New report on bird kills at Mojave solar plant raises serious concerns

The last time we heard about the Ivanpah solar plant in the Mojave Desert, the news wasn't good. News was that birds were literally being singed in midair by the plant's intense heat. Well, now things look even worse. According to a new report, bird mortality at the site is much higher than previously thought, with an estimated 6,190 birds killed at the site. That marks a more than 70 percent increase from estimates from the previous year.

"It's an unbelievably high number, and we're really alarmed," said Garry George, renewable energy director for Audubon California, to Greenwire this week. "We have a lot of questions about this mortality report."

George referred to the Ivanpah plant as the "Altamont of solar," a reference to the notorious wind development in the Bay Area that has recorded huge numbers of bird kills.

Audubon California and partners take another step toward legal action over beach development near Monterey

Arguing that a proposed 40-acre development in prime Western Snowy Plover habitat presents too big a threat to the threatened bird, Audubon California today joined with other environmental groups to threaten legal action to stop the project unless proponents incorporate specific actions to protect the birds. The notice was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, and the Monterey Audubon Society.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has repeatedly criticized the development and argued that “take” — that is, the death or injury — of western snowy plovers will likely result from construction and use of the resort. The project has been working its way through the approval process since 1998.

“Enough is enough,” said Andrea Jones, director of bird conservation for Audubon California. “We are long past the time when putting a development on our sandy beaches and dunes makes any sense. Western Snowy Plovers are already listed under the Endangered Species Act because of habitat loss, and this project specifically takes away more habitat where the birds have been known to breed, forage, and spend the winter.”

Today’s legal notice warns that if the developer fails to follow the course laid out by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Coastal Commission — to prepare a “habitat conservation plan” in support of an application for an incidental-take permit — the developer will be subject to litigation under the Endangered Species Act for harming the rare and vanishing birds.

Black Oystercatcher chicks spotted on Aramburu Island

Black Oystercatchers have nested on Aramburu Island for the fourth year since major shoreline enhancement was completed. This year three chicks hatched! 

All three eggs hatched on or about June 21st, and three downy hatchlings were seen stumbling about the nest area soon after. Black Oystercatchers can lay up to three eggs, but two is more common.  Previous clutches on Aramburu, from what we believe to be the same pair of adult birds, have been limited to two eggs.  

As of July 19, we see only two of the three chicks, but both are eating well and looking healthy.  The young birds are about four weeks old at this point, and are likely to be able to fly (fledge) within a week or two.  Fledged birds will continue to stay with the parents for months, honing their feeding skills.

Shoreline reconstruction on Aramburu Island took place in late 2012, and oystercatchers made their first attempt at nesting in the spring of 2013.  The success of their breeding attempts points to the promise of such shoreline enhancement projects in other parts of the Bay and beyond!