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I assume that there are examples of similar sites causing problems for the birds? I've heard that problem referred to in the posts here before.

In my area, I know of a single turbine and also of a field of about maybe 20 of them, but I haven't heard about problems like that.

Bird problems are something that opponents to the big towers use to scare weekend environmentalists. Documented cases of bird deaths are few compared to the documented cases of birds being sucked into the engine of a jet airliner. (should we stop using jet airliners because they kill birds? Those same people who say no to the turbines will undoubtedly say it's not the same and that we need the jet airliners.) The fact of the matter is the props on a wind turbine turn slow enough for a bird to avoid being hit. The biggest threat is the Low pressure wake created behind the nacell. There have been documented cases of bat deaths caused by embollisms when the bats fly through the low pressure bubble and their lungs explode. But I am sure that with time the flight patterns of the bats will become modified to the point that these farms are avoided all together. I say build them.

I agree they need to be built.. and perhpas those unhappy about it should be spending resources on finding ways to avoid bird deaths...

I do think that this particular project will have a bigger impact just because of it's sheer size... 175 turbines! The Thames Estuary is an area designated of 'special scientific interest' due to the huge variety of birds and other wildlife in the area.. and making sure they are safeguarded is also important!

Well, too overwhelmed with the project can make us ignoring the potential threat it can cause to the environmental. I think I read a post here discussing about the extensive land clearing (?) for palm oil plantation, which endanger the life of orangutans in Kalimantan. It's not that the project should be stopped as the huge potential benefit 500,000 family will enjoy. I agree with stav, there should be more effort to keep those those birds save - that's not simple with those 175 turbines spinning around them.

i think if they throw enough money at it, a simple solution can be found.. if indeeda solution is needed. They need to spend some time analysing the posible effects methinks!

I also think it is not the point to stop the project but to see to a simple solution that can tackle the problem with birds...I recently saw a programme where trained Hawks were used to scare birds from flying in airports so that accidents could be avoided...that is a unique idea and I am sure something similar can be thought of...

Trained hawks? Wow, that's a great idea. Unique, simple, relatively cheap and natural. So with a bit modification, the environment can actually help itself.

trained hawks? that is a staggeringly simple idea... thing is though can hawks operate that far off land? The Array will be 12 miles off the coast. Sea birds of course do not have a problem, but predators like hawks need to land on dry ground.

One of my many interests is falconry and as such I have gone out on many occasions and hunted with a Harris' Hawk. I know many people who fly perigrine's and some who fly Gryfalcons. I have even known people to fly smaller eagles. The one thing in common that they all have is that they are well trained to come back to the lure. And in the instance of foul control the birds are not allowed to make the kill but only to fly in an effort to spook other birds from the area. In a situation like that of an offshore wind farm it would be virtualy impossible to use a falcon or hawk for the purpose of foul control due to the remoteness of the area and the shear size of a farm the like of which they are planning to build. 1 turbine per 1 acre normal dispersment. I would like to re-assert that the number of birds harmed by wind farms is infinitesimal compared to the number of bats and considering that most species of bat don't travel 12 miles off a coast line you can be assured that mortality rates of either species will be minimal.

Of course if concern is still present there are Sonic Measures that can be implamented to ward off the wayward bird flock.