I finally got around to reading my latest Nature Conservancy Magazine. The organization has had my support for decades, ever since it took the lead in restoring the San Pedro River in my home state of Arizona. With hands-on acquiring and trading of properties, the organization achieved the miracle of restoring this marvelous Riparian area. Rather than just lobbying, they did the hard work. Imagine my shock finding the Conservancy is involved in building windmills in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

Still on our bucket list, the Valley is a top tourist attraction for wildlife safaris and migratory birds. The flights through the Valley feature flamingos, vultures, pelicans, and others high on birdwatcher lists. Windmills are known as mass bird killers. Putting them right in the path of essential migration routes is folly. One might expect important conservation groups to be up in arms. Still, the well-known Nature Conservancy promotes putting windmills in the best position to wack these magnificent birds.

How does the Conservancy justify its support? It will help set up observation towers for thirty-two people with binoculars to look for “priority species” like vultures. If they see any, they tell the windmill operators to turn off the ones in the birds’ path. What could go wrong? What if several flights arrive from different directions at the same time? What happens to the “lesser birds?

I tried to imagine putting these windmills by the San Pedro River. Birdwatchers and conservationists would be up in arms. But the elites say Africa needs clean energy more than birds. Getting rid of coal and wood used for power is worth a few million birds. 

What about the effect on the other animals? Can we be sure a mass of these towers won’t mess with their life patterns? Do we have a handle on this rush to windmills?