Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Glossy ibis
Kingfisher
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
Negligible
Local
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Of the 6 recorded wigeon flights all (100%) 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) and were all of birds flying between the Black
Devon Wetlands and the Forth Estuary. Furthermore, all flights
passed through the ‘corridor’ which would exist between
turbines 1 and 2. However, given the low number of flights
recorded it is unlikely that the proposed wind energy
development will act as a significant barrier to the movement of
this species. In any case, birds passing to and from the
wetlands will be able to continue to commute between these
habitats by simply passing around or over the small scale wind
energy development to avoid the turbines and given the natural
path of the 6 recorded flights it is possible that birds will pass
through the corridor between turbines 1 and 2. Thus the likely
barrier effect is further reduced (neutral).
Collision N/A at construction N/A Of the 6 recorded wigeon flight events only 1 passed through
the risk volume and so there was insufficient information to
accurately model the collision risk for this species. However,
given the low number of recorded flights and considering that
only a very small proportion of these were “at risk” it is
reasonable to conclude that there is a very low risk of this
species being significantly affected by collisions with the wind
turbines (neutral).
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). N/A N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Not significant
Displacement
Glossy ibis was a rare visitor to Forthbank with only two
records both consisting of just a single individual during the
autumn passage period. Given the rare presence and very
low abundance of this species, disturbance and displacement
is predicted to of negligible (neutral).
Considering the rare presence of glossy at Forthbank, potential
disturbance of this species during operation is predicted to be
of negligible magnitude.
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Given the overall rare presence of glossy ibis at Forthbank 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 Only two glossy ibis flights were recorded during the flight
activity surveys, both of which were within the risk volume.
However, given that glossy ibis is a rare vagrant in Scotland 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).
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
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 & A single kingfisher was recorded along the River Black Devon Not significant Despite the close proximity of the River Black Devon to the Not
Displacement during the winter walkover surveys and was also present
application site, kingfishers are unlikely to be affected by the significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 60
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