There have been reports of bird deaths from the spinning blades of wind power facilities. East of me, along Old Highway 10 between Ellensburg and Vantage, there are two large sets of towers and one tiny tower. 
On Friday, returning from vine pruning at White Heron Cellars, the wind wasn’t blowing and the blades were still. I saw two interesting things. There was a Bald Eagle cruising over the towers on my left. I could watch for only a few seconds even though I was going only about 50 mph. The small home-sized tower had a visitor. Where the red star is on the image (web sourced) a small bird was perched. She was about sparrow or finch sized. When the tower came into view, I realized the point of the upper left blade had an unidentified non-flying object.
As I got nearer, I realized a small bird was perched on the tip. Below is a photo from Google Street View with the homestead with the tower off to the right side. Note, also, the two large towers on the left, at a distance.
I did not see anything but a dark color (brown) on the little bird. With a strong wind those 3 little blades whip around in a blur. Over the past several passages I have not seen them turning while the commercial ones do. It makes me wonder if the small one is broken.
There was a quick sprinkle this morning (Saturday) but by mid-afternoon the day turned nice with some clouds and blue sky. That atmospheric band made it over to central Montana, causing a storm there.
Visitors season has come to Seattle and White Heron’s tasting room at the Market is now opening on Tuesdays. This weekend is Cameron’s rotation, so he won’t return for pruning until Wednesday. My plans are weed control and a trip to the transfer station – the dump.
Other news: On the road to the vineyard just west of Quincy, there is a rest area. This is a 2019 image. Note the red star on the upper left and the leafless branches.
By 2023, half the branches were lifeless. I stopped in 2024 and got seed pots and leaves. The trees are all Honey Locust, and they become host to a beetle that uses the tree as a nursery. The larva tunnel and kill the tree.
An images search for “honey locusts borers” returns many interesting images.
In 2024 I contacted the DOT in 
Wenatchee and alerted them to the dying trees. Last year only one tree was still producing leaves and some were shedding bark. Now – April 2025 — none are alive and it is time for them to go.
The closure is all of next week. The Rest Area will change from shady to sunny.
Maybe they won’t plant trees of all one species if they do replant.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John