Post-construction avian mortality monitoring at Project West Wind

Abstract

Post-construction avifauna investigations were undertaken at Project West Wind, Meridian Energy Limited's 62-turbine wind farm on the Wellington south coast. These investigations were required in accordance with the resource consent conditions to quantify the level of avian mortalities occurring at the wind farm, particularly in regard to New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae), kākā (Nestor meridionalis) and kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). This is the first comprehensive study at a New Zealand operating wind farm. The methods included three field components necessary to calculate annual estimates of mortalities across the wind farm site: routine turbine searches; carcass detection trials; and carcass removal trials. Results from years 1 and 2 of a three-year programme are presented. To date, mortalities have been recorded for 17 taxa at 18 of the 24 study turbines. There have been no recorded mortalities of falcon, kākā or kererū. Australasian harrier (Circus approximans) has been the species for which the most mortalities have been recorded. Overall estimated annual mortality rates for years 1 and 2 were calculated to be approximately six and five birds per turbine respectively.

Keywords:

• Project West Wind
• wind farm
• post-construction monitoring
• mortality estimates
• avifauna
• carcass detection rates
• carcass removal rates
• turbine searches

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people for their contribution to the project: Ewen Roberston, Mike Ohs and Annette Richards (Meridian Energy Limited); members of the post-construction field team including Ben Hancock, Emma-Jane Goldsworthy, Thomas Barber, Jeannine Fischer, Joseph Azar, Nicky Fitzgibbon and Heather Constable; Barb Risi, Martin Pecher and Pen Moore (Boffa Miskell) for producing the maps and helping with the field work; Lynn Adams, Brent Tandy, Jeanine Bishop and Sandra Burles (DOC) for permit processing and assistance with obtaining carcasses for trials. A Department of Conservation (DOC) Low Impact, Research and Collection Permit was obtained, allowing for the collection and storage of native and exotic bird carcasses found on the site.