Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Mallard
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
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 &
Minor
Minor
Displacement
Mallard were recorded throughout the year at Forthbank and
were distributed throughout the wetland habitats of the entire
survey area (i.e. the Forth Estuary, Black Devon Wetlands
and the River Black Devon). Numbers were highest in the
winter months during which the peak of 60 was recorded
(February estuary zone count) representing 2.3% of the SPA
qualifying population. However, numbers of between 10-40
birds were more usual and counts in excess of 26 birds (i.e.
>1% of the SPA population) were often present. In addition,
five pairs/territories were recorded at Black Devon Wetlands
during the breeding season, approximately 200m from the
application site. Studies of birds at roosting and feeding
grounds in Holland found that mallard were displaced by
operational turbines by up to 300m 39 . On the basis of this
information, a precautionary displacement range of 300m is
considered for construction also. Despite the relatively large
number of birds recorded at Forthbank however, it is
noteworthy that the majority of this stretch of the Forth Estuary
lies outwith the Firth of Forth SPA. Furthermore, it is
recognised that suitable alternative foraging and roosting
grounds are available in the surrounding area (i.e. elsewhere
within the Upper Forth Estuary). Indeed, given this species
wide use of the available habitats at this site even if
construction activities were to disturb these birds it is
considered unlikely that they would be displaced from the
Forthbank area altogether. Therefore, the magnitude of any
disturbance effects on this species is predicted to be low.
Given the wide use of the available habitats at this site by
mallard as mentioned previously, even if the species was
displaced beyond 300m from the turbines, it is considered
unlikely that the species would be displaced from the Forthbank
area entirely. Taking into consideration also the fact that most
of the survey area lies outwith the Firth of Forth SPA and that
there are suitable alternative foraging and roosting grounds
within the nearby surrounding area the effect of any operational
disturbance and displacement is thus predicted to be of low
magnitude.
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Of the 91 recorded mallard flights approximately 53 (58%)
passed directly through the proposed wind energy development
(the area enclosed by a line on a map joining the outermost
turbine rotors of the wind farm). A large proportion of the flights
were of birds flying around between the lagoons of the Black
Devon Wetlands, although many flights were also observed of
birds commuting to and from these wetlands from the Forth
Estuary and other habitats in the wider area (e.g. the River
Black Devon). Of the recorded flights, the proposed wind
energy development would only have presented a potential
barrier to those which passed between the wetlands and the
Forth Estuary. This relates to approximately 18 flights (20%).
However, there is the possibility that birds may still pass
through the corridor between turbines 1 and 2. Indeed it is
noteworthy that natural path of many of these flights passed
Minor
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 51
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