http://www.newswatch.co.uk/headlines.asp?ref=YW2226412Q

NEWSWATCH

'Windfarms Could Wipe Out Eagles' - 23/06/2006 07:10:00 07:10

Windfarms could wipe out the UK's biggest bird of prey unless the Scottish Government rejects proposals to start building them, according to conservationists. 

White-tailed eagles have been driven to extinction in the UK and now just 33 pairs remain in the country, warned the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The spectacular birds, which have a wingspan of more than two metres, live on the Inner and Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland.

But plans underway on the islands to build windfarms - lauded by environmentalists for generating renewable energy - will kill-off the tiny population because the dazzling but daft birds fly into the turbine blades.

New research shows just one bird from their former stronghold on the Norwegian island of Smola will fledge this year after turbines there have killed nine in the last ten months. This has also caused numbers to plummet in other areas because other white eagles cannot find a mate.

Dr Mark Avery, conservation director of the RSPB, said the Scottish Government must not be lured into thinking all wind-farms benefit the environment.

He said: "There are several proposals for windfarms in the Hebrides on the table now which the Scottish government is considering. They could be built as soon as next year.

"We can see from what happened in Norway that this will polish the white-eagle off."

He said they were appealing to the Government not to approve the plans tendered by private companies.

Dr Avery added: "The Scottish Government must take note of this. This would be utterly devastating for the tiny population.

"These birds are a majestic sight but they are not that bright and will soon be killed by the blades.

"We are in favour of renewable sources of energy like windfarms, but they must be built in the right place."

The white-tailed eagle, which was featured on the BBC2 programme Spring Watch earlier this year, were killed-off at the beginning of the last century by overzealous hunters.

Trial releases began in the UK in the 1950s and, after a slow start, the population is now finally starting to grow.

Dr Avery said: "We were stupid enough to poison and hunt it to extinction at the start of last century. It would be terrible if at the start of the 21st century it was wiped out again."