The proposed site will have a significant impact on several protected species of raptors, including Golden Eagles. Other species were Osprey, Merlins, Hen Harriers, Goshawks - with nesting sites for Osprey and Goshawks detected. The EIA survey revealed:
"a number of significant habitats and species of conservation value that have the potential to be affected by the construction of a wind farm"
The ornthithology survey states in point 7.8.12 that raptors are displaced 200-300 meters from turbine blades. Below the, using the proposed turbine sites as centres, are the areas 250 m in radius in which now raptors will now be excluded. Clearly this a significant portion of the site. The exclusion zone does not account for the length of the turbine blade - which would add another c.150 meter to the exclusion zone meaning that they will effectively overlap.
To protect raptor species and a whole host of other bird species, including schedule 1 and IUCN red listed species (Appendix 7.12), the number of turbines needs to be cut significantly to avoid creating and avian wildlife deadzone.
The 'outline' habitat management presented needs to be fleshed out into a full habitat management plan given the ecological importance of the site
I worry about the raptors but I also worry about the wild geese who fly up and down this valley to Carelaverock in there thousands!
Extract from the CWL documentation admitting the threat to Golden Eagles, in particular.
Agreed. And Moffat's Eagle Festival, postponed from 2020, is now planned for September 2021. Interestingly, CWL admitted to the threat posed to Golden Eagles in their documentation.
I agree Martin. The RSPB response includes this on Golden Eagles:
"1.3.1-Collision Risk and Impact on the NHZ Population
As stated in the EIAR,this development has the potential to eliminate 11 golden eagles through collision across the 40-year operational period, or one bird every 3.64 years.This alone is an unacceptable level of risk to a fragile population, which is currently the subject of a reintroduction programme with the aim of helping this vulnerable population to recover.The EIAR (chapter 7 paragraph 7.9.33) states that the collision risk posed by this development has the potential to equate to the loss of the NHZ population. Whilst this is true, what it does not mention is that the breeding NHZ population is just4 birds (2 pairs), and that this level of collision risk clearly demonstrates a persistent pressure over the lifetime of the project.This does not include the potential and more likely impact on wandering birds from the reintroduction project or from wild-fledged birds from the existing south Scotland nests. Of course, only one bird from each nest need be removed from the population to eliminate the entire breeding golden eagle population of NHZ19 and leave just 1 pair remaining in the whole of southern Scotland."
In my opinion, it just reinforces the fact that this particular wind farm proposal is in the wrong location.