1. Birds & Wind Farms - high fliers? Rowena Langston Assessing the impacts offshore

2. UK Offshore Wind Essential contribution to energy mix, renewables Climate change & CO 2 reduction UK target 10% renewables 2010 Shallow water, <30m (50m) mostly 5- 10km Unknowns and uncertainties Legal framework and other conservation obligations

3. Legislative framework EU Birds Directive – Annex 1 species, SPAs EU Habitats Dir - key habitats or species listed in Annex IV, SACs W&CA 1981 & CRoW Act 2000 - Sch1 birds UK BAP - priority habitats & species Rare & nationally scarce species, BoCC etc Bonn/AEWA, Bern, Ramsar Conventions etc

4. Concentrations of divers, grebes, gannets, shag, seaducks, terns, auks Migration & movements along coast Large numbers of turbines in restricted area, e.g. shallow water sandbanks Habitat loss/change Exclusion (disturbance) Collision risk Barriers to movement Principle concerns offshore

5. Habitat loss or change Small “land take” around individual turbines Change to coastal processes, including sediment transport Potential cumulative changes within a wind farm Potential cumulative changes across wind farms Concern for species of conservation importance that concentrate on substrates where wind farms proposed Common Scoter

6. Habitat exclusion Potential disturbance arising from Maintenance vessels & personnel etc Construction & operation Turbines – visual impact, noise, vibration (COWRIE) Size, numbers & spacing of turbines Onshore research indicates maximum likely effect ca 600-800m around a turbine

7. Collision Risk Generally low collision rate Poor flying conditions, dark nights with high winds, reduced visibility in fog, rain Large body mass in proportion to wing surface area eg ducks, geese, swans Species with high adult survival and low breeding productivity - poor compensation Age, experience, sex, breeding condition etc Concentrations, migrants v residents Conservation status

8. Barriers to Movement Birds may fly around clusters rather than between turbines Size of wind farm and spacing of turbines Weather conditions Energetic costs Ecological function, feeding areas, safe roosts etc

9. Common Scoter Overwinter at sea from the Baltic to Mauritania Mainly in shallow coastal waters, <20m depth Feed on molluscs by diving from the sea surface Associated with clean sand/ fine gravel substrates Flightless during post-breeding moult of feathers Large flocks during moult and over winter Sensitive to disturbance UK & international conservation priority, most birds occur in only few areas COWRIE research

10. Summary Issues site & species specific Potential mitigation Potential habituation Potentially irremedial problems in places, at least with present knowledge New industry - impacts unknown, -ve & +ve (nursery areas for fish) Legal frameworks & other obligations Early consultation & co-operation Knowledge

11. Study protocol Bird numbers and distribution, timing Use of wind farm site and surrounding area Flight behaviour - direction, height & timing – diurnal/nocturnal, tidal cycle Frequency crossing turbines & proximity Collision risk Weather conditions Collisions BACI

12. Study methods Distribution & numbers - transects (aerial & ship) Site use, flight behaviour & collision avoidance (visual & radar + sound) Collisions - remote (radar, IRVC) Background- Blyth Harbour, 2001

13. Aerial & Boat surveys Aerial cover large areas in short time shallow, inshore waters assess numbers & distribution of seaducks Boat behavioural observations assess numbers & distributions of alcids COWRIE research to give guidance

14. Radar Extension of visual observations, day & night Movements, flight height, behavioural response Collisions Migration studies (military radar) Marine surveillance radar: vertical & horizontal Power: species detection Supplementary species identification Need UK field trials

15. Infra Red Video Cameras Collision assessment at sea problematic Remote assessment techniques Flight behaviour & avoidance response to turbines Collisions & cause Day & night Assess effect of turbine position (wind farm layout) Need UK field trials

16. Closing points Importance of wind farm location and layout Early consultation and flexibility Standard study methods for EIA Before, during and post-construction monitoring Targeted research (eg COWRIE, DTI) SEA, cumulative impacts assessment Clear planning framework, including marine SPAs Future development compatible with conservation