State lawmaker quietly calls for sandhill crane hunt

Funny how they say the state population stands at 25,000 Sandhill Cranes during the month of OCTOBER, when sandhills start reaching their peak as they gather in preperation for migration.

What is the real population number at during spring and summer as they are spread across the northern states and Canada?

That's like me saying Haenhle Sanctuary here in MI has 4000 cranes while doing the count in October, when the real numbers may be closer to two or four in May or June.

I see no reason to kill Sandhills. Too many stupid people wouldn't know the difference between Whoopers, Egrets or Great Blue Herons.

Raptor in Michigan wrote:

Funny how they say the state population stands at 25,000 Sandhill Cranes during the month of OCTOBER, when sandhills start reaching their peak as they gather in preperation for migration.
What is the real population number at during spring and summer as they are spread across the northern states and Canada?
That's like me saying Haenhle Sanctuary here in MI has 4000 cranes while doing the count in October, when the real numbers may be closer to two or four in May or June.
I see no reason to kill Sandhills. Too many stupid people wouldn't know the difference between Whoopers, Egrets or Great Blue Herons.

Well than according to you the WIND MILLS aren't doing there fair share only the stupid people out there. See there you go again with that ASSumption thing.

PHD wrote:

<quoted text>Well than according to you the WIND MILLS aren't doing there fair share only the stupid people out there. See there you go again with that ASSumption thing.

Ever wonder how many cranes and other birds get killed by wind turbine blades?
I'd say this figure is greatly under-exaggerated, considering they could never find all the carcasses of the smaller songbirds at every turbine in the country.
The dumbasses in Washington keep pushing more of this crap, because they cater to the extreme environmental nutcases that are under the false ASSumption that wind energy is 'good' for the environment.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wind-bir...

January 2011: Three iconic American bird species face especially severe threats from wind energy development, according to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

‘Golden eagles, whooping cranes and greater sage-grouse are likely to be among the birds most affected by poorly planned and sited wind projects,' said Kelly Fuller, wind programme coordinator for ABC, America's leading bird conservation organisation.

‘Unless the government acts now to require that the wind industry respect basic wildlife safeguards, these three species will be at ever greater risk.'

Bird-death figure likely to pass million mark
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) currently estimates that more than 400,000 birds are already being killed each year after being struck by the fast-moving blades of wind turbines. This figure is expected to rise significantly, and will likely eventually pass the million mark as wind power becomes increasingly ubiquitous under a Department of Energy plan to supply 20 per cent of America's power through wind by 2030.

Golden eagles have already been one of the major victims of the largest wind farm in the United States at Altamont Pass in California. The Altamont wind farm was sited in an area that eagles and other raptors use to hunt ground squirrels and other small mammals. Using the now-outdated towers as perches, thousands of raptors have been killed as they launch out through the spinning turbines towards their prey.

While new tower designs have been developed, they don't completely eliminate the risk. Much of the additional wind build-out planned for the western U.S. is expected to occur in areas used by Golden Eagles.

A further threat to birds is expected to come from the major transmission line build-out required to service new wind farms. Large birds such as the endangered whooping crane can fail to see the wires in time and die after colliding with them.


CONFLICT: Areas ideal for wind development are
also key migration routes for the Endangered
whooping crane.
Wind development overlaps whooping crane migration route

According to a recent FWS report:‘The Great Plains states traversed by the whooping cranes during their fall and spring migrations are among the windiest states in the nation. The best places for wind energy development in these states overlap to a large extent the whooping crane migration corridor, and many of these areas provide attractive stopover sites. Thus, the potential for impacts to whooping cranes from future wind energy development is high.'

The threat to yet more birds comes not from collisions, but from loss of their habitat due to wind farm construction. The greater sage-grouse is already reduced to a tiny fraction of its former range and population size due to degradation of sagebrush habitat in the west. The proliferation of giant turbines looming over the habitat can cause birds to abandon remaining traditional breeding grounds. The total habitat footprint from wind farms is predicted to exceed 20,000 square miles by 2030, much of it in states such as Wyoming, one of the last remaining sage-grouse strongholds.

Legal protection is not in place
While the threat from wind development stands out for these three iconic American birds, it is by no means limited to a small handful of species. More than ten billion birds are estimated to migrate across the country each spring and fall, many at night. Wind turbines will be an unexpected obstacle to these migrations. Plans to build a wind farm at Canada's Point Pelee - a migration hotspot on the Great Lakes - were recently shelved due to a public outcry over the expected impact on songbirds but other wind developments are planned along the U.S. side of the lakes, and in other areas through which migrating birds funnel, with as-yet uncalculated bird impacts.

