NPower Renewables would like to build 26 wind turbines near to the Dungeness to Pett Level, Special Protection Area (SPA). The SPA attracts large populations of waterfowl in the winter, including Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewicki), Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Gadwall (Anas strepera). There are also a large number of birds of prey, such as Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus), in the area. The RSPB and English Nature fear the birds will be harmed by the wind turbines and that NPower have failed to sufficiently demonstrate that the development will not have a detrimental effect on this internationally important wildlife site.

In 2002 NPower submitted an Environmental Statement describing the studies that were carried out to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed wind farm. Supplementary environmental information was submitted in July 2004, which updated the Environmental Statement with issues raised by consultees and information from a further two winters bird monitoring. The conclusion reached by NPower is that the proposed wind farm would not have a significant effect on the area's wintering bird populations. NPower say the marsh is one of the best in the region for a wind farm, with studies commissioned from independent consultants showing little threat to wildlife.

Npower have investigated how birds use the area by looking at their flight paths and carrying out surveys on breeding birds. Other studies have been completed on habitats, leeches, water voles, aquatic invertebrates and badgers.

The original proposal has been reduced by 11 turbines to exclude a significant bird foraging area, as a result of the studies. The research showed that birds using the nearby wetland bird reserve did not feed in the Wind Farm area. The flight paths of Bewick's and Mute Swans did not tend to cross the intended Wind Farm site and few swans crossed the line of Pylons which mark the northern boundary of the proposed site.

Studies in the Netherlands suggest birds avoid wind turbines and that flocks of birds fly through wind farms at night if the moon is out. The wind farm at Blyth Harbour has reported bird strikes but research suggests that "habituation" is reducing bird strikes for some species below 1.3 collisions per turbine per year.

Both the RSPB and English Nature support the generation of electricity from renewable sources and are not anti-development. Their position is that it is vital that wind farms do not damage important wildlife sites either directly or indirectly and are sited appropriately, taking into account advice about impacts on international wildlife sites.

Teresa Bennett, English Nature's Kent team manager, said: "It is up to the developers to prove that there will be no risk to the thousands of birds that rely on Romney Marsh. We don't think they have been able to demonstrate this and want to make sure beautiful birds like the Bewick's swans are not put at risk."

Chris Corrigan, Regional Director for the RSPB added: "Conservation efforts in the last 11 years have created a very rich feeding and roosting area for more than 20,000 waterfowl and birds of prey. The windfarm could cancel out all the years of progress made by local landowners and threaten an internationally important population of birds."

Contextually, however, wind turbines pose a threat of 1 to 2 collisions with birds per year, whereas vehicles, tall buildings and cats account for millions of bird deaths each year.