Maine Audubon centers carry on John James Audubon’s work - Maine Sunday Telegram

Comment

Comment by Marshall Rosenthal on April 25, 2016 at 6:34pm

It is unbelievable to see wind power companies like FIRST WIND (now SunEdison) as Audubon Corporate Partners. The environmental NGO's, Audubon one of them, have gotten into the CARBON CREDIT SALES RACKET, and certainly wouldn't say boo to the wind power industry. They are in bed with them, so what's a few endangered and extinct bird species?

Comment by Barbara Durkin on April 25, 2016 at 2:50pm

National Audubon lacks control over its 500 chapters according to National Audubon.  While NH Audubon, in my view, functions to protect wildlife, MA Audubon has provided their "support" for Cape Wind even though their staff scientists estimate that this offshore wind project's avian mortality rate count could reach up to 6,600 mortalities per year in Nantucket Sound.  There are endangered species present here in the North Atlantic Flyway, with the roseate tern "at the brink of extinction" according to MA Audubon. 

What gives?  Why would such an environmental organization "support" the killing of birds where endangered species are present?  What credibility have they who advocate for up to 6,600 violations of strict-liability criminal statutes per year???

The condition of MA Audubon's support for the Cape Wind project is a Cape Wind-funded Adaptive Management contract to count bird carcasses that MA Audubon's press release said they would implement.  These events occurred while MA Audubon was the lead federal regulator's (MMS) "Key Partner" in the Cape Wind environmental review and permitting processes.  They not only failed to remain objective, they denied their own testimony on bird kill to the press and stripped it from their Website!

Thanks to Wind Watch--MA Audubon's testimony on bird kill survives! (page 10)-

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/MassAudub...

A good read on this subject, by a MA Audubon clued-in member- a clip-

'Cape Wind Project: A Tale of Crony Environmentalism (Part 2) Did Mass Audubon Sell its Soul to the Wind Industry?'

By Christine Morabito – June 2015

As an environmentalist and bird lover, it gives me no pleasure to criticize the largest conservation organization in New England; an organization of which I am a member. Personal conflict aside, it seems apparent that Massachusetts Audubon Society’s support for a massive industrial project threatens thousands of birds a year.

cut-continue reading-

http://valleypatriot.com/cape-wind-project-a-tale-of-crony-environm...

Mass Audubon's testimony on Cape Wind to the USACE:

The President of Mass Audubon, Laura A. Johnson, submitted Mass Audubon's comments on the Cape Wind DEIS on February 23, 2005; to Ms. Karen Kirk Adams, the Cape Wind Energy Project Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District -- Reference File No. NAE-2004-338-1, EOEA No. 12643:

"By utilizing other bird mortality data provided in the DEIS, Mass Audubon staff scientists arrived at avian mortalities that ranged from 2,300 to 6,600 collision deaths per year."

(MA Audubon removes testimony from their Website)-

http://www.massaudubon.org/PDF/CapeWindDEIS.pdf

Taber Allison flatly denies MA Audubon's testimony on bird kill by Cape Wind made to federal regulators, in writing:

Excepts that are relevant with links provided to full opinions/letters: 

SouthCoastToday 7/25/06 LTE-MA Audubon is inconsistent

http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/07-06/07-26-06/06opinion.htm

"MA Audubon's staff scientists have concluded that up to 6,600 birds per year would be killed if Cape Wind is permitted in testimony."

"MA Audubon has challenged Cape Wind to accept an Adaptive Management Plan that includes rigorous monitoring, beginning at the construction phase and continuing at least three years post construction; to be funded by Cape Wind; with contributions from independent institutions and government agencies as appropriate.

I wish to challenge MA Audubon to answer one question: What agency do they suggest should be eligible to bid on, or awarded this lucrative, long-term monitoring contract if Cape Wind is permitted in Nantucket Sound?"

BARBARA DURKIN
Northboro

Taber Allison of Mass Audubon responds: http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-06/11-21-06/07opinion.htm

SouthCoastToday: 8/03/06

"Mass Audubon scientists have never concluded that up to 6,600 birds, or any number of birds, would be killed if this project is permitted."

"We don't understand Ms. Durkin's closing question."

TABER D. ALLISON
Lincoln

SouthCoastToday 8/16/06  http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/08-06/08-16-06/08opinion.htm

'Conflicting data on collision risks for birds'

"In his letter titled "Letter writer gets bird facts wrong," Taber Allison presents a misleading and untrue statement regarding Barbara Durkin's comments in her letter to the editor on July 25 titled "Mass. Audubon is inconsistent."

"I did, and my conclusion is that Allison misrepresents the truth and seems to be attempting to rewrite history."

DONA TRACY
Osterville

SEE Page 3, last paragraph.  April 21, 2008 was the last day for public comment on the Cape Wind Draft EIS.  (This link is likely now dead)
http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/upload/Cape-Wind-ROD.pdf

The day following Cape Wind Draft Environmental Impact Study last public comment opportunity, on April 22, 2008, Jack Clarke made this admission!!!

"The roseate tern is listed as endangered, but we believe it is on the brink of extinction," Jack Clarke, public policy director for the Massachusetts Audubon Society Cape Cod Times 4/22/08.

See Section 5-58 for estimates on mortalities by Cape Wind on the ESA listed Roseate Tern (at the brink of extinction)  extinction is the worst scientific outcome. 

http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/EIS-0470-FEIS-Appendix_G-Biological_Assessment.pdf

With friends like MA Audubon, birds don't need cats!