Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
activities are undertaken at this time. However, it is important
significance is predicted to be on the higher end of the scale.
to reiterate that the majority of this stretch of the Forth Estuary
which lies within the survey area is not part of the Firth of
Forth SPA; the closest point being located 720m due south.
The exclusion of this stretch demonstrates that it is not
recognised as an area of key importance for any of the
qualifying species, even though birds may still occur there.
Much more suitable alternative foraging and roosting grounds
are located in the surrounding area both within and
immediately adjacent to the Forth Estuary (e.g. intertidal
mudflats and arable fields), most notably the areas which lie
within the SPA boundary. Consequently, it is expected that
birds will only be displaced a short distance to these
alternative, and most likely recognised, foraging and roosting
grounds, rather than departing the Forth Estuary altogether.
Therefore, the overall impact of on curlew is predicted to be of
low magnitude.
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Of the 36 recorded curlew flights approximately 27 (75%)
passed directly through the proposed wind energy development
site (the area enclosed by a line on a map joining the outermost
turbine rotors of the wind farm), between either the Forth
Estuary and the Black Devon Wetlands or other habitats in the
surrounding area. 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 curlew (neutral).
Collision N/A at construction N/A Of the 36 flights recorded within and adjacent to the application
site, 13 (82 birds) were “at risk”. The collision risk modelling
produced a collision estimate of between 1 bird every 6 months
(95% avoidance) and 1 bird every 2-3 years (99% avoidance).
Taking the precautionary 95% avoidance rate prediction, this
would result in approximately 50 collisions over the 25 year
lifespan of the proposed wind energy development. However,
the annual collision rate of 1 bird every 6 months would
represent 0.1% of the SPA qualifying population per year.
Consequently, the collision risk for curlew is considered to be
well within acceptable limits and thus will not significantly affect
the SPA qualifying population (neutral).
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 47
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