Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Species
Snow goose
Conservation
Value at
Forthbank
Negligible
Effect Construction Significance Operation Significance
Disturbance &
Displacement
winter therefore, the number of birds recorded at Forthbank is
likely to represent a fraction of the expected population
around the Forth Estuary. Consequently, the minor loss of
habitat from the application site is expected to have an effect
of neutral magnitude.
Given that the majority of snipe observed at Forthbank were
recorded at Black Devon Wetlands, approximately 150m from
the application site, it is considered unlikely that disturbance
associated with the construction activities will be of sufficient
magnitude to have an adverse effect on this species
(neutral).
Not significant
The low numbers of snipe recorded within the Forthbank survey
area, as detailed previously, suggests that the habitats within
and surrounding the application site are not of high importance
to the species. Even if birds are disturbed and subsequently
displaced by the presence of the wind energy development,
there is considered to be an abundance of suitable alternative
coastal and lowland wetland habitat for this species to occupy
in the wider Forth Estuary and Lower Forth Valley.
Consequently, any disturbance and displacement of snipe is
predicted to have an effect of negligible magnitude (neutral).
Barrier Effect N/A at construction N/A Of the 8 recorded snipe flights approximately 6 (75%) 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). However, most of these were of flights
circling around Black Devon Wetlands or moving between the
three lagoons. Very few of the flights were of birds commuting
between Black Devon Wetlands and the Forth Estuary or other
habitats beyond the survey area. Therefore, taking into
consideration the small scale of the wind energy development
and the possibility that birds may still pass over or around it or
through the corridor between turbines 1 and 2, it is concluded
that the proposed wind energy development will not act as a
significant barrier to the movement of snipe (neutral).
Collision N/A at construction N/A Of the 8 recorded snipe flight events only two passed through
the risk volume and therefore there were not enough to
accurately model the collision risk for this species. However,
given the low frequency of “at risk” flights, 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
Snow goose was a rare visitor to Forthbank with only one
record of a single individual during the spring passage period.
Given the rare presence and very low abundance of this
species, disturbance and displacement is not predicted to
have a significant effect (neutral).
Considering the rare presence of snow 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 snow goose at Forthbank, the
proposed wind energy development is not predicted to have a
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
Not
significant
November 2010 Chapter 12 Page 76
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