Raptor in Michigan wrote:

January 2011: Three iconic American bird species face especially severe threats from wind energy development, according to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).
‘Golden eagles, whooping cranes and greater sage-grouse are likely to be among the birds most affected by poorly planned and sited wind projects,' said Kelly Fuller, wind programme coordinator for ABC, America's leading bird conservation organisation.
‘Unless the government acts now to require that the wind industry respect basic wildlife safeguards, these three species will be at ever greater risk.'
Bird-death figure likely to pass million mark
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) currently estimates that more than 400,000 birds are already being killed each year after being struck by the fast-moving blades of wind turbines. This figure is expected to rise significantly, and will likely eventually pass the million mark as wind power becomes increasingly ubiquitous under a Department of Energy plan to supply 20 per cent of America's power through wind by 2030.
Golden eagles have already been one of the major victims of the largest wind farm in the United States at Altamont Pass in California. The Altamont wind farm was sited in an area that eagles and other raptors use to hunt ground squirrels and other small mammals. Using the now-outdated towers as perches, thousands of raptors have been killed as they launch out through the spinning turbines towards their prey.
While new tower designs have been developed, they don't completely eliminate the risk. Much of the additional wind build-out planned for the western U.S. is expected to occur in areas used by Golden Eagles.
A further threat to birds is expected to come from the major transmission line build-out required to service new wind farms. Large birds such as the endangered whooping crane can fail to see the wires in time and die after colliding with them.
CONFLICT: Areas ideal for wind development are
also key migration routes for the Endangered
whooping crane.
Wind development overlaps whooping crane migration route
According to a recent FWS report:‘The Great Plains states traversed by the whooping cranes during their fall and spring migrations are among the windiest states in the nation. The best places for wind energy development in these states overlap to a large extent the whooping crane migration corridor, and many of these areas provide attractive stopover sites. Thus, the potential for impacts to whooping cranes from future wind energy development is high.'
The threat to yet more birds comes not from collisions, but from loss of their habitat due to wind farm construction. The greater sage-grouse is already reduced to a tiny fraction of its former range and population size due to degradation of sagebrush habitat in the west. The proliferation of giant turbines looming over the habitat can cause birds to abandon remaining traditional breeding grounds. The total habitat footprint from wind farms is predicted to exceed 20,000 square miles by 2030, much of it in states such as Wyoming, one of the last remaining sage-grouse strongholds.
Legal protection is not in place
While the threat from wind development stands out for these three iconic American birds, it is by no means limited to a small handful of species. More than ten billion birds are estimated to migrate across the country each spring and fall, many at night. Wind turbines will be an unexpected obstacle to these migrations. Plans to build a wind farm at Canada's Point Pelee - a migration hotspot on the Great Lakes - were recently shelved due to a public outcry over the expected impact on songbirds but other wind developments are planned along the U.S. side of the lakes, and in other areas through which migrating birds funnel, with as-yet uncalculated bird impacts.

The usual non based dribble. WIND MILLS RULE!!!

PHD wrote:

<quoted text>The usual non based dribble. WIND MILLS RULE!!!

I'm sure that post was much too long for you, Doc. For your reading pleasure- the last paragraph sums it up. The reason why WIND MILLS SUCK!! We Americans need to put a stop to this- NOW!

While the threat from wind development stands out for these three iconic American birds, it is by no means limited to a small handful of species. More than ten billion birds are estimated to migrate across the country each spring and fall, MANY AT NIGHT. Wind turbines will be an UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE to these migrations. Plans to build a wind farm at Canada's Point Pelee - a migration hotspot on the Great Lakes - were recently shelved due to a public outcry over the EXPECTED IMPACT ON SONGBIRDS but other wind developments ARE PLANNED along the U.S. side of the lakes, AND in other areas through which MIGRATING BIRDS FUNNEL, with as-yet uncalculated BIRD IMPACTS.

Raptor in Michigan wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm sure that post was much too long for you, Doc. For your reading pleasure- the last paragraph sums it up. The reason why WIND MILLS SUCK!! We Americans need to put a stop to this- NOW!
While the threat from wind development stands out for these three iconic American birds, it is by no means limited to a small handful of species. More than ten billion birds are estimated to migrate across the country each spring and fall, MANY AT NIGHT. Wind turbines will be an UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE to these migrations. Plans to build a wind farm at Canada's Point Pelee - a migration hotspot on the Great Lakes - were recently shelved due to a public outcry over the EXPECTED IMPACT ON SONGBIRDS but other wind developments ARE PLANNED along the U.S. side of the lakes, AND in other areas through which MIGRATING BIRDS FUNNEL, with as-yet uncalculated BIRD IMPACTS.

The only thing that as you say sucks is the void between your ears.There you go again making another ASSumption. Are you getting the picture of your own profile? Gee tell us more of your ASSumption wisdom.

How's the birding down in Harlingen now, Doc? Starting to see some new arrivals down there, are you? I saw an early Turkey Vulture up here yesterday. I was surprised he made it with all the obstacles blocking his way in the sky.

Raptor in Michigan wrote:

How's the birding down in Harlingen now, Doc? Starting to see some new arrivals down there, are you? I saw an early Turkey Vulture up here yesterday. I was surprised he made it with all the obstacles blocking his way in the sky.

Well now you see they learned to fly around all those staitonary, moving objects and WIND MILLS THAT RULE. They never left in most parts of the state and others as well. You say you know migration? Shame on you you should have been able to answer your own birding question.That turkey vulture never left your state your not with the weather change but they are.