Author: none given
Publication Date: 5/10/2012
Link: http://www.statejournal.com/story/18260148/wvu-researchers-study-how-to-keep-wind-turbines-out-of-eagles-flight-path
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| Caption: This is a picture of the wind turbines in Altamont Pass, which is in California. Golden Eagles fly through this pass in order to get to their nesting grounds.
Summary: Wind turbines can provide a lot of renewable energy with
proper conditions. However, there are a few drawbacks to the turbines. Studies
were done in order to try to figure out why many birds, specifically the golden
eagle, were getting killed by the wind turbines of Altamont Pass in California.
West Virginia University found that birds would rather get to their nesting
grounds fast and be tired rather than slow but well rested. In order for the
birds to go fast, they need good wind. The places where the wind is optimal, are
the same places that have a huge amount of wind turbines. The birds are unable
to avoid hitting the wind turbines due to the huge quantity of them. Two biologists from WVU named, Adam Duerr and Trish Miller, placed trackers on the eagles to categorize their flight and stop the problem. They hope that they can save the birds before it is too late, especially since their population is down to about 2,000 to 5,000.
Opinion: I
knew that this kind of thing happened and wanted to know why. I also remember discussing something similar in class about bats getting killed by wind turbines. But you have to know
that every good thing has to have at least one or more drawbacks. In this case,
we would either have to move the turbines, or let the bird slowly die off. I
would defininetly want to move the wind turbines, but to me it just doesn't
seem likely. However, if the birds were smart they would change their flight
patterns. So, in turn, the wind turbines are actually just speeding up natural
selection in my opinion.
Questions:
1) Do you think the turbines should be moved, or should we let natural selection happen? Provide an explanation of your opinion.
2) Discuss the pros and cons of wind energy.
3) What other types of alternative energy could be relied on at Altamont Pass as a substitute for the wind turbines?
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Opinion:
ReplyDeleteThey should either move the turbines and if they cannot find another place for them to go in which they can create just as much energy, then a way to move the eagles where they can sustain the same or a similar lifestyle should be found. Again, this is a situation in which not everyone wins. Biofuel is becoming a hit in China, but it's causing more and more families to fall into pverty because the price of food has gone up so much.
Quesiton 1
What would natural selection do to prevent the eagles from being killed by the turbines? It would take an extremely long time to have anything with natural selection in this case to happen because of the rate the eagles are dying from the turbines.
my point with the question was asking if we should move the turbines or just let them be and allow whatever happens to happen.
DeleteLike tice and melissa said, we either have to move the turbines or let the birds die off. It isn't very reasonable to move those huge turbines because of the size and it is hard to make the birds move to another direction. If we want to keep up biodiversity we need to move the turbines.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2)
I agree with melissa because in this case it would take a long time for natural selection to happen. The wind turbines would be gone anyway. I doubt that natural selection would even help.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI think that the turbines are a great idea and that it's great that we're trying to use alternative energy sources, but it's sad that these birds are dying because of it. We should definately keep the turbines even if the birds are dying because, like Andrew said, the birds might find a different fligh pattern where there a re no wind turbines. Also, the turbines are a step towards using alternative energy so it would be a shame if we had to get rid of them or move them for a bird. Although it is sad the bird is dying, the turbines are extremely important to keep
Question 1:
I think that the turbines should stay where they are. IT would be extremely costly to move them to a new location, plus the birds may learn to fly around or over the turbines. The wind turbines are a great source of alternative energy and it would be sad to see them go, but it would also be sad to see the bird go. This is a situation where both sides pros and cons are equal, but I believe they should keep the turbines where they are.
Opinion
ReplyDeleteI agree with with Andrew that the wind turbines could potienally cause natural selection. In my opinion I belive that environmental friendly people should try to make the eagles take a different path so the population numbers don't keep dropping. Im surprised though that the company or government that built the wind turbines didn't now that the bald eagles fly pass that way. We learned about natural selection in class and it takes time to adapt and hopefully the eagles can adapt before its too late
Question 1)
I think that they should move the wind turbines so the eagles don't get killed. Losing a species is more important then energy in my mind. You can always get energy but you can't bring back a type of species. Moving the wind turbines will allow the eagles to get to there nests fast and not get hurt.
Question 1)
ReplyDeleteThis is too add on to my response. The moving of wind turbines would be costly but since wind is free and they make energy they will in no time at all make the money back within the future. Wind turbines are a great alternative source of power but you have to think to yourself what are the postives and negatives of each of your decisions. Natural selection takes a long time to occur which we learned in class and I doubt the eagles would learn to fly over them in the time being.
This is an interesting discussion about the dilemma between conservation of a single species and conservation of many species. Without greatly expanded use of alternative energy sources, global warming will accelerate and pose risks to many species.
ReplyDeleteOne of our goals with our research to understand Golden Eagle flight is to better understand where eagles are likely to fly. With that information, we can suggest places where additional wind turbines should not be built and identify areas where turbines are less likely to kill eagles.
Government regulators are also struggling to determine how wind-energy companies should mitigate or make up for any eagles that are killed from colliding with their turbines. Examples of mitigation include protection of other habitat that eagles use and elimination of other agents that kill eagles. By taking such actions, eagle populations may increase despite mortality at existing wind developments.
Thanks Adam! I really appreciate your input!
ReplyDelete