Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Curlew
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
International
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Of the 31 recorded cormorant flights at least 8 (26%) passed
directly through the proposed wind energy development area
(the area enclosed by a line on a map joining the outermost
turbine rotors of the wind farm), between the Forth Estuary and
the Black Devon Wetlands or beyond. However, given the
small scale of the proposed wind energy development it is likely
that birds will continue to commute between these habitats
simply passing around or over the wind energy development to
avoid the turbines. Furthermore, there is the possibility that
birds may still pass through the corridor between turbines 1 and
2. Consequently, it is concluded that the proposed wind energy
development will not act as a significant barrier to the
movement of cormorant (neutral).
Collision N/A at construction N/A Of the 31 flights recorded within and adjacent to the application
site, 14 (18 birds) were “at risk”. The collision risk modelling
produced a collision estimate of between 1 bird every 1-2 years
(95% avoidance) and 1 bird every 8-9 years (99% avoidance).
Taking the precautionary 95% avoidance rate prediction, this
would result in approximately 15 collisions over the 25 year
lifespan of the proposed wind energy development. However,
the annual collision rate of 1 bird every 1-2 years would
represent 0.3% of the SPA qualifying population.
Consequently, the collision risk for cormorant is considered to
be well within acceptable limits and thus will not significantly
affect the SPA qualifying population (neutral).
Not
significant
Not
significant
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Minor
Moderate
Displacement
Curlew were recorded throughout the winter and passage
periods. The peak count of 73 (January estuary zone count)
represented 3.8% of the SPA qualifying population. However,
numbers of around 20-40 birds were more usual although
these still represented over 1% of the SPA population. Birds
were often distributed near the mouth of the Black Devon,
both at the estuary and on the adjacent arable fields, and
within 500m of the application site. Groups of curlew were
also found along the south side of the Forth Estuary, between
500m and 1km from the application site. Studies of birds at
roosting and feeding grounds in Holland found that curlew
were displaced by operational turbines by up to 500m 38 . On
the basis of this information, a precautionary displacement
range of 500m is considered for construction also. Given that
flocks of curlew were often found within 500m of the
application site it is likely that wintering birds will be displaced
from the foraging and roosting grounds if construction
As previously mentioned, many of the curlew recorded during
the ornithological surveys were present within 500m of the
application site (the precautionary displacement range for this
species). Consequently there is a reasonably high likelihood
that a significant proportion (i.e. ≥1%) of the curlew Firth of
Forth SPA qualifying population will be displaced from
traditional foraging and roosting grounds located within this
distance throughout the lifespan of the proposed wind energy
development due to the presence of the turbines. However,
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 although the impact
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 46
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2010 ©