Report: Birds endangered by energy development (AP)

[eppur_se_muova]

DINA CAPPIELLO - 3/19/2009 9:03:07 PM

As the Obama administration pursues more homegrown energy sources, a new government report faults energy production of all types _ wind, ethanol and mountaintop coal mining _ for contributing to steep drops in bird populations.

The first-of-its-kind government report chronicles a four-decade decline in many of the country's bird populations and provides many reasons for it, from suburban sprawl to the spread of exotic species to global warming.
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"Energy development has significant negative effects on birds in North America," the report concludes.

Birds can collide with wind turbines and oil and gas wells, and studies have shown that some species, such as prairie chickens and sage grouse, will avoid nesting near the structures.

Ponds created during the extraction of coal-bed methane gas breed mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, leading to more bird deaths. Transmission lines, roads to access energy fields and mountaintop removal to harvest coal can destroy and fragment birds' living spaces.
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more: http://www.onenewsnow.com/AP/Search/World/Default.aspx?id=458538

[BlueJazz]

1. And of course, birds eat insects....Damned if we do...Damned if we don't.

[madrchsod]

2. if it ain`t one thing it`s another