“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç

More than 400 birds have been found dead in wind farms in the Altamont Pass in California since 1992, including 55 golden eagles and 162 red-tailed hawks, according to two northern California newspapers. The toll was calculated using documents obtained from Alameda County through the Freedom of Information Act and published by the Alameda Newspaper Group. Birds were found cut in half, beheaded or electrocuted, stated the newspapers. Injured animals were also found trying to run away from wind company employees. Alameda officials said to the newspapers that the data was raw and unscientific and they were reluctant to release it. Of the 14 wind companies in the Altamont, only five reported bird deaths, it says. "There is a problem, no question about it," Al Miller of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is quoted as saying. "The California situation could prove to be a worst case scenario. It's inappropriate to apply it nationally," Sidney Gauthreaux, a biologist at Clemson University, reportedly said. Kenetech “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç reported 356 of the 411 dead or injured between 1992 and May of 1994.