TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An onshore wind turbine project in Pingtung County's Fangshan Township has drawn criticism from birdwatchers who warn that the area is a key stopover for raptors migrating south in the winter.
Since 1988, Kenting National Park has annually conducted an autumn raptor survey, which commenced on Monday. Incidentally, this was the same date of Pingsheng Energy's public briefing about nine onshore wind turbines, which drew the attention of birdwatchers, per CNA.
Tsai Yi-jung (蔡乙榮), a senior member of the Pingtung County Wild Bird Society, said that Fangshan Township is the entry point for raptors proceeding to the Hengchun Peninsula during their autumn migration. Based on past surveys of migration patterns, installing wind turbines in this area could hinder migratory birds.
He recently posted on his Facebook group that 100 Chinese sparrowhawks had arrived in Hsinchu in August. Typically, they migrate in mid-to-late September, with upwards of thousands or even tens of thousands arriving per day, later traveling by Fangshan on their winter migration to warmer climates.
Tsai said the commonly held belief that raptors fly much higher than wind turbines is flawed, as it overlooks the fact that raptors must take off and land, and that in poor weather, their flight altitude is significantly lower, potentially putting them at risk of collision with wind turbines.
Furthermore, migratory birds to the Hengchun Peninsula are not limited to raptors. Barn swallow migration can reach hundreds of thousands per season, while herons can reach millions. Many birds, including herons, do not fly very high, so they could be affected by the windmills.
Pingsheng Energy's plan to install nine turbines in Fangshan Township is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment, and there has been some local backlash about the noise and glare caused by wind turbines.
The company's third public briefing on Monday in front of Delong Temple (德隆宮) attracted 40 residents who protested, worried it would damage local ecology, such as mango pollination and associated agriculture, as well as pose a health risk due to constant noise.
