Archive for November 17, 2009
Edgewood’s Recipe for Songbird Soup
by John Weckerle
As reported here, in the Mountain View Telegraph, at Gadabout-Blogalot.com, and other local sources, the Town of Edgewood recently received a stimulus package grant for two 50 kilowatt wind turbines. As mentioned in all sources, the Town intends to place these turbines at the site of the wastewater treatment plant, which will also be the site of a new, roughly 3.5 acre pond, intended for recreational uses including fishing. At first, this may seem a great fit; however, as with so many issues, there is more to the situation than meets the eye.
What is perhaps not entirely obvious – and quite clearly not obvious at all to the Town’s energy committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Council, and staff, despite having been made aware of the issue – is the connection between bodies of water, insects, bats and birds in this part of the world. Anyone who has even a small outdoor fountain in this area knows that not only do local birds of all types visit water sources on a daily basis, but migratory birds crowd in during migration seasons in Spring and Fall. On any given morning at this time of year, it is far from unusual for us to see 20 or more robins at at time, joined by northern flickers, woodpeckers, and other visitors lined up around and on top of the fountain, drinking and bathing. On any given day, we have hundreds of visitors during migration season – and the fountain’s wet area is probably about 18 inches across. The bubbler out front sees similar action at times. »» Edgewood’s Recipe for Songbird Soup