Shetland Storm Force Photography

Following on from yesterday. The Scottish Government has agreed to reduce the number of turbine to 103 at this site in the mainland of Shetland - 24 less than previous, not because of the threat to birds but the threat to air traffic at Scatsa airport.
The area holds about 45% of Shetland breeding Merlin population, numerous Red throated diver which breed on the lochs but fly out to the sea to feed, and various waders such as Golden Plover, Curlew, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and two specialties - the Artic Skua and Whimbrel both of which are in decline.

In January 2012, the Scientific Congress of Wind Energy and Wildlife and Conservation published a report on Spain's 18,000 wind turbines which are estimate to kill around 6+ million birds and bats per year. Also in England at Portland, a single wind turbine at a school has been turned off because it killed 14 seabirds in 6 months.

The facts are worth considering and should not be taken lightly, once they are up and running they will not be turned off.                                          

                                                              Photos:      Artic Skua

Photos: Artic Skua