Results of carcass searching at operational wind farms using trained - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Results of carcass searching at operational wind farms using trained detection dogs in the Republic of Ireland Mr. Chris Cullen ACIEEM, Dr. Alex Copland BSc PhD, Mr. Howard Williams BSc CEnv MCIEEM CBiol MRSB MIFM Conference on Wind Energy & Wildlife Impacts (CWW) University of Stirling August 28th 2019 INIS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite 11, Shannon Commercial Properties, Information Age Park, CWW2019 Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

The Republic of Ireland has one of the highest installed wind capacities relative to power consumption of all EU Member States. In the period 2013- 2018, a total of 42 fatalities have been recovered: • Bats: 16 • Birds: 26 INIS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite 11, Shannon Commercial Properties, Information Age Park, CWW2019 Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

Bats Most bat fatalities have been recorded in May (n=4), August (n=5) & September (n=5). INIS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite 11, Shannon Commercial Properties, Information Age Park, CWW2019 Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

Birds Common Kestrel (n=3) Common Buzzard (n=1) and Eurasian Sparrowhawk (n=3) – various other species INIS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite 11, Shannon Commercial Properties, Information Age Park, CWW2019 Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

Sparrowhawk - all fatalities were recovered in Spring, either May or June. Common Kestrel - suggestion of a causal link between collision and the presence of habitat suitable for the Common (Viviparous) Lizard; Irelands only native species of lizard. INIS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite 11, Shannon Commercial Properties, Information Age Park, CWW2019 Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

INIS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Suite 11, Shannon Commercial Properties, Information Age Park, CWW2019 Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

Conclusions The use of trained detection dogs is essential Further emphasis should be placed on prey removal trials and the results of same to derive realistic estimates of bat and bird mortality at operational wind farms. Fatality Monitoring should be a requirement of planning