Pre- and post-construction studies of conflicts between birds and wind turbines in coastal Norway (BirdWind) - Progress Report 2009

• Main Authors: Bevanger, Kjetil Modolv, Berntsen, Finn Erik Harald, Clausen, Stig Morten, Dahl, Espen Lie, Flagstad, Øystein, Follestad, Arne, Halley, Duncan John, Hanssen, Frank Ole, Hoel, Pernille Lund, Johnsen, Lars, Kvaløy, Pål, May, Roelof Frans, Nygård, Torgeir, Pedersen, Hans-Christian, Reitan, Ole, Steinheim, Yngve, Vang, Roald
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Norsk institutt for naturforskning 2015
• Subjects: radar; bird; mortality; GIS; white-tailed eagle (WTE); ptarmigan; Wind power; Eia; Hitra; Norway; Smøla; Tive; Havørn; White-tailed eagle
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/284074

From 2007 inclusive, NINA has received economic support for research on wind power and birds from the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) through the RENERGI-programme. The project is named Pre- and post-construction studies of conflicts between birds and wind turbines in coastal Norway (BirdWind). BirdWind is approaching its finalisation; with 2010 as the last ordinary year where data-collecting activities takes place. In 2009 the project was significantly strengthened through a new PhD-position funded by Statkraft and NINA. The position is held for four years, and the overall aim of the work conducted by the PhD-student is to model the future white-tailed eagle (WTE) population development based on reproduction and mortality data. Weekly searches with dogs for birds killed within the wind-power plant have been carried out throughout the year; in general searches are conducted every 7 days (plus or minus one day). 25 ‘primary turbines’ are selected and searched together with one of two dogs. A full search of all turbines is performed at larger intervals. In 2009 (up to December 1) 31 specimens of at least 8 species have been re-corded. The most frequent victims are willow ptarmigan and WTE with 10 and 7 carcasses, re-spectively. Of waders 3 common snipes have been recorded. Five carcasses were recorded of hooded crow, and single carcasses of parrot crossbill, northern wheatear, teal and mallard. Some records from earlier years have been revised as collision victims or not. Also in 2009 censuses for willow ptarmigan have been carried out in spring and autumn on Smøla and Hitra. The preliminary results do not indicate any obvious differences between the two areas, but autumn density in the wind-power plant area seems to be more stable compared to the control area. Interestingly the higher density within the wind-power plant area in autumn is evened out in spring each year, so also in spring 2009. To obtain data on habitat selection, movements, collision risks, survival of eggs, chicks and adults and general population dynamic parameters, willow ptarmigan specimen have been radio-tagged in 2008-2009. The activities regarding breeding waders and small birds (mainly passerines) have this year focused on the EIA-activities on Hitra in connection to the planned extension of the existing power plant on Hitra I; the Hitra II Wind-Power Plant. Since 2003, 50 nestlings of white-tailed eagle have been equipped with satellite transmitters. In 2009, eight WTE nestlings were tagged, six with solar-powered and two with battery-powered transmit-ters. One was tagged within the wind-power plant, the others in close vicinity of it. The solar-powered transmitters used in 2009 were programmed to give one position per hour during sum-mer in order to have finer resolution of movements for risk-modelling purposes. During winter less frequent downloading is scheduled, due to low light and poor battery-charging. One of the tagged nestlings was found killed by a turbine October 7. We have continued to collect feathers from ac-tive nests and chicks also in 2009, as well as from eagles killed in collisions with wind turbines. DNA-analyses from bones of six eagles killed by electrocution on power-line pylons on Smøla will also be included. For increased efficiency in the laboratory, and to streamline the production of DNA-data, the use of an extraction robot has been implemented. All WTE nest sites on Smøla were surveyed during the summer. Territorial activity, identified by either moulted adult feathers, chicks in the nest or fresh nest material, was confirmed in 61 different territories on the main is-land and in the surrounding archipelago. In these territories 27 chicks from 21 different clutches were recorded. Wind power, radar, bird, mortality, GIS, white-tailed eagle (WTE), ptarmigan, Vindkraft, radar, fugl, dødelighet, GIS, havørn, lirype © Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. The publication may be freely cited where the source is acknowledged.