better late than never

[The Left Sock]

Cool, so show me a bat violently collapsing inwards, or give it up already.

I'll help you out with a clue. When a submarine fails at great depths, it implodes. So, show me a bat that gets smaller, from passing by a wind turbine, and we're in business! (video evidence would be best).

[Upper Decker]

The physics of a bat imploding from a turbine would be pretty sweet! Does the center of the bat hit critical mass when going by the turbine thus resulting in a spectacular light show and black hole of some sort?

[kitca]

The physics of a bat imploding from a turbine would be pretty sweet! Does the center of the bat hit critical mass when going by the turbine thus resulting in a spectacular light show and black hole of some sort?

yes it does. a bat black hole.

[Soundbear]

yes it does. a bat black hole.

I'm honestly wondering a couple of things.

Why would a bat, that can locate a flying bug, at night, by echo-location, have a problem with a windmill??

Second, why would they fly up that high, since bugs don't?

[hobo]

I'm honestly wondering a couple of things.

Why would a bat, that can locate a flying bug, at night, by echo-location, have a problem with a windmill??

Second, why would they fly up that high, since bugs don't?

Ever notice the sea gulls flying inland, high over head, at times darting back and forth.....Bugs. If they are low enough you can hear their beaks snapping at...bugs.
Its not the propellers of the wind turbines that do damage to the bats but the "dead" air space that is created by the propellers.

[kitca]

that is what i have been trying to get across! some people...

edited to add if you check out the web site you will see they think it is mostly migrating bats or tree roosting bats called wood bats - thats mostly, but they do find all types bats. just being near the blades with the changes in the air pressure causes the bats internal organs to explode - however their skin does not explode - their whole bodies dont, just their innards - thats why i called it imploding because it it sort of the recognized lay-term. The condition, known as barotrauma, affects bats more than birds because bat lungs are balloon-like and can over-expand, bursting surrounding capillaries. Bird lungs are more rigid and tube-like and better able to withstand sudden changes in air pressure.

so much depends where these turbines are located. locating them on the shoreline of lake superior where many migrations take place is not the best place. i agree with the person who said everything comes at a cost. i understand that.

[The Left Sock]

You may be relieved to hear that researchers think they have a way to prevent most bat deaths around turbines. When the turbines run at high speeds, it is too windy outside for bugs to travel, so the bats don't chase them, and don't come into contact with the turbines. It is when the turbines turn slowly, that there are bugs around, and the bats run into problems. So, they are working on a system of shutting down the turbines at low wind, which doesn't cost much, because they don't produce much electricity at those speeds.

This subject is actually quite interesting. I've been to the cave openings in Iron Mountain Michigan, and watched the dusk launch of the bats - it's quite a show!

I just get a little bent when lobby groups use ridiculously strong language, in order to drum up emotional responses. It only serves to give opponents of a good cause a great way to destroy their credibility. So, while bats may experience lung hemorrhages from low air pressure, they don't go off like furry little hand-grenades. They get the 'bends', the same way divers do when they surface too quickly. It needs to be addressed, but it's not like the turbines are making 'bat popcorn' nightly.