Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Duration
: 3 years
Methods and results
: evolving methodology, see Hydro Tasmania
2013
and Hull
et al. (
2014
) .
7. Low level eagle monitoring
Objectives
: document any signs of change in eagle behaviour. If there were a
number of eagle fl ights more detailed observations would be triggered.
Duration
: 3 years
Methods and results
: this was an ad hoc survey with no methodology. No mean-
ingful data obtained.
Management Interventions
1. Re-running collision risk model
Objectives
: The stated purpose from the EPA was to document changes in colli-
sion risk from the operational wind farms
Duration
: approximately 5 years
Methods and results
: the model was re-run each year that new bird utilization
data were obtained (a necessary input to the modelling). This is an inappropri-
ate use of the model. Targeted studies are the correct method for documenting
impacts from the wind farms.
2. Reporting of bird and bat collisions
Objectives
: to inform State and Commonwealth Regulators of collisions of birds
and bats as they occur.
Duration
: 10 years - throughout
Methods
: The reporting evolved somewhat over time, but the approaches were:
1. Report bird or bat collisions by phone to State Regulator within 24 h.
2. Report all threatened species collisions to the Threatened Species Section of
DPIPWE within 24 h.
3. Submit a bird/bat strike form to the State Regulator within 3 days.
4. Conduct a post-mortem on an eagle carcass (unless it was a featherspot) and
report the results to the State Regulator.
5. Submit a report on each eagle collision, with all associated information to the
State Regulator within 4 weeks.
6. Document all collisions in the Annual Environmental Performance Report.
All eagle collisions were also reported to the Commonwealth and the Annual
Environmental Performance Report provided to the Commonwealth.
