Comments on: Performing a Public Service

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:30:13 +0000

Phipps can't use solar on its roof because it's a huge greenhouse & they are already using the sun to light the plants inside their building. Solar panels would cover the greenhouse glass & not let any light in. Energy discussions aside, to prevent bird deaths we need to do something about glass. The National Aviary thought ahead and made sure that the glass on their new concourse is "see-able" by birds. Read about it here: http://www.aviary.org/abt/pressroom_release.php?itemid=128

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:48:18 +0000

The reason not to go with solar is that to generate any substantial amount of power you have to take up a lot of space and invest and astronomical amount of money in your initial investment. If it were not for taxpayer dollars going to subsidies no one would even dream of using solar or wind power. Furthermore, using solar on a large scale offers uncertainty in the power grid since a few cloudy days in a row could potentially create a huge problem if solar is a significant percent of the grid. The same applies to wind, or course, since wind power requires certain wind conditions that are not always present. Last but not least, if the initial investment doesn’t bother you at a time when the government is deeply in debt at almost all levels, one must remember that fossil fuels are used to create solar panels. Because the process is so high tech, it requires a large amount of fossil fuels to create a solar panel.

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:31:03 +0000

I hadn't heard about this but am not worried by a 40-foot tower. That's only four stories tall -- just slightly taller than Phipps. It will stand alone in a place that is not in a migration path so it won't have many birds go anywhere near it. Altamont Pass Wind Farm (the famous killing windmills mistake) houses nearly 5,000 small windmills in a place favored by raptors. The small towers have struts that raptors use as perches and then die as they fly off. See pictures & info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Pass_Wind_Farm There is a huge difference between a single short windmill in a city and 5,000 windmills in California's ground squirrel & raptor habitat. Windows, not windmills, are the big killer of birds. Many, many, many birds die by hitting windows/buildings -- up to 2.7 millions birds per day in the U.S. The USSteel Building (for instance) probably kills more birds today than it did a few years ago because it now has a bright white sign ("UPMC") on all three sides. In fog, that light attracts migrating birds who smash headfirst into the glass. In 2008 one of Pitt's peregrines died by smashing into a window. This is the article I wrote about windows then: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/10/windows-kill/ Sadly, it still applies.

By: Kathy B

Kathy B — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:49:45 +0000

I have a question. I have just heard that an energy-generating wind mill, 40ft high, will be built at Phipps Conservatory. Wind projects have been documented to slaughter thousands of birds, including peregrine falcons, eagles, red-tailed hawks, and owls. There may also be subliminal noise pollution that is physiologically quite damaging. I am very concerned about the potential toll this project may exact on our recovering raptor population and other wildlife. Why not solar?

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:44:02 +0000

I’ve seen them raiding robins’ nests & suspect they raided the summer tanagers’ nest. It is so heart-breaking to see the parent robins shouting/screaming and there’s nothing they can do.

By: Marcy C

Marcy C — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:32:23 +0000

Looks like a BIG rat by the size of the meal…way to go!

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:25:14 +0000

I’d say the fur is to light for rattus rattus. It’s probably just a rattus norvegicus, but I don’t really know much about rats. (Dirty flea-ridden pestilences)

By: Monika

Monika — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:28:35 +0000

Urgh, gross… What nests have they been raiding in Schenley, Kate?

By: sharon leadbiter

sharon leadbiter — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:51:08 +0000

she’s munching on a rat … *shudders*

By: Mary DeV

Mary DeV — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:48:49 +0000

From the tail, looks like a Rattus Rattus!