Abstract
As part of WP1 in the ProcBe OWEC project, the objective of WP1C is to track first-time migrating Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus fledglings from 3 SPA colonies. This work aims to address the knowledge gaps surrounding post-fledging behaviour within the Celtic and Irish seas, proposed sites for offshore wind development. Fledglings may have a differential vulnerability to offshore wind activities, with prior research indicating an increased likelihood of light attraction and groundings for first-time migrants (Syposz et al., 2018; Syposz and Padget, 2023). Within the Celtic and Irish seas, naïve shearwaters must gain flight experience, and orient towards their migratory destination (Mueller et al., 2013; Wynn et al., 2022). It is therefore highly likely that first time migrants have a different spatial distribution to adults when migrating through proposed offshore wind sites for development. Through WP1C we aim to provide the first detailed tracks of post fledging migration for Manx shearwaters. However, tracking the post fledging movements of shearwaters poses numerous challenges. In this report we will review the types of technology available, their usage on first time migrants in other seabird species and suitability for deployment on shearwaters.
This project was initiated in response to a funding call by the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme which is funded by The Crown Estate. This programme seeks to support the growth of the offshore wind industry and the UK’s net zero ambitions by funding research projects that contribute a wide-ranging base of data and evidence to resolve gaps in evidence and understanding of cumulative impacts on protected seabird populations, a high-level priority of the OWEC programme.