[All] Birds on Canada's Amherst Island in Lake Ontario Under Threat - Immediate Action is Required

[Eleanor Grant]

Neil, I'm wondering if there are other places where they could have sited a
large offshore wind project, that would have been less harmful to birds?
Or would all offshore wind be unacceptable?  This is a tough spot for
environmentalists.

Can you shed more light on this?

Eleanor
 On Jul 31, 2013 8:41 AM, "Neil E Taylor" <neiletaylor at sympatico.ca> wrote:

> ** ** ** ** ** ** **
>
> **Canada****'**s **Amherst** **Island** in ****Lake** **Ontario**** is in
> need of all "friends of birds"....from all around the world....and we need
> the help of Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists!!!****
>
> ** **
>
> Under the ****Province** of **Ontario******'**s Green Energy Act Fit 1
> program, Algonquin Power/Windlectric Inc. is proceeding with plans to
> install an industrial wind project consisting of 36, 50-storey tall wind
> turbines - each with a blade sweep area of over 2 acres - stretching from
> one end of the island to the other.****
>
> ** **
>
> The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has invited public
> comments by August 9, 2013 on an application by Windlectric / Algonquin
> Power for an****
>
> “overall benefit” permit to kill, harm and harass, and destroy and
> fragment habitat, of three species at risk on ****Amherst** **Island****:
> *Bobolink, Eastern*****
>
> *Meadowlark, and Whip-poor-will*.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> MNR has completely ignored the impact of the construction of turbines on
> migratory birds and other species at risk even though the definition of
> habitat in the Endangered Species Act requires their consideration. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Click here <http://bit.ly/17kxnA0> to see the Environmental Registry
> posting.****
>
> ** **
>
> Please voice your opposition to the kill / harm / harass / destroy /
> fragment permit by writing to Kathleen Pitt, Species at Risk Biologist, MNR
> with EBR 011-9446 in the subject line by Friday, August 9, 2013.  To:
> kathleen.pitt at ontario.ca<https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=kathleen.pitt%40ontario.ca>,
> with copies to premier at ontario.ca<https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=premier%40ontario.ca>
> ,****
>
> minister.mnr at ontario.ca<https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=minister.mnr%40ontario.ca>
> , david.o'toole at ontario.ca and protectai at kos.net<https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=protectai%40kos.net>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> And PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD !!!!!****
>
> ** **
>
> Some of the key messages you may wish to address include:****
>
> ** **
>
>  - All of *****Amherst**** Island**** is an Important Bird Area of Global
> Significance on the Atlantic Migratory flyway and is home to 34 species at
> risk* including Blanding’s Turtle.****
>
> - The **Island** is internationally recognized for concentrations of
> wintering hawks and owls, with birders travelling from around the world to
> visit Owl Woods (
> http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/projects/property.html ), where it is
> possible to see up to 10 species of owls.****
>
> - **Amherst** **Island** was ranked second in biodiversity significance (*
> ***Lake** **Ontario** **Islands**** – Northeast), and includes 400
> hectares of Provincially Significant Coastal Wetland.****
>
> - The Ministry must not limit its consideration to three ground-nesting
> birds but must consider a holistic approach to the impact of turbines on
> all species at risk including migratory birds and their habitat on the **
> Island**.****
>
> ** **
>
> Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway said this to ****Ontario******'**s Premier:****
>
> ** **
>
> ***Ontario** birders know about or have visited **Amherst** **Island** in
> eastern **Lake** **Ontario** near ****Kingston**, **Ontario****. It**'**s
> world famous for raptors and includes****
>
> the "Owl Woods" where many birders have seen their life owls of several
> species. During years when meadow vole numbers peak it supports hundreds**
> **
>
> of wintering hawks and owls. It is proposed that 36 massively tall wind
> turbines be constructed on the island, four of which will be close to the*
> ***
>
> Owl Woods. According to the Toronto Star newspaper adjacent **Wolfe** **
> Island** has the second highest bird mortality in **North America**caused by wind
> ****
>
> turbines.****
>
> ** **
>
> ****Amherst**** is a quiet and serene rural island, and is one of the
> treasures of the birding world. Are we about to alter greatly, both
> ecologically and****
>
> esthetically, one of the most important birding areas in **North America**
> ?"****
>
> ** **
>
> You can learn more about the situation on ****Amherst** **Island**** at:**
> **
>
> ** **
>
>    - Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ProtectAmherstIsland****
>
>    - Web: http://protectamherst.yolasite.com****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Thank you for your help,****
>
> ** **
>
> kind regards,****
>
> ** **
>
> Andrea Cross****
>
> on behalf of the Association to ****Protect** **Amherst** **Island********
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://mail.gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca
>
>
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