Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
12.3.38 Table 12.15 presents the total number of flight events and constituent number of birds for each
species which were recorded during the entire programme of flight activity survey. The table
also provides a break down of the data in relation to the number of birds which were recorded
passing over the Wind Farm Polygon (WP) and at Potential Collision Height (PCH) (35-125m
above ground level).
12.3.39 Of the target species recorded during the flight activity surveys collision risk modelling was
generally only undertaken for those for which more than 3 independent flight events occurred
throughout the entire survey period or relevant season, as it was considered that reliable
predictions of collision risk were not likely through fewer events. Birds were considered to be
“at risk” if they were recorded flying over the WP and at PCH.
12.3.40 The species highlighted in bold in Table 12.15 are those for which collision risk modelling was
undertaken.
Table 12.15 Summary of Bird Flight Activity Recorded at Forthbank (September 2009 -
August 2010)
Species
Total no.
of flight
events
Total
time in
flight
(secs)
Total
no. of
birds
No. of
birds
at
PCH
No. of
birds at
PCH
within
WP
No. of
independent
flight events
for CRM
Peak
Count
Month of
Peak
Count
SPA Qualifying Species
Cormorant 31 2415 48 42 18 14 6 Nov & Aug
Curlew 36 6585 176 82 82 13 48 Nov
Goldeneye 1 60 2 2 2 1 2 Feb
Golden plover 1 1350 45 45 0 0 45 Apr
Lapwing 36 20940 264 84 84 11 130 Sept
Mallard 91 13140 311 147 147 29 47 Aug
Oystercatcher 10 1230 26 7 2 2 10 Apr
Pink-footed goose 154 1545315 18218 17350 5970 66 1100 Dec
Redshank 1 60 2 0 0 0 2 May
Red-breasted 9 330 15 1 1 1 3 Dec
merganser
Shelduck 39 2265 70 20 20 10 7 Apr
Sandwich tern 17 2295 41 24 6 4 12 Jul
Wigeon 6 1590 58 4 4 1 24 Dec
Non-SPA Qualifying SPA Wetland Bird Species
Black-tailed godwit 1 30 2 0 0 0 2 Jun
Barnacle goose 1 480 4 4 0 0 4 Apr
Common tern 1 30 1 0 0 0 1 Jul
Common sandpiper 7 150 10 0 0 0 4 Jun
Goosander 1 45 3 0 0 0 3 Apr
Greylag goose 10 12135 141 130 32 5 40 Aug
Greenshank 1 15 1 0 0 0 1 Aug
Glossy ibis 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 Nov
Mute swan 16 1100 24 4 4 2 2 Various
Snow goose 1 30 1 1 0 0 1 Mar
Snipe 8 810 22 4 4 2 5 Aug & Sept
Teal 8 2205 57 2 2 1 30 Nov
Tufted duck 14 2070 52 34 34 11 13 May
Raptors
Peregrine 12 735 12 12 7 7 1 Various
Short-eared owl 5 195 5 0 0 0 1 Apr
Note: PCH = potential collision height (35-125m); WP = windfarm polygon (the area enclosed by a line on the map
joining the outermost turbine rotors of the wind farm plus a 200m buffer); CRM = collision risk modelling.
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 20
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