14 DAY TRIAL // A report issued by the Fish and Wildlife services announced the fact that 500 birds met their death near the Laurel Mountain wind farm, located in West Virginia. According to the data provided by the study, the creatures were not killed by the sharp blades of the machine, they were rather attracted to the night lighting provided by the facility.
At this point in time, the cause of death is uncertain. The consultant who wrote the report said that either the birds collided with structures or the creatures “circled to the point of exhaustion.”
The American Bird Conservancy highlighted that this is the third incident of such proportions which takes place in West Virginia.
The officials mentioned that 484 bird carcasses have been found from October 3rd to October 18th, while biologists say that out of these creatures, 65% were blackpoll warblers, 7.5% ovenbirds, while the rest were thrushes, cuckoos and one green heron.
The birds faced fog and powerful wind, while they were migrating, and this context made them fly closer to the ground, so their end was imminent.
According to experts, this is the largest and most morbid incident which happened around a wind-power facility. Despite the fact that the wind turbines didn't cause the death of these birds, lighting at the battery storage facility was the main factor which triggered this tremendous massacre.
The Laurel Mountain wind farm, is located near the Elkins town. It provides safe and clean energy while relying on 1.3 million batteries and electronic components which transform natural wind power into renewable energy.
This incident counts as a dangerous precedent, which has to determine a change in the behavior of owners of wind-powered facilities. The most effective solution appears to be quite simple and involves turning the lights off at night.
Kelly Fuller, the wind campaign coordinator at the conservancy said that this disturbing event counts as a harsh lesson, which will certainly be learned by the people who are responsible for similar facilities.
According to a study, approximately 90,000 birds are killed every year only in New York City by colliding with glass in buildings. In order to put an end to this alarming situation, several non-profit organization and major companies launched the Lights Out New York project.