Streamers And Skyfall -- February 23, 2015

We haven't had a story on "streamers" in a long time.

Last time was about a year ago.

But we have an update today. A reader sent me this link to MailOnline reporting that at least 130 "streamers" were seen in "anticipation" of a huge solar farm going live.

More than 100 birds have been injured during testing of a new solar power farm.

Biologists say 130 birds caught fire mid-air while entering an area of concentrated solar energy created by the 110-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project near Tonopah, Nevada.

Experts believe the birds may have been attracted by the glow of the farm’s tower, but the project’s owners, SolarReserve, say they have found a way to reduce the fatalities.
In a test, one third of the project’s 10,000 mirrors were moved to focus sunlight at a point 1,200 feet above ground level – at approximately twice the height of its tower.

It took biologists just an hour and a half to notice the first of the ‘streamers’ – birds that catch fire and leave a trail of smoke in the air -when entering the field of solar energy.

"Streamers" -- or as the say in southern California: Kentucky Fried Chicken. Brings a whole new dimension to "roadkill."

The best line in that story: "... the project's owners say they have found a way to reduce the fatalities."

Yes, don't turn on the switch.

Skyfall.

Skyfall, Adele