Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
wind farms are also predicted to contribute to the collision mortality that may affect the
goshawk population within this NHZ.
Table 12.18 Cumulative Goshawk Collision Risk Predictions
Wind Farm Number of Turbines Predicted Annual Collision Rate (98% Avoidance)
Camilty 6 0.3
Carcant 3 0.02
Fauch Hill 23 0.04
TOTAL 32 0.36 (or one bird approximately every 2 years and 9
months)
12.8.23 This cumulative collision rate would represent the loss of between 1% and 1.3% of the
estimated Lothian and Borders breeding population (28-35 pairs (Etheridge et al. 2012))
every year which is a very slight increase on the predicted mortality rate predicted for the
proposed wind farm on its own (approximately 1 bird per year). In relation to the total
estimated regional population however (65-85 individuals), this would represent between
0.42% and 0.55% which is a marginal increase only compared to the mortality rate predicted
for the proposed Camilty wind farm on its own.
12.8.24 Over the 25 year lifespan of these wind farms, these proportions would increase to between
13% and 16% of the current Lothian and Borders breeding population and between 11% and
14% of the total population (assuming maintenance of a stable population across the region
and the continued presence of goshawks at the sites for which collision risk estimates have
been produced, which would depend upon replacement of the breeding adults that die,
whether from collisions or other causes).
12.8.25 With regards to how this compares to natural mortality rates, based on an average adult
mortality rate of 18%, the natural mortality rate of goshawks in the Border Hills NHZ is
predicted to be close to one bird every three to four month or between 10 and 13 birds per
year (as described in the discussion of collision risk impacts from the proposed Camilty wind
farm alone (12.5.52). Over the course of the proposed wind farms’ life spans this would be
between 250 and 315 mortalities through natural causes, compared to nine mortalities
through cumulative turbine collisions over the life time of the wind farms. This equates to an
increase of between 3% and 4% in the natural mortality rate amongst adult birds.
12.8.26 Although the predicted cumulative collision rate is very slightly higher than that predicted for
the proposed wind farm on its own, the overall additional effect on the population is virtually
the same (i.e. it compares to an increase of between 2.5% to 3.0% of the natural mortality
adult rate). Consequently, as explained in the discussion of collision risk impacts from the
proposed Camilty wind farm alone (12.5.47 – 12.5.55 above), it is predicted that the
cumulative effect of collision mortality on the regional/NHZ goshawk population would
similarly be of slight level and not significant in terms of the EIA Regulations.
Cumulative Barrier Effects
12.8.27 As for 12.8.17 above, the infrequent occurrence of goshawks at the other wind farm, and
proposed wind farm, sites for which adequate information could be accessed, strongly
suggests that the cumulative effects of barrier effects on the regional goshawk population is
March 2013 12-62 ES Chapter 12
Ornithology
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