Nearly 60 years ago one of Britain’s top pop groups made a strange request. The Rolling Stones implored us all to “Paint it Black” and two months before England’s football team won the world cup the song became their sixth British number one single.
The Stones wanted everything painted black from red doors to a line of cars. Now their demand has many years later spread into nature protection. The UK Government is trialling a four-year scheme to save birds by painting white wind turbines black. Results of a 2023 study reported in the publication Nature indicated some birds are attracted to white blades and risk colliding with rotors and turbines.
Wild Things: Long wait to discover future of Crossness Nature Reserve
One can only wonder why it took so many years to state the ruddy obvious. From the moment the first of these ugly, inefficient monstrosities was unveiled they clearly represented a threat to flying objects such as birds and insects. Yet I’m not aware of any UK study or report actually detailing the extent of damage these whirling executioners wreak among birds, butterflies and bats.
Maybe partly because energy companies sponsored leading wildlife organisations and partly because dead or injured victims below turbines are quickly dispatched by scavengers the scale of destruction remained hidden. Some unofficial estimates put the number of victims at “thousands”.
The attitude of energy companies towards turbine casualties became exposed by a golden eagle named Sparky. This rare eagle’s body was found about 50ft from a wind turbine with one wing severed in a remote area of Scotland.
Wild Things: Can you help identify lichen in Chislehurst Common?
Sparky’s fate may never have come to light if he hadn’t been monitored by the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project. They dispatched personnel to rapidly recover the carcass when Sparky’s satellite tag abruptly stopped working. Amazingly this is believed to be the first such recorded incident of its kind.
If the energy companies have bothered counting victims, they are keeping quiet. Now it is hoped painting turbines black might stop or at least ease the slaughter. I can’t help being a little sceptical.
If birds with their exceptional eyesight can’t see white wind turbine blades during the day, how are they going to see black ones at night?
Apparently the whole subject arose when Donald Trump expressed concern to Keir Starmer about the possibility of seabirds being destroyed by UK “windmills”. This surely cannot be the same Donald Trump who aggressively pushed through Scottish coast hotel and golf course construction subsequently blamed for destroying a wildlife-friendly dune system.
Match funding for Chislehurst Commons – donate now!
Chislehurst Commons has been selected for the Big Give Green Match Fund Campaign for 2025 which runs from April 22-29.
Between these dates any money donated to Chislehurst Commons via the Big Give Trust will be doubled by match funding – so for every £1 donated, they will receive £2!
In addition, UK taxpayers can increase the value of their donation by 25 per cent at no extra cost through Gift Aid.
They are raising funds for the essential tree work they need to carry out along roads, pavements and pathways as a result of diseases such as Ash Die-back and Sooty Bark Disease, to keep users and property safe.
To donate, go to www.biggive.org, click “Explore Campaigns” and search for Chislehurst Commons from April 22.
