This environmental impact assessment for Kriegers flak ... - Vattenfall

Survey area – ship transects
individual/km². Single species of Þ sh eating loons and
razorbills can be found during the winter months on
the shallow parts of Kriegers Flak. These birds avoid
areas with heavy shipping. A maximum of 160 loons
have been registered.
The density of loon, Gavia spec, has been measured
to between 0.1-0.37 individuals/km², razorbills, Alce
torda, to 0.11-0.81 individuals/km², common murre,
Uria aalge, 0.02-0.18 individuals per km² and black
guillemot, Cepphus grylle as 0.02-0.22 individuals/
km².
With the exception of long tailed duck, Clangula
hyemalis, there are no mussel eating sea ducks spending
the winter at Kriegers Flak. During the months
between November to May, long tailed duck reside
in areas where the water depth is less than 30 m.
The maximum number of staging long tailed ducks,
counted during the winter months by ships, amounted
to 5 000. During autumn and spring migration the
numbers could reach 10 000 individuals. During the
winter, during the ship counts, the population of long
tailed ducks has been registered to between 5.46-8.16
individuals/km². During the migration season the duck
has had a maximum density of 16.5 individuals/km².
The water is probably too deep to be an ideal feeding
place for other sea ducks, that usually during the winter
only stay in waters < 20 metres deep.
During spring and autumn migration only a few sea
ducks stage in the area. Eider ducks are seen only spo-
PRESENTATION OF THE AREA 85
gräns före
ekonomisk zon
radically, for example during periods of calm weather,
with 1.68-2.63 individuals/km2.
During spring migration, Melanitta nigra has been
registred to 0.07-1.05 individuals/km2. Melanitta fusca
has on exceptional occasions registered to 0.03-0.06
individuals/km2.
To summarize, one can establish that Kriegers Flak
does not have any particular value for water fowl.
Amongst others, this has to do with the great depth and
the long distance to shore.
The size of populations in the surveyed area were
small, with the exception of gulls. The fact that loons
and sea ducks were not present in larger numbers was
probably due to ship trafÞ c. The occasional large occurrence
of gulls was due to the Þ shing activities.
The great variety and peculiarity of the bird community
is high considering 11 species of water fowl are
present on a regular basis.
11.6.3.2 Migrating Birds
On behalf of the Group, IfAÖ has carried out extensive
visual observations and radar studies of migrating
birds. The surveys were carried out on both the Swedish
and German side of Kriegers Flak.
The visual observations were made in order to
decide the species of migrating birds during day as
well as night. During night, observations were made by
registration of calls.
The purpose of the radar observations were mainly