<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Can you shed more light on this?</p>
<p dir="ltr">Eleanor<br>
</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 31, 2013 8:41 AM, "Neil E Taylor" <<a href="mailto:neiletaylor@sympatico.ca">neiletaylor@sympatico.ca</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Canada</span></font><u></u><u></u><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">'</span></font><u></u><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">s <u></u>Amherst<u></u>
<u></u>Island<u></u> in <u></u><u></u>Lake<u></u> <u></u>Ontario<u></u><u></u>
is in need of all "friends of birds"....from all around the
world....and we need the help of Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists!!!</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Under the <u></u><u></u>Province<u></u>
of <u></u>Ontario<u></u><u></u><u></u>'<u></u>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.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has
invited public comments by August 9, 2013 on an application by Windlectric /
Algonquin Power for an</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">“overall benefit” permit to kill, harm and harass, and
destroy and fragment habitat, of three species at risk on <u></u><u></u>Amherst<u></u> <u></u>Island<u></u><u></u>:
<b><font color="red"><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bobolink, Eastern</span></font></b></span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="1" color="red" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:red;font-weight:bold">Meadowlark,
and Whip-poor-will</span></font></b><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">. </span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">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. </span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Click here <<a href="http://bit.ly/17kxnA0" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">http://bit.ly/17kxnA0</span></font></a>>
to see the Environmental Registry posting.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">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: <a href="https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=kathleen.pitt%40ontario.ca" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">kathleen.pitt@ontario.ca</span></font></a>,
with copies to <a href="https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=premier%40ontario.ca" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">premier@ontario.ca</span></font></a>,</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" color="#0000ee" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#0000ee"><a href="https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=minister.mnr%40ontario.ca" target="_blank">minister.mnr@ontario.ca</a></span></font><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">, <a href="mailto:david.o%27toole@ontario.ca" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">david.o'toole@ontario.ca</span></font></a> and <a href="https://webmail.kos.net/src/compose.php?send_to=protectai%40kos.net" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">protectai@kos.net</span></font></a></span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">And PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD !!!!!</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Some of the key messages you may wish to address include:</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"> - All of <u></u><u></u><b><font color="red"><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Amherst</span></font></b><u></u><b><font color="red"><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold"> <u></u>Island<u></u></span></font></b><u></u><b><font color="red"><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold"> is an Important Bird Area
of Global Significance on the Atlantic Migratory flyway and is home to 34
species at risk</span></font></b><font color="red"><span style="color:red"> </span></font>including
Blanding’s Turtle.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">- The <u></u>Island<u></u> is
internationally recognized for concentrations of wintering hawks and owls, with
birders travelling from around the world to visit Owl Woods (<a href="http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/projects/property.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/projects/property.html</span></font></a> ),
where it is possible to see up to 10 species of owls.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">- <u></u>Amherst<u></u> <u></u>Island<u></u> was ranked second in biodiversity significance
(<u></u><u></u>Lake<u></u> <u></u>Ontario<u></u> <u></u>Islands<u></u><u></u>
– Northeast), and includes 400 hectares of Provincially Significant Coastal
Wetland.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">- 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 <u></u>Island<u></u>.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway said this to <u></u><u></u>Ontario<u></u><u></u><u></u>'<u></u>s
Premier:</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">*<u></u>Ontario<u></u> birders know
about or have visited <u></u>Amherst<u></u> <u></u>Island<u></u> in eastern <u></u>Lake<u></u>
<u></u>Ontario<u></u> near <u></u><u></u>Kingston<u></u>, <u></u>Ontario<u></u><u></u>.
It<u></u>'<u></u>s world famous for raptors and
includes</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">the "Owl Woods" where many birders have seen
their life owls of several species. During years when meadow vole numbers peak
it supports hundreds</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">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</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Owl Woods. According to the Toronto Star newspaper
adjacent <u></u>Wolfe<u></u> <u></u>Island<u></u>
has the second highest bird mortality in <u></u>North America<u></u>
caused by wind</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">turbines.</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u><u></u><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Amherst</span></font><u></u><u></u><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"> 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</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">esthetically, one of the most important birding areas in <u></u>North America<u></u>?"</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">You can learn more about the situation on <u></u><u></u>Amherst<u></u> <u></u>Island<u></u><u></u> at:</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"> - Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ProtectAmherstIsland" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">www.facebook.com/ProtectAmherstIsland</span></font></a></span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"> - Web: <a href="http://protectamherst.yolasite.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ee"><span style="color:#0000ee">http://protectamherst.yolasite.com</span></font></a></span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Thank you for your help,</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">kind regards,</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div style="min-height:13px">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">Andrea Cross</span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana">on behalf of the Association to <u></u><u></u>Protect<u></u> <u></u>Amherst<u></u>
<u></u>Island<u></u><u></u></span></font><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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