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Berkshire Bird Sanctuary’s Pete Dubacher and Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Robert Bryce on the threat windmills pose to golden eagles.
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Tonight's top story our nation's Eagles they're being threatened in particular at the golden eagle.
In what is the ultimate -- beautiful birds are being slaughtered by Windmills.
Electricity producing Windmills -- to reduce our use of fossil fuels.
And save the planet nearly half a million are killed each year by the wind industry alone.
Rubber prices senior fellow for the Manhattan institute he'll join me in a bit for some analysis before a close -- look at this beautiful bird.
I'm joined by Peter do -- founder at the Berkshire bird sanctuary in upstate New York.
And with them is rocks this is Ross a twenty year golden eagle and chest beautiful Peter.
Tell us about this bird and tell me how it it's different from say.
A bald -- Well one of the most interest -- characteristics about the golden eagle.
Is the fact number one.
They're called golden Eagles because of this beautiful golden -- which is around the -- area its hands when the sun shines on it it actually I have sort of an iridescent glow to.
And if you look at mythology and go back into some of the historical facts of you know from our were predecessors.
These birds were revered as -- at one time.
Wow OK so they're under threat now though yet a lot of things threatening the golden eagle.
I don't understood I understand why they're under threat -- they delicate with few.
No it's not -- not really that it's so you have to consider all of the other scenarios besides the wind generators.
So many of these beautiful birds are -- killed needlessly people shoot them.
Believe it or not up until the early 1960s.
The golden Eagles were actually there was a bounty on them to kill them.
Because they were considered a nuisance and unfortunately a lot of this was basically.
Miss information by people and sadly a lot of birds parish.
-- and so these birds they mate for life.
And dad a laid out find a new mate if they lose and -- to something yes they're fascinating bird.
Why don't -- see these Windmills don't Eagles have like perfect vision and yes they do.
As a matter of fact as I pointed out earlier.
This bird or any -- one of your larger raptors can actually be up a quarter of a -- up in the sky.
And read the fine print in the New York Times while I believe it or not I try -- besides -- fine print and air times but this.
You have to consider the fact that when you have so many wind generators in a row it's only a law of averages he gotta consider the fact that they're gonna be flying along.
And sometimes they can reach speeds of up to 200 miles an hour how and when you're traveling at that speed -- anything can happen.
-- wanna turn to Robert -- now.
-- seventy of these golden Eagles -- beautiful birds Robert are killed every year in California at the Altamont pass -- Windmills.
Taking these birds out to -- the tragedy mean what's going on.
Well what's been happening at Altamont which is a large and older wind energy project east of Oakland.
There's been documented over a number of years -- tally that them mortality rather that.
-- -- projects are having on -- of all kinds as well as thousands of other birds that one facility alone is killing several thousand birds per year.
But we have not yet had a single prosecution of anyone or any and any company in the wind energy business look under the -- my engine migratory bird treaty actor eagle protection act.
I wanna get to that but I'm pretty sure people understand first of all -- threat to these birds.
-- also they also kill owls hock some 7500 birds.
Are are threatened by these Windmills even Audubon society the Sierra Club a lot of the environmental groups that you -- to hearing about.
Are on the side against what you would think would be the environmentalists running the Windmills its very -- what do you say Robert.
Well what what we've seen just in the last few months really is a campaign that's been led by the American bird conservancy.
And now we have 86 different environmental organizations including the Cornell or mythological laboratory.
Petitioning the Fish and Wildlife Service for mandatory.
Citing rules that would affect future wind project to the future wind energy project so.
It's a I think it's a a very important story and one that is I think is really put the Obama administration that in a tough place.
Because they want to promote renewables but we have environmental groups now saying that what we're going to build more wind energy we have to be a lot more careful about it.
Well let's talk about this this double standard that you that you like to mention here.
Look at here -- running an electricity power plant out there.
If you're drilling for oil.
And you kill birds what happens.
Well I can point in fact if you look at the department of justice's own website I've -- a case to resume in North Dakota last August.
There were seven oil companies were charge under the migratory bird treaty act there were 28 birds killed.
And -- no problem with that if they're violating the migratory bird treaty act they should be prosecuted or or or forced to pay restitution I've written about this for more than twenty years.
But at the pine tree wind project alone in California the Mojave Desert.
They found already eight golden Eagles at that one side.
And yet no prosecution no action by the federal government.
Under migratory bird treaty act or the -- protection is that why -- the federal government stepping in here to save these birds.
Well it is frankly we don't have one law that is applies to everyone.
We have a pernicious double standard in which the federal government has in effect -- given the wind industry again out of jail free card when it comes to these bird kills.
Peter TU is this fair should these birds be protected in every case where they -- Absolutely I think that we all have a responsibility.
Two.
Not only protects the birds but is good stewards this is their -- to stay on this earth and we -- to them to be better Stewart's.
Like I say it -- Peter I thought this bird.
Stretch out its wings earlier today it is a site to -- -- and especially when it's not way up in the sky.
When it's right in front -- -- their massive.
Robert TU I -- -- think about this it it to me it's just so funny.
They have the Audubon society at this Sierra Club they're all on -- -- of these birds and yet they're fighting people who claim to be Green who claimed to be environmentalists.
It seems like they only want to save some.
Things not everything.
Well it is interest in that and the share club has now just recently come out in favor of mandatory guidelines on the -- of wind turbines but.
-- this is clearly a a growing issue for the environmental community.
That they're having to come to grips west and one lawyer that I've interviewed Eric glitz and -- has really been a leader on this issue.
He said that for many of these environmental groups.
That the issue of carbon dioxide has been the one that trumps everything else but now they're realizing the danger to birds and bats.
Of these wind turbines and they're finally taking action I think it's great.
-- -- strolls owls golden Eagles they're all in danger and we could stop it heartbeat if we wanted to.
Peter Robert thanks so much for being with us today and rise seen in -- -- I'm shocked this -- has been wonderful.
Are for more information on -- nonprofit bird sanctuary this is where -- lives or if you wanna make a donation log on to bird paradise dot org.
And if you didn't get back on our website Gerri Willis dot com we'll have this video plus -- figure out how to get in touch with Iraq.
