Posted on 11/14/2013 10:35:49 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Two months ago, 34 birds were found dead or injured on the site of the Ivanpah solar plant owned by BrightSource Energy in east San Bernardino County, California. Almost half suffered from singed feathers after running afoul of the plant’s reflected beams of sunlight, according to a report from The Desert Sun. This was not an isolated incident: another 19 were found dead at the 500-megawatt Desert Sunlight plant, which is also located in California.
So what’s going on here? Why are birds dropping like their winged-brethren, flies, around these plants and what can we do?
The Californian desert has become a popular place to build solar energy plants because of the abundant space and, of course, the sun. However, the region also serves as one of the four major north-to-south trajectories for migratory birds: the Pacific Flyway. So while it seems like an ideal locale, birds who fly over these structures face some new and unusual hazards.
When it comes to death by solar farm, birds typically die in one of two ways. In the first, the glimmering sheer of solar panels might trick birds into thinking they are actually part of a body of water. And so the birds, especially waterfowl in this scenario, dive towards the panels, looking for moisture and food, only to find themselves, bones broken, dying in the middle of the arid California sand.
Blunt force trauma aside, others feel the wrath of the harnessed sunlight. At the right (or really, wrong) angle, the potent radiation bouncing off solar mirror’s are enough to burn a bird’s fragile wings, abruptly sending the creature downward towards the ground and impending death. They’re like tragic avian Icaruses, except without an easily digestible moral lesson behind their fatal crashes.
(Excerpt) Read more at motherboard.vice.com ...
Oh good grief.
We all know that Al Gore is full of HORSE MANURE!
You didn’t get that pic from a blog, did you? some folks get real sensitive about blog material around here. it’s like a phobia. or sumthin’. ;\
Now you can get your Obamabird shredded or baked!
At least SOMETHING positive is happening!
“Barack Obama hates birds.”
These “Green Environmentalists” need to become an endangered species through the 3S Program.
Whatever gooogle serves up I use..................
Lol, a pinch of salt and a swig of beer,, makes the singed wings go down.
Seems there’s “disparate impact” on black birds...someone call Holder!
It is a FEDERAL CRIME to injure or allow any birds of the Hawk or Eagle family to be injured. It is a FEDERAL CRIME to possess Eagle feathers, even if legitimately inherited unless you are a Native American member of a Federally recognized Tribe. The fine for having a single feather can be up to $25,000!
No wind farm or solar plant has ever been cited for proven injury to such protected avians. Some places, primarily wind farms, have killed up to 10 eagles in a year.
Protected species or protected policy?
Judging by the shape of the wings and the tail I would guess that is a tree swallow that has been charbroiled.
Goodness! The eco-nuts’ solar power bakes the birds while their wind power chops them into bloody pieces. Oh, my.
An eagles egg (fertilized or not) is considered a living thing. Break one and face a hefty hefty fine and maybe jail time. Even if by accident.
A fertilized humans egg is considered non-living, and has no value to our society. Is not protected in any way, and indeed, efforts are made to destroy fertilized human eggs at a rate that would make the Nazi’s envious.
Ironic isn’t it?
Oh NOES! “Green” is a lean, mean, anti-bird machine! Who knew?
Applying the standard PC Morality: “We just gotta make sure that this never happens again!” is going to be interesting to watch.
BTW, just how much electricity can be generated by these mirrors on Full Moon nights?
You know the answer. Time we start calling these chumps on it. We need to organize mass funerals and pr events for the victims of this green energy mandate. The left does whenever there’s an oil spill or some other energy accident. What’s good for the Goose....
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