Golden eagle killed by wind turbine

GOLDENDALE, Wash. – A golden eagle was killed by a wind turbine blade at a southwest Washington wind farm, a state biologist said.

The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Wash., reported that it is the first known eagle fatality caused by a Washington wind project.

The 10-pound bird had a broken wing and two broken legs after the April 27 accident at Goodnoe Hills Wind Project southeast of Goldendale, said Travis Nelson, the state’s lead biologist on wind power issues.

“This is certainly not the outcome that anyone who was involved in planning and permitting this operation would have wanted, especially the project owner,” Nelson said. “We have convened a small review group internally to discuss how we can avoid this in the future.”

Golden eagles are not listed as threatened or endangered, but federal law prohibits intentionally harming raptors.

The dead golden eagle, a mature bird with a 6-foot wingspan, was found by a crew of URS Corp., a contractor for PacifiCorp, the Portland-based utility that owns the Goodnoe Hills wind farm.

Wind project operators are required to document and report bird kills to state authorities. Nelson said the eagle’s death was reported promptly in this case.

“We have a robust avian protection program and we proactively take steps to assure compliance with all regulations,” PacifiCorp spokeswoman Jan Mitchell said.