Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Sandwich
tern
Shelduck
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
International
Local
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
survey area for much of the year. Furthermore, this flight was
below PCH. Given the above, it is reasonable to assume that
redshank rarely fly through the risk volume 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 &
Displacement
Sandwich terns were only recorded at Forthbank during the
autumn passage period with birds foraging and commuting
along the river channel of the Forth Estuary. The peak count
was of 22 birds (August estuary zone count) representing
1.4% of the SPA qualifying population. The Forth Estuary is
an important staging ground for post-breeding Sandwich terns
and the survey results suggest that the Forthbank area
represents a valuable foraging ground for birds at this time.
However, even if construction activities were scheduled to
take place during the autumn months, disturbance associated
from construction activities is not predicted to adversely affect
terns concentrated along the river channel. Consequently, the
effect is predicted to be of neutral magnitude and unlikely to
result in significant displacement of the species away from the
Forthbank area.
Not significant Any disturbance associated with the operation and
maintenance of the turbines is not predicted to adversely affect
terns foraging and commuting along the river channel and even
if it does initially, birds may become habituated to the presence
of the turbines (neutral).
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A All observations of Sandwich tern were recorded within the
Forth Estuary with birds foraging or commuting along the river.
No observations were made to suggest that the species
forages or roosts at Black Devon Wetland or that they would
ever pass directly through the proposed wind energy
development. Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that
this species rarely flies through the proposed wind energy
development and that the development will not have a barrier
effect on the movement of this species (neutral).
Collision N/A at construction N/A Of the 17 flights recorded within and adjacent to the application
site, 4 (6 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 0.1% of the SPA qualifying population.
Consequently, the collision risk for Sandwich tern is considered
to be well within acceptable limits and thus will not significantly
affect the SPA qualifying population (neutral).
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance & With the exception of late summer, shelduck were recorded Minor Although present for much of the year, the small numbers of Minor
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 57
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