"The whole of the Queen Charlottes is a bird sanctuary drawing many to the west coast to view [over 200 different] bird species.

"Today, bird watchers, naturalists and all who enjoy and appreciate the outdoors can view birds like a Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Mallard and Pintail Duck, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Black Oystercatcher, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow and so many more."

This is from to the PelagicBirds.com and Copper Sky Sailing Adventures, which build their travel packages around the exquisite landscape and abundance of birdlife.

"For many, a birding trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands is the trip of a lifetime with easily observed species that are difficult to find elsewhere. Surrounded by old growth temperate rainforest, steep rocky coast lines, sheltered bays, and open ocean, this area would be awe inspiring even without the amazing bird species."

The area is so unique it is referred to as The Canadian Galapagos.

The crabbing is also outstanding, whether you happen enjoy a day on the water to gather the night's meal, or a yummy meal at a local seafood eatery.

I wish I could write this story as a travel brochure for this gorgeous North American gem, but if the proposed prop-style wind farm is built here, right in the midst of migratory flyways and breeding grounds, there will be no reason to bring your birding glasses. Or your crab traps.

True, wind energy is a much needed alternative to our current use of fossil fuels, and there are some promising new designs being built. Improvements over the archaic and deadly prop-style turbines include vertical-shaft and tail-bladed models.

The plan for the Queen Charlotte wind farm, however, is to use the old-style three-bladed prop-style designs that are not only inefficient but infamous bird and bat killers.

Despite industry propaganda, bird mortality from such farms is alarmingly high, and worse, due to the placement of the farms, many of the casualties are endangered or protected species like Golden eagles.

Birds can't see the spinning blades and are slaughtered by the thousands, decapitated and dismembered. Bats feeding on insects around the turbines get knocked out by the change in air pressure near the spokes before being struck.

Claims made by the industry that "more birds are killed by cars and buildings than by wind farms" are nonsense, especially when it comes to soaring birds; but even if it were true, the ‘logic' of such an argument is ludicrous. It's like saying, "Since so many people die of heart disease, it's not worth preventing cancer."

Besides, when it comes to endangered species, each and every individual counts.

A recent Newsweek article spotlighted the controversy surrounding wind farms, but left out some very important information. First, it made no mention of the improved designs available; it also mistakenly repeated incorrect (downplayed) bird strike and wildlife mortality statistics. Bird kill actually runs into the millions annually, with a majority being eagles and other birds of prey.

Consider this quote from Michael Fry, Director of Conservation Advocacy, American Bird Conservancy:

"We . . . use the 2004 summary data from NWCC wind-wildlife workgroup. At 3-11 birds per MW per year, and 29,440 MW installed as of June 2009, the total would be about 88,000-2.5 million birds per year for collisions only."

Why should we care about some birds when clean energy is so important?

Beyond the ecological and intrinsic value, wildlife watching - and particularly bird watching -- is a very lucrative industry in Queen Charlottes.

"We have 35,000 residents, but interestingly, 45% are non-resident. We are the playground for over three million people in the immediate area, not counting tourists coming from around the world," states this report by Ms. Anne Murray, House of Common Committees, Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Oct 25, 2001.

. . . [the] Fraser River estuary . . . meets the criteria of globally significant numbers and diversity of birds, having the highest number of bird species in the whole of Canada. This is just another example of how important British Columbia is for biodiversity.

Over 250 species of birds live or pass through here. Eighty percent of the world's population of Cassin's auklet and 60% to 90% of Barrow's goldeneye breed in British Columbia, as well as the endangered marbled murrelet. It is a mecca for bald eagles and peregrine falcons.

"Whale watching and pelagic birdwatching are extremely important ecotourism activities, and the clear, cold waters of B.C. are recognized as a premier scuba diving destination," Ms. Anne Murray goes on to say.

Non-consumptive recreational activity (mostly bird watching) in the Queen Charlotte vicinity accounts for over 99% of all visitor expenditures (2006).

This illustrates just how valuable preserving wildlife is to the health of local economies, not just the health of the planet.

Unfortunately the NaiKun Wind Energy Group plans on planting its turbines in Hecate Strait, between the Queen Charlotte Islands and Prince Rupert on the mainland -- critical habitat and migratory flyway for untold numbers of rare and endangered species.

"This proposed windfarm is being slated for an area where any bird mortality will probably end up in the ocean, rather than recorded. Any lights put on the towers over the water will attract fish. This is a well documented fact known by the fisherman familiar with oil the platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. The attraction of fish will bring birds to the site. Turbines will look like a solid landing place for birds to stop and rest as they are flying offshore and result in even more death to the sea birds." (Wiegand; Private correspondence)

Even if birds don't matter to you, what about jobs? If you live and work in Queen Charlotte, crabbing is a much-needed source of income. At the local level, NaiKun's proposal is ringing alarm bells.

Under the current proposal, 110 wind turbines would be erected "right in the middle" of the region's most productive crab fishing area, Geoff Gould, Executive director of the Area A Crab Association, said. It would have a capacity of about 396 megawatts.

The proposed turbine array would occupy about 85 square kilometres and "[T]hat would mean, we're quite sure, that we would no longer be able to crab in that area," Mr. Gould said, in a letter posted on Environmental, by Wendy Stueck, Globe and Mail, Thursday, Jun. 04, 2009.

More, NaiKun is offering financial incentives to the native population in exchange for their support of the project. According to a news release dated August 13, 2009,

"NaiKun Wind Energy Group Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NKW) and the Haida Enterprise Corporation announced today that they have signed an agreement for the Haida Nation to acquire up to 40 per cent of the wind energy project being developed through NaiKun Wind subsidiary NaiKun Wind Generating Inc.

"This is an important step for the NaiKun Wind project," said Paul Taylor, NaiKun Wind's President and CEO. "Having the Haida Nation with an ownership interest in the proposed project company underscores their support and commitment."

While it may be a very smart ploy to offer possible opponents a financial stake in the venture in order to gain their support, it's also frightening. There might be some cooperation by Nation Leaders due to bribery, but support from the native community itself is questionable, to say the least.

Opponents - including indigenous peoples -- are wary of speaking out for fear of reprisals.

A situation like this begs closer scrutiny. Why there is not more outrage from the apathetic public? Why is no one questioning the impact from the long arm of European/Wall Street investments degrading the quality of life for Canadians?

"Bring your binoculars, because Haida Gwaii hosts over 250 different bird species, including the rare horned puffin. You'll spot masses of gulls, eagles and ravens during the fish-spawning season," the National Geographic Traveler boasts.

This is what's at stake if the 550 prop turbines get built.

No matter which way one looks at this project, it appears someone needs to put the brakes on and come up with a less destructive alternative.

While there's still something left to save.