Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
was formed between Roaring 40s and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to
identify high quality nests for the program. A process was developed to review
the nests for inclusion in the program. Highly successful project for which an
Tasmanian EPA Environmental Stewardship Award was won (2010);
• Contribution of funding to the research program “Effectiveness of Nest
Management Prescriptions” by the Forest Practices Authority (now published as
Forest Practices Authority
2013
). Successful;
• Funding for aerial searching for eagle nests in critical habitat. Successful; and
• Roaring 40s eagle education and public awareness campaign. An eagle educa-
tion kit (Soaring) was published and three articles raising awareness about eagles
were published. Successful.
2. OBPs
Objectives
: To achieve a net positive benefi t to the species from the wind farms.
Duration
: Until completed.
Methods:
Two projects were funded:
• Establishment of roosting habitat on the southern and eastern shores of Lake
Connewarre, Victoria. Successfully completed;
• Saltmarsh grazing trial at the Spit Nature Reserve, run by Department of
Sustainability and Environment, Victoria (DSE). Completed, but the project
was fl awed in its design and never achieved its stated objectives; and
•
Genotyping captive OBPs for DSE. Results not yet available.
Other Management Interventions
1. Sector management
Objectives
: Prevention of eagle collisions.
Duration
: Approximately 2 years
Methods:
Observational studies had documented that there were more fl ights by
eagles through the rotor swept area of turbines during specifi c wind condi-
tions. It was assumed that “swept area fl ights” were a proxy for collision risk.
What were deemed high risk turbines were programmed to shutdown during
these specifi c wind conditions.
2. WBSE nest platform
Objectives
: To construct an alternative WBSE nest site. This was prompted by
anecdotal observations suggesting that breeding WBSE at the SBWF trig-
gered aggressive behaviour from WTE. The aggression appeared to target
nesting WBSE and resulted in some WTE fl ying close to turbines. One WTE
collision at the SBWF was thought to be associated with these aggressive
fl ights. It was hoped that by establishing a new nest site, WBSE would change
nests and any aggressive fl ights from WTE would no longer be near turbines.
