Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
SPA Qualifying Species Not Recorded at Forthbank
12.4.4 The following qualifying species of the Firth of Forth SPA were not recorded at Forthbank
during any of the ornithological surveys undertaken for this assessment; red-throated diver,
Slavonian grebe, turnstone, knot, ringed plover, great crested grebe, scaup, eider, long-tailed
duck, common scoter and velvet scoter. All of these species are more typically associated with
either coastal/marine environments or the more expansive intertidal habitats found elsewhere
within the Forth Estuary and wider Firth of Forth.
12.4.5 Given their absence from the surveys, the importance of the site for these species is
considered to be negligible and as such any impacts from the proposed wind energy
development on them are expected to be not significant.
Potential Effects
12.4.6 This section outlines the potential effects of the proposed wind energy development on birds
along with the impact these may have on the conservation status of each species. The
potential effects and impacts are discussed in relation to the three main phases of the
proposed wind energy development: construction, operation and de-commissioning.
12.4.7 The key potential effects of wind farm developments on birds are considered to be: collision
mortality, displacement due to disturbance, causing a barrier to movements and habitat loss or
change 28,29 .
Construction Effects
12.4.8 The programme for construction is outlined in Chapter 4. Project Description.
Habitat Loss
12.4.9 Direct land take for the installation of the proposed wind energy development infrastructure
(turbine bases, sub-stations, access tracks etc.) would result in the loss only 2.6ha of semiimproved
neutral grassland. For the target species, the potential for a direct effect resulting
from such limited land take is largely considered to be negligible given that the majority are
wetland birds. Consequently, any impacts are expected to be not significant under the terms
of the EIA Regulations.
Disturbance/Displacement
12.4.10 Disturbance caused by construction operations may directly displace birds from breeding,
roosting or foraging sites which may subsequently affect their breeding success and winter
survival. The species most likely to be affected are those which are present in the greatest
numbers close to the proposed wind energy development, both in absolute terms and in
relation to the proportion of the SPA population which uses this area of the Forth Estuary.
Construction disturbance will be confined to the construction period and any effects will
therefore be temporary. Mitigation measures may be applied to reduce the impacts of
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 38
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