causes for these declines and the solutions, such as protecting nesting sites, restoring food chains and mitigating climate change, will be challenging.”
It will be interesting to see whether more research will be carried out into just how many birds are being killed by the Irish Sea wind farms. My hunch is that many people would rather keep that information under their hats.
So much money invested in offshore wind means that bad publicity would be very unwelcome and it is common for critics of the industry to be ridiculed.
It seems likely that vast swathes of our coastal seas are likely to be further industrialized by the wind giants – even if it is at the expense of wildlife.
Read more at Jason Endfield
BIRDS YES WIND TURBINES NO
Windmills were stupid when they were proposed and they’re stupid now. I firmly believe that anyone who is connected with the building of these monstrosities should be charged with cruelty to animals and thrown in jail.
In 2010 hundreds of ducks were killed by landing in a Canadian Oil Sands mine tailings pond. The bird detection/abatement system malfunctioned, and weather caused the birds to stop flight suddenly. Search on “Oil Sands Duck Deaths”
The outcry was unbelievable.
Fast forward. Bird populations are being decimated by Wind Mill bird/bat Cuisinarts. 100’s of thousands of bird deaths every year. Crickets from activists.
Doesn’t make sense.
The American Bird Conservancy sued the Dept of the Interior back in 2015 and forced them to revoke a 30 year Eagle Take permit they had granted to the Wind Turbine companies and that was under Obama mind you
Years ago, a local farmer was fined heavily because he cut down some trees and bald eagles abandoned their nearby nest. When bird lovers tried to stop a wind farm by citing the encroachment on eagles’ nests, the Ontario government removed Bald Eagles from the endangered list. Hypocrisy.
There’s a news item today about Trudeau and a room full of his young sycophants, pizza and single – use plastic forks and knives on full display. Yep. Plastic utensils, just in case one of them doesn’t know how to eat pizza.
Best comment? “Pile of hypocrisy”
For the greenhouse effect to perform as advertised the earth must be surrounded by a cold outer space, perhaps as low as 5 K. That explains how NOAA can claim that the naked earth would become a frozen ice ball at -430 F.
In fact, earth is surrounded by hot outer space, i.e. 394 K, 121 C, 250 F. That’s why the International Space Station includes an ammonia refrigerant cooling system.
The atmosphere does not warm the earth like a greenhouse but cools it like that reflective panel behind a car’s windshield.
If the earth is actually hotter without an atmosphere radiative greenhouse effect goes straight onto the historical trash bin of failed theories and all the handwavium, pseudo-science, horse manure pretending to explain it follows close behind.
No greenhouse effect, no greenhouse gas warming, no man caused climate change nor global warming.
A thirty-year illusion orchestrated by hustlers behind green velvet curtains.
Spit out the Kool Aid, take the red pill of honest science and wake to reality.
I think that is the plan SONNYHILL .
I said it before, there’s enough Green energy to go around, IF they reduce the population by 97%.
Why would anyone donate an organization that encourages the mass distruction of birds ?
Disgusting but add the thousands of annual fuel poverty deaths and you have to wonder what is going on . I suspect a royal wash over as the rich take care of each other .
The National Audubon Society support Wind Energy it looks like they have abandoned the Birds in favor of all the Glitz and Paparazi from the M.S. Media
They’ll say Climate Change made them build the windmills and, therefore, the sea bird population decline is because Climate Change.
And the IPCC band played on.
Bird blendres are mass killing machines but at least some fish and crabs will be happy . What a public service .
Come on now little birdies let’s see you get through this man made death trap .
They need to get rid of all those wind turbines and totaly ban the construction of all Wind Turbines the fact that under Obama the Dept of the Interior wanted to grant a 30 year Eagle Take Permit to the Wind Farms but the American Bird Conservancy sued and stopped the permit and that was still under Obama to
Clearly the bird populations have plummeted due to global warming, er climate change, er climate disaster or whatever it’s called. It has nothing to do with the giant bird killers. Nor the low-frequency hums from those bird killers. Just as Green Peace, they’ll tell you.