Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Table 12.18 Assessment of the potential effects of Forthbank Wind Energy Development on Valued Ornithological Receptors (VORs)
Species Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
SPA Qualifying Species
Bar-tailed International
godwit
Cormorant
International
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Displacement
Bar-tailed godwit were recorded inconsistently throughout the
winter and passage periods with numbers ranging from a
single bird to the peak count of 33 (January estuary zone
count) which represented 1.7% of the SPA qualifying
population. However, numbers of this size were not
frequently recorded and the majority of birds were observed
on the opposite (southern) side of the Forth Estuary, over
500m from the application site. Given the above, the potential
impact of short-term construction related disturbance on bartailed
godwit is predicted to be of low magnitude.
Minor Considering the infrequent presence and general low
abundance of bar-tailed godwit at Forthbank the proposed wind
energy development area is not considered to be of great
importance to this species. Furthermore, given that the
majority of the survey area does not include the Firth of Forth
SPA, and considering the availability of suitable alternative
foraging and roosting grounds in the surrounding area (e.g.
intertidal mudflats and arable fields) it is considered highly
unlikely that birds will be displaced entirely from the Forth
Estuary. Indeed, any displaced birds are likely to remain within
Upper Forth Estuary. Given the above, such an effect is
predicted to be of low magnitude.
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Given that no bar-tailed godwit flights were recorded and that
observations of the species were restricted to the Forth Estuary
it is reasonable to assume that the proposed wind energy
development will not act as a significant barrier to the
movement of this species (neutral).
Collision N/A at construction N/A No bar-tailed godwit flights were recorded during the flight
activity surveys while those birds which were recorded during
the other surveys were only observed within the Forth Estuary.
Consequently it is reasonable to assume that this species
rarely flies through the proposed wind energy development and
that the collision risk to this species is negligible (neutral).
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Not significant
Displacement
Cormorant were recorded throughout the winter and passage
periods and sighting were largely restricted to the river
channel of the Forth Estuary. The peak count of 30
(September winter walkover) represented 4.4% of the SPA
qualifying population. Despite this one off large count
cormorant was generally low in abundance (≤10) and is
considered to be a species which is reasonably resilient to
disturbance, often being associated with industrial ports and
waterways. Therefore, the potential impact of short-term
construction related disturbance on cormorant is expected to
be of negligible magnitude and is not predicted to result in
significant displacement of the species away from the
Forthbank area (neutral).
Given that cormorant were predominantly recorded within the
Forth Estuary this is considered to be the habitat of primary
importance for this species at Forthbank. Consequently, any
disturbance associated with the operation and maintenance of
the turbines and which is expected to be of low intensity is not
predicted to adversely affect birds foraging, roosting and
commuting along the river channel. Even if it does initially,
birds may become habituated to the presence of the turbines
(neutral).
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 45
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