environmental statement - Rotherham's Online Application for ...

Sheffield City Ecology Unit;
Sheffield Wildlife Trust;
Environment Agency (Leeds);
Natural England (Humber to Pennines Team);
Sheffield Bird Study Group; and
Rotherham Biological Records Centre.
8.12 In addition, the RSPB was consulted by TNEI but did not provide any
comments or data in relation to the site.
METHODOLOGY
8.13 Faber Maunsell used two survey methodologies in order to assess the
potential impacts of the proposed wind farm on birds:
Census of breeding birds - this shows the distribution of nesting,
roosting and foraging birds and provides species composition and
activity data for the Ornithological Survey Area, enabling the most
sensitive parts to be identified with respect to breeding birds; and
Vantage Point bird surveys - species-specific surveys that yield data
regarding flight paths, flying times and heights of vulnerable soaring
and over-flying birds. Specifically, this approach enables monitoring of
vulnerable groups such as raptors, geese and waterfowl to be carried
out more effectively than could be achieved using a transect or
roaming methodology. This type of survey also yields data that can be
fed into a Collision Risk Model (CRM) so that predictions of collisionrelated
bird mortality can be made for particular species perceived as
vulnerable to mid-air collision with rotating turbine blades.
Baseline Studies
8.14 Baseline ornithological data for the site were gathered by undertaking an
ornithological data search, consulting the organisations listed above, and
by carrying out breeding and wintering bird surveys. Full details of the
methodologies used are contained in Appendix 4.
8.15 Designated sites information was obtained from an area of 2km
surrounding the site.
8.16 The breeding bird surveys were undertaken using the Common Birds
Census (CBC) methodology. The Wintering birds VP Surveys were carried
out following the guidance published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
and involved extensive monitoring of target species from Vantage Points
(VPs).
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement