Abstract
The UK government has a commitment to obtain 15% of the UK’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020, of which wind energy is likely to form a major part (DECC 2009). Consequently many wind farms are currently under construction and more developments are proposed (e.g. Round 3 zones, Scottish Territorial Waters sites and Extensions to Round 1 and Round 2 sites). There is, however, much concern as to the effects that offshore wind developments may have on seabird populations.
Many seabirds designated as feature species of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) might potentially be affected by these developments, as their breeding season foraging ranges and migratory routes may overlap with wind farm sites. The effect of wind farms on particular species is likely to be influenced by altitude at which birds fly, and the avoidance behaviour they might show.
This study uses the latest tracking technology to investigate the movements of two seabird species that are features of SPAs. The aims of this study are threefold:
i. To understand the connectivity of these feature species with the areas of consented wind farms (i.e. those which have already been constructed or are under construction) and proposed wind farm development zones;
ii. To understand the extent to which these feature species use the areas of wind farms which have already been constructed or are under construction;
iii. To provide an assessment of the flight altitudes of these feature species that could usefully inform collision risk modelling.
In summer 2010, GPS tags were fitted to 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Orford Ness, part of the Alde-Ore Estuary SPA, and four Great Skuas on the Foula SPA in Shetland (out of a total of 25 of each species to be tagged in the project). All individuals tagged were members of breeding pairs, and were caught on the nest. No adverse effects of tagging were observed (although there were high levels of nest failure for the gulls, this was typical for the colony as a whole).
This report is associated with a second year report, third year report and final report.