Creag Riabhach Wind Farm: 2012-13 Ornithology and Protected Mammal Surveys
Caledonian Conservation
Description
This dataset was gathered as part of a contract to undertake pre-construction ornithology and protected mammal surveys for Creag Riabhach Wind Farm in 2012-13. It provides the results of flight activity surveys, breeding bird surveys, and protected mammal surveys.
Note that this dataset includes sensitive records of protected species and species of conservation concern. At this time the data provider believes that full disclosure to the public could lead to environmental harm. This sensitive information may be made available under licence to specific organisations or individuals that need to know to avoid harm to the environment, or for clear conservation purposes.
Purpose
The surveys were designed to record pre-construction baseline bird and protected mammal data at the proposed Creag Riabhach Wind Farm in order to inform the Ecological Impact Assessment.
Data quality
We have a very high level of confidence in this dataset. The recorders and determiners are highly experienced ecologists.
Methods
Flight activity surveys were undertaken following the methodology detailed in the SNH guidance document "Survey Methods for Use in assessing the Impacts of Onshore Wind farms on Bird Communities" current at the time (SNH 2010). Watches were undertaken from several vantage point (VP) overlooking the survey area and surrounding area between September 2012 and August 2013 inclusive, in order to map flight activity of target bird species. A minimum of 36 hours of observations was completed or exceeded at each VP location for each discrete season.
The breeding bird survey involved three survey visits covering the core survey area and 500m buffer zone between April and June 2013 using the a variation of the Brown and Shepherd (1993) survey method designed to record upland breeding waders. The method was adapted such that all birds seen or heard (i.e. not only waders) were recorded, including their behaviour.
A survey to determine the presence of protected mammals was conducted within the core survey area indicated in Figure 5.1 between 1st and 4th March 2013. This survey targeted otter, water vole, badger, red squirrel, pine marten and Scottish wildcat, although signs or observations of other species were also to be recorded. The survey was completed by an experienced mammal ecologist, and followed standard methodologies (Chanin 2003a; Chanin 2003b; Strachan et al. 2011; SNH 2001). A camera trap was also employed to aid detection of cryptic species such as wildcat and pine marten. As the core survey area itself offered poor habitat for these species, the trap was located in the best habitat nearby in order to detect their presence in the wider area. In addition, any field signs or observations of protected species were to be recorded during other ecology and ornithology survey routines completed between August 2012 and August 2013.
Citation
Caledonian Conservation ([Insert download year]). Creag Riabhach Wind Farm: 2012-13 Ornithology and Protected Mammal Surveys. Occurrence dataset on the NBN Atlas
Rights
CC-BY
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