Toll rises as wedge-tailed eagles fall prey to turbines

Age
Friday 29/8/2008 Page: 4

THE toll of endangered Wedge-Tailed Eagles is climbing at the southern hemisphere's largest wind farm, in north-west Tasmania. A breeding pair died at the 62-turbine Woolnorth Wind Farm earlier this month, its owner, Roaring 40s, confirmed yesterday. The Chinese-Australian company said this took to 16 the total of Wedge-Tailed Eagle collisions since 2002, but Greens leader Bob Brown said more had died and been taken by carrion eaters such as Tasmanian devils.

"What we need is an independent inquiry into this, to find out how many, and what resources can be put into stopping eagle deaths," Senator Brown said. When they become locked onto their prey they are oblivious of things like rotating blades, and this has been known for years." The latest pair are understood to have been cut down in flight several days apart.

The second died despite the presence of eagle monitors on the ground, and a decision to shut down some turbines. The Tasmanian sub-species of the wedge-tail was assessed as endangered by the Federal Environment Department, which said in 2000 that the bird was declining in numbers from around 440 adults. Eric Woehler, of Birds Tasmania, said the farm was killing eagles drawn in from adjacent areas. It is a black hole for them.

Already the species is being hammered by forestry and shooting. The wind farm is an additional threat that they just don't need," he said. Mr Woehler said the company had been able to model weather conditions likely to attract eagles to two areas of the three stage development, but not yet in the third stage, commissioned 15 months ago. It carries 25 of the farm's largest turbines.

Set on coastal hills in Tasmania's far north-west, Woolnorth's turbines can generate up to 140 megawatts of green power. The company said in addition to minimising the risk of collisions on the site, it was taking part in programs throughout Tasmania to protect eagle nest sites.