The Rochester Birding Association aims to be a voice for bird conservation in the Rochester area. We educate members and the media about local projects, we donate funds to worthy local projects, and we have boots-on-the ground projects where members can have fun, working together on a tangible conservation project.

CURRENT RBA CONSERVATION PROJECTS

• APEX LIGHTHOUSE WINDFARM:  The Rochester Birding Association supports wind energy as an alternative to fossil fuel power generation, provided that the facilities do not cause undue harm to nesting and migrating birds. The proposed Apex Lighthouse wind farm was marked as one of the worst-sited projects in North America, and the RBA is committed to ensuring that this project conduct appropriate pre-construction research, take all necessary measures to protect migrating and nesting birds and bats, and conduct and share post-construction monitoring results.

• • Apex Lighthouse Wind Project A Significant Threat To Birds (11/13/15)
  • Great Lakes Study Shows Why Apex Windfarm is a Bad Idea (7/5/16)
  • Call for Comments on Proposed Project (4/20/18)
  • Power Coalition Mission Statement and Guiding Principles

• HERITAGE WIND PROJECT (Barre, NY)

• • Call for Comments on Preliminary Scoping Statement (3/24/18)
  • Call for Comments on Final Scoping Statement (9/2/19)
  • Notice of Submission of Application (1/21/20)
  • Update on the Application for the Heritage Wind Project (3/20/20)

• ACCELERATED RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT ACT (the Act): In April 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the passage of the Act as part of the FY 2020-2021 state budget. The intent is to “dramatically speed up the siting and construction of clean energy projects to combat climate change.” The Act creates an “Office of Renewable Energy Siting to improve and streamline the process for environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of large-scale renewable energy projects.” Regulations to implement the Act have now been proposed. While the RBA supports elements of the Act and draft regulations, we are concerned about the lack of consideration of impacts to birds and other wildlife. Our goal is to recommend ways to ameliorate those concerns.

  • Joint Public Comment on the Draft Regulations Chapter XVIII, Title 19, Subparts 900-1 – 900-5 and 900-7 – 900-14 (12/04/2020)
  • Comments on the Draft Regulations Chapter XVIII Title 19, Subparts 900-1 – 900-5 and 900-7 – 900-15 (12/07/2020)
  • Comments on the Draft Regulations Chapter XVIII Title 19, Subpart 900-6 (12/07/2020)
  • Joint Public Comment on the Draft Uniform Standards and Conditions, Chapter XVIII, Title 19, Subpart 900-6 (12/07/2020)

• INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT: Pale & Black Swallow-wort are swallowing our parks and natural areas, creating habitat changes that negatively impact breeding birds. Members are asked to be on the look-out for Pale & Black Swallow-wort and to pull them whenever possible.

GET INVOLVED!

If you are interested in advancing the above projects, or if there are other causes close to your heart, please contact the Conservation Chair, Amy Kahn.