Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
not completely sever) direct connectivity between West Cairns Plantation and other areas of
forest, goshawks would still be able to access these areas by flying around the wind farm via
the woodland areas around Harburn House Estate. Considering the relatively small scale of
the proposed 6-turbine development (approximately 57ha, based upon the convex polygon
described in 12.5.57 above), it is anticipated that any increases in energy expenditure by
goshawks would be of negligible magnitude. Any barrier effects posed by the wind farm on
the movement of goshawks through/within their territory are, therefore, expected to be of no
more than a slight level of effect, which is not significant in terms of the EIA Regulations.
Pink-footed Goose and Greylag Goose
Construction – Habitat Loss
12.5.63 All pink-footed goose and greylag goose records were of flocks of birds using the airspace
above the site. There is no evidence to suggest that either of these species utilise the habitat
within the application site boundary or any other areas within 500 m of the site for feeding,
roosting or breeding. The coniferous forestry and marshy grassland habitats present within
and immediately surrounding the site are generally considered to be unsuitable for these
species. As such, the effects of habitat loss to pink-footed geese (a VOR of high
conservation importance) and greylag geese (a VOR of low conservation importance) are of
negligible magnitude, and thus the level of effect from construction of the proposed wind farm
is predicted to be negligible.
Construction - Disturbance
12.5.64 As stated above (12.5.63), all pink-footed goose and greylag goose records were of flocks of
birds using the airspace above the site. There is no evidence to suggest that either of these
species utilise the habitats within the site boundary or any other areas within 500 m of the
site for feeding, roosting or breeding. As such, effects of disturbance on pink-footed geese
and greylag geese during the construction of the proposed wind farm are of negligible
magnitude and are predicted to produce a negligible level of effect, which is not significant in
terms of the EIA Regulations.
Operation - Disturbance/Displacement
12.5.65 As stated above (12.5.63), in relation to construction, all pink-footed goose and greylag
goose records were of flocks of birds using the airspace above the site. There is no evidence
to suggest that either of these species utilise the habitats within the site boundary or any
other areas within 500 m of the site for feeding, roosting or breeding. As such, any effects of
disturbance on pink-footed geese and greylag geese during the operation of the proposed
wind farm are predicted to be of negligible magnitude, producing a negligible level of effect,
which is not significant in terms of the EIA Regulations.
Operation – Collisions with Turbines
Pink-footed Goose
12.5.66 Of the 40 flights recorded passing over and adjacent to the proposed site, 13 (815 birds)
were “at risk”. The collision risk modelling produced a collision estimate of 5.9 birds per year
which is approximately 1 bird every two months at the 99% avoidance rate as accepted by
SNH (SNH 2010). This would result in approximately 147.5 collisions over the 25 year
lifespan of the proposed wind farm.
March 2013 12-51 ES Chapter 12
Ornithology
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