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Clarification
In the June 26 Recorder article on the merits of commercial wind power, a quote refuting concerns over the killing of bat and bird species at East Coast wind turbine sites was mis-attributed to Chris Burkett of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Dr. Matthew Wasson, conservation director for Appalachian Voices, quoted a flyer distributed by Virginia Wind, which said, "Wind projects on forested Appalachian ridges have the highest bird and bat fatalities documented worldwide." Wasson's refutation of that statement followed - "I am very concerned about birds," Wasson said. "The fallacy that comes out in these debates is talking about wildlife impacts but don't look at population. Typical turbines in the northeast will kill 4-8 birds a year." Wasson's point was that the number of birds killed was a very small percentage of the total population. He also said, "Wind plant-related avian collision fatalities probably represent .01 percent to .02 percent of the annual collision fatalities with humans." Wasson said the data was still not enough to draw a conclusion on the significance of wind turbine related avian deaths and that more studies were needed. Burkett later explained why he did not comment on bat or avian fatalities. "I avoided any mention of wind energy or bat conservation," he said. "I did this for two reasons. First, I was invited to discuss how wildlife respond to climate change. Second, both wind energy and bat conservation are outside my field of expertise and I have no credentials or experience to critique documents on either topic." For more information, including the slides used in the presentations, on the presentations made at the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative Symposium visit http:// vwec.cisat.jmu.edu/conf/.
All errors in fact brought to our attention will be quickly and gladly corrected. Clarifications will also be made as needed. We will appreciate having inaccuracies brought to our attention. (540) 468-2147.
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