Tucker County High School kills hundreds of birds

"Anywhere that had light shining out, they were flying their bodies into the glass," Bonnett said. "It was instant death. They broke their necks and were lying in piles by the door. Some were out by the track, the driveway, spread all over the place. I figure some of them didn't hit so hard, fractured their skulls and died elsewhere."

Officials closed the school Monday morning after fears that toxins might have killed the birds. Several of the creatures were left stunned and recovered.

"At that point, it was not known what was causing the death of the birds," said Tucker County Sheriff Tom Felton, who arrived at the school around 7:45 a.m. "There were hundreds outside and scattered along the parking lot and roads, in close proximity to the school."

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources spokesman Hoy Murphy said wildlife officials at the scene found the birds piled up against one wall under a window, on the roof and scattered throughout the school grounds.

http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/200809300211

Now that beats hell out of those wind turbines for number of kills



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How close is the high school to the wind turbines Sam?

Tucker County High School is about a quarter to 3/8ths of a mile from the south end of the wind turbines.

There are historical accounts of birds flying in mass into lighted buildings for decades before there was a wind turbine on any WV mountain. It seems to be related to low clouds / foggy conditions. The birds killed are usually migratory birds. Some ornathologists believe that migratory birds navigate via the stars, and that mountain located white light sources serve to confuse the birds when they are in low clouds and fog. Red lights, such as the flashing red strobes on wind turbines at night, do not seem to contribute to the bird mortalities in the same way that steady burning white lights can during low, heavy fog conditions.

I am told that the following message was sent to WV Chapter of Audubon this afternoon:

The final totals for the Tucker County HS bird kill were 501 individuals of 30 different species, 7 individuals of 4 species were released as was 1 Red Bat. Keep in mind these numbers were only birds that were collected - there were certainly many more missed.

Rob Tallman

Ornithologist

WV Division of Natural Resources

So, if Tucker County HS is responsible for 1,000+- bird/bat deaths in less than a 12 hour period, ........ no big deal, ........ no one really gives a shidt.

Moving vehicles are responsible for tens of thousands of bird deaths each year, .... and also .... no big deal.

But if a couple of wind turbines is responsible for 15 or 20 bird/bat deaths in a 8,760 hour period (1 year) ........... then all the weirdy whackos get all irate and pissed off, demanding that no more turbines be built anywhere, etc., etc.

Oh well, not much different than the anti-MTR'ers who only oppose said if it involves extraction of coal. Or those who only oppose new or upgrade road construction.

Just about anyone can "flatten out a mountain, filling in a valley and/or burying a stream" (which I haven’t yet figured out how one buries a stream) …… and if that someone is not looking for coal, …….. no one really gives a shidt.



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What is the average bird kill at the wind farm Frank?

What is the average bird kill at the wind farm Frank?

Birds? A couple hundred a year- based on 2003 and 2004 mortality surveys there.

But bat kills- several thousand a year.

So then bird kills are not an issue with wind turbines, correct?

In the west and midwest, birds are still a significant issue at wind farms. But on forested ridges of the eastern U.S. bird kills are not nearly as much of an issue to most people I know as the bat kills are.