Abstract
The need for breeding bird survey was identified in the Saint Nikola Wind Farm EMMP and is being undertaken to characterize the breeding bird assemblage within the Saint Nikola Wind Farm and to assess any future changes which may be attributable to the operation of the wind turbines. This report synthesizes the results of 3 months study performed in 2009 with the scope of providing a baseline description of the breeding bird community against which future surveys can be contrasted and analyzed. Three transects running roughly north to south through the wind farm territory have been chosen and surveyed. Two control transects have been chosen outside of the wind farm territory to account for ‘natural changes’ in breeding bird populations within the project area, which would not be attributable to an effect of the operational turbines. Details of the vegetation along each transect were recorded to account for any habitat-related effects on changes in the breeding bird assemblage in future analyses. This process will need to be repeated immediately prior to future annual surveys. The results of the 2009 survey are assessed against the European Ornithological Atlas Committee’s (EOAC) criteria for breeding bird status. A total of 77 species was recorded, including many with national or international classifications of vulnerable or threatened status. Findings do not suggest that the Saint Nikola Wind Farm is of particular conservation importance for its breeding birds, however, and should allow an assessment of any impact of the operational development on the bird assemblage.