Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Barnacle
goose
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
Negligible
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
Collision N/A at construction N/A Of the 12 flights recorded within and adjacent to the application
site, 7 (7 birds) were “at risk”. Peregrine was present during
both the breeding and non-breeding season and therefore
collision estimates were carried out for both of these seasons.
During the breeding season the collision risk modelling
produced a collision estimate of between 1 bird every 10 years
(95% avoidance) and 1 bird every 50 years (99% avoidance).
Meanwhile, during the non-breeding season the predicted
collision rate was between 1 bird every 33 years (95%
avoidance) and less than 1 bird every 100 years (99%
avoidance). Taking the precautionary 95% avoidance rate
predictions for the two seasons combined this would equal
approximately 1 bird every 7-8 years and thus approximately 3
collisions over the 25 year lifespan of the proposed wind energy
development, although the collision risk is predicted to be at
least 3 times higher during the breeding season. The 2007
Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme Report 44 refers to 35
reported peregrine home-ranges (70 birds) in the Central
Scotland region, which includes the Forthbank site. Assuming
this is a minimal estimate, the loss of three birds would equate
to the loss of at most 4.3% of this regional breeding population
over 25 years. In general, results from operational wind farm
monitoring studies suggest that there appears to be a low risk
of collision for peregrine, although 2 fatalities have been
reported in Belgium 45 and Meek et al. 46 reported 1 casualty in
the Orkney Islands over an 8 year study. In addition, the fact
that peregrine’s range coincides with large numbers of wind
farms, yet few collisions are reported, tends to support the view
that there is a low risk of collision for this species. On this
combination of evidence and experience to date, it is concluded
that likelihood of collision and hence the risk to the
conservation status of the 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 &
Not significant
Displacement
Barnacle goose was a rare visitor to Forthbank with only two
records both consisting of just 4 individuals during the winter
and passage periods. Given the rare presence and very low
abundance of this species, disturbance and displacement is
not predicted to have a significant effect.
Considering the rare presence of barnacle goose at Forthbank,
potential disturbance of this species during operation is
predicted to be of negligible magnitude.
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Considering the rare presence of barnacle goose at Forthbank,
the proposed wind energy development is not predicted to have
a barrier effect on the movement of this species.
Collision N/A at construction N/A Only a single barnacle goose flight was recorded during the
flight activity surveys, and while this was at PCH it did not pass
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 62
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