Millions of birds are killed each year by wind turbines, and the carnage is papered over by the "green" establishment. But one poor bird finally made it to the national press in the UK. Here are some excerpts from Wattsupwiththat's "Imagine the ‘outrage’ from environmentalists if it had been an oil derrick":

There had been only eight recorded sightings of the white-throated needletail in the UK since 1846. So when one popped up again on British shores this week, bird watchers were understandably excited. A group of 40 enthusiasts dashed to the Hebrides to catch a glimpse of the brown, black and blue bird, which breeds in Asia and winters in Australasia. But instead of being treated to a wildlife spectacle they were left with a horror show when it flew into a wind turbine and was killed.

This video was taken after the bird was killed by the wind turbine, and it seems there is no video of the actual collision with the wind turbine, though there are several reports in the British MSM about the event. Of course if it had been an oil derrick or a power plant smokestack that caused the death, you can bet every environmental organization would be having a collective cow. But, it was killed by green energy, so the death gets a pass.

By Alison James, Photographer Chris James

Making Friends with the Wild Birds

in my New Home Range

by Fiona Darroch

I have always loved the Australian Bush and its wonderful creatures, including birds. However since coming to know Gitie, my eyes have been opened in a way that has totally transformed how I regard and relate to wild birds. The idea that you can befriend them at first seemed a bit fanciful. Like many people who have a general appreciation of the natural world, I tended to look ‘at’ birds, and admire them, but in a manner somewhat detached from their world and being. My Toowoomba-based friendship with Gitie changed all that.

by Annette Butterss

We moved from the city to a property on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria that combined plant nursery and display gardens along with natural bushland. Throughout the 12 (drought stricken) years we lived there we developed a keen interest in our resident birds and forged wonderful relationships with many of them – especially Magpies, ‘Esmerelda’, ‘Whiteback’ and their successive broods.

Our house had many floor to ceiling windows and a large deck overlooking gardens, bush and a dam – an idyllic spot to relax and observe wildlife interaction, behaviour and events as they unfolded.