"If during the life time of the wind farm ... up to nine or conceivably even 11 eagles may collide ... then this will impact on the potential of this area as a nursery ground for future replacement breeding birds in the region.
It would also impact on the potential of the Monadhliaths to hold breeding pairs in the future."
The Developer's OWN ornithological assessment.
"The
Monadhliaths
are one
of the most accessible areas
of wild country in the
Highlands where you can almost guarantee to show visitors an eagle.
That's
what they come for."
Ian Rowlands,
Speyside
Wildlife
" The Golden Eagle is our wildest creature. Its choice
of Wild Land is far better than man's choice of Wild Land." Dick Balharry,
Chairman John Muir Trust
"The turbines would be visible as pale moving, man-made vertical elements in a landscape with few obvious influences of man." The Developer's own Environmental Impact Study.
" We
have rebuilt three golden eagle nests and want Coignafearn to again become
a home to these endangered and splendid birds. A pair of golden eagles has already
shown interest in one of the nests. The estate and Monadhliath Mountains are
a
hunting ground for younger golden eagles. Birdwatchers come to Coignafearn to
enjoy the landscape and the sightings of vanishing rare birds. It is one of
the wildest and most beautiful areas of Europe, which now may be destroyed by
an energy development at the whim
of a single owner."
Dr
Sigrid Rausing,
Social Anthropologist,
Coignafearn Estate
Organisations supporting the Coignafearn Vision include:
Highland Council, Forestry Commission, The Deer Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, Findhorn River Board, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and The Heather Trust.
The future of Golden Eagles and green tourism in the Scottish Highlands are threatened by a power station covering an area more than 10 km2 —three times greater than the City of London . The development between Loch Ness and the Cairngorm National Park will generate an estimated £9 million for the estate. English developer Renewable Energy Systems (RES) can expect to make more than £120 million. The developer's own report admits:
n Up to 11 Golden Eagles could die in the turbine blades and future breeding may be disrupted
n Red Kites are threatened by the turbines. The mountain range is home to 13 species protected under European legislation
n The development will be clearly visible from the new Cairngorm National Park and the Ptarmigan visitor centre
ALSO...
n At more than 2000 ft this mountain-top power station will be the highest in the British Isles
n It will effectively degrade a vast area of Wild Land , virtually untouched by man
n Only a handful , if that, of long term jobs will be created
n Hundreds of jobs in local tourism will be threatened
n There is no guarantee the turbines will be built in Scotland
n Heavily subsidised wind power is not cheap
n How clean, green or alternative is a Wind Farm that threatens wild land, protected birds and existing jobs?
A WIND FARM TOO FAR AND IN THE WRONG PLACE...
