Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Common
tern
Short-eared
owl
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
Negligible
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
through the proposed wind energy development. The presence
of barnacle geese at Forthbank was unusual and most likely
consisted of birds which had become lost and joined up with
pink-footed geese for security. Consequently, 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).
Habitat Loss No loss of habitat which is of value to the species (neutral). Not significant N/A at operation N/A
Disturbance &
Displacement
Common terns were primarily recorded at Forthbank during
late summer and early autumn months although the species
was low in abundance, the peak count being of just 4 birds.
Several important common tern breeding colonies are located
in the Firth of Forth (i.e. Forth Islands SPA and Imperial Dock
Lock, Leith SPA) and the birds which were recorded along the
Forth River channel during the surveys are likely to have been
post-breeding adults and fledged young form these colonies,
taking advantage of available food supplies before
commencing their southward migration. However, the
infrequently presence and very low abundance of common
tern suggests that the Forthbank area does not represent an
important foraging ground for this species. As such,
disturbance associated with construction activities is not
predicted to adversely affect terns along the river channel.
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 common 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 Only a single common tern flight was recorded during the flight
activity surveys, and this was not “at risk”. All observations of
common tern were recorded within the Forth Estuary with birds
foraging or commuting along the river. Consequently, it is
reasonable to assume that this species rarely flies through the
risk volume and that the collision risk to this species is
negligible (neutral).
Negligible Habitat Loss Short-eared owl was represented by a single individual during Not significant N/A at operation N/A
the winter walkover surveys (January) and five flights of what
was probably the same bird during the flight activity surveys
(April). Lowland/coastal open grasslands such as those in the
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 63
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