Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
12.5.67 The most recent estimate for the over-wintering population of Greenland/Icelandic pinkfooted
geese in Great Britain is 246,725 birds (Holt et al. 2012). Based on this figure, the
predicted annual collision rate would represent less than 0.01% of the national and migratory
flyway population (which is the geographical scale relevant to the assessment of migratory
species, according to SNH, 2006).
12.5.68 With regard to impacts on the species as a qualifying interest of Westwater SPA, Ramsar
Site and SSSI, this collision rate would represent 0.02% of the official qualifying population
per year (29,600, Westwater SPA site citation) and less than 0.02% of the most up to date
population estimate for this designated site (35,054, Holt et al. 2012). Furthermore, as
detailed above (12.3.23, 12.3.24 and 12.3.38), there is considerable evidence to suggest that
there is little connectivity between the birds flying over the proposed Camilty wind farm site
and those associated with the Westwater SPA. Therefore, these figures will considerably
overestimate the impact that the estimated collision rate represents to the Westwater SPA
population.
12.5.69 Although the Greenland/Icelandic pink-footed goose population has declined in recent years
as discussed in the Regional Populations and Conservation Status Section above, in general
it has been increasing since 1960 with the 2009 population of 360,000 being the highest ever
recorded. As such, the species is considered to be in favourable conservation status at a
national level. It is considered that the loss of 5.9 birds each year and 147.5 birds over the
operational life span of the proposed wind farm will have a negligible effect on either the
national or regional or Westwater SPA qualifying pink-footed goose populations (i.e.