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WILL THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONDEMN THE SCOTTISH EAGLES TO EXTINCTION ?
THE DEATH OF 66-165 GOLDEN EAGLES IS OFFICIALLY PREDICTED AT A SINGLE WINDFARM - AND THERE ARE 500 SUCH PROJECTS IN SCOTLAND

Recent studies show that the Scottish population of golden eagles is "in demographic difficulty ". With scores of new ecological traps ( windfarms ) being built where they routinely fly, golden eagles are bound to soon become extinct in the UK.

Sea eagles, which number only 33 pairs, are not being spared : their breeding territories are being sought by windfarm developers. Pairc is one of them.

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OBJECTION TO THE PAIRC WINDFARM PROJECT - IMPACT ON PROTECTED BIRD SPECIES

ISLE OF LEWIS, SCOTLAND

PROMOTER : SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN ENERGY

Sent by email to : energyconsents@scotland.gsi

Dear Scottish Ministers,

Please register my objection to the above project, for the following reasons :

A ) GOLDEN EAGLES

The Environmental Statement ( "ES") for the Pairc windfarm project predicts the death by collision of 2.64 - 6.60 golden eagles per year, with avoidance rates of 98% and 95%, respectively. That´s 66 -165 dead eagles if the windfarm operates for 25 years, more still if it is repowered and remains in operation during 50, 75, or 100 years.

According to an article published by the BBC (see footnote Nº1) "proponents" of the project claim that the actual mortality will not be as high. - It is somewhat surprising that windfarm promoters ( I suppose the BBC was talking about them ) would pretend to know more about birds than the ornithology consultant they hired.

I quote the BBC :
« Proponents of the wind farm say the actual number of eagle deaths would be much lower than 76. They argue that once the pair whose territory is centred on the new farm is lost, a void will exist, causing the eagle mortality to drop off after the first few years. »

This claim is not based on fact. It was rebutted by Clive Hambler , Lecturer in Biological and Human Sciences, Hertford College / Dept. of Zoology, University of Oxford : The destruction of Scotland and its wildlife .

In a nutshell, Mr. Hambler points out that the reverse is what normally happens : bird territories devoid of occupants attract new pairs . This creates a population sink ( aka ecological trap ) , where many birds will disappear.

Hambler’s rebuttal is corroborated by real life experience : windfarms at Altamont Pass in California, Smola in Norway, Woolnorth in Tasmania, are killing eagles year after year. It has been documented ( 2 ) y ( 3 ). But most windfarms are not monitored . In Scotland : Edinbane, Ben Aketil, Allt Dearg, Barvas-Lewis, Eishken, Pentland Road, Pairc, Monan, and other windfarms will be acting as ecological traps – the first 3 for being located in areas routinely visited by immature eagles, the others for harbouring one or more adult eagle territory.

With 66 –165 eagle kills, the contribution of the Pairc windfarm to the extinction of the golden eagle species in the UK would be significant . For this, plus impacts on oher protected species, the Luxemburg Tribunal is likely to take a dim view of the approval of this project.

The risk of extinction is real. The Scottish golden eagle population numbers only 434 breeding pairs (2003 census). It is reported to be stable, but a recent scientific study commissioned by the Scottish authorities has revealed its conservation status to be unsatisfactory.

In their report, Philip Whitfield et al. wrote the following:

"Despite apparent overall population stability over the last 20 years, the national golden eagle population failed to meet the abundance target and only 3 of 16 regions where eagles have occupied territories since 1982 were considered to be in favourable condition." (4) .

Another unfavourable finding regards the age of the breeding birds. In a healthy population, nearly all breeders are adult birds. If they are not, it is an indication of excessive adult mortality, or a paucity of “floaters” (non-breeding adults able to occupy empty ranges or to take the place of dying adults). Such paucity may be caused by a low productivity. It may also be the result of excessive mortality among young eagles. But whatever the cause, or a combination thereof, it is a cause for concern.

In their Introduction, the authors refer to a previous study:

"Whitfield et al. (2004a) suggested that a favourable status criterion should be that in at least 95% of breeding pairs both partners should be adult (birds at least 4 years old) as a crude surrogate of adult survival rate."

In view of this, it is alarming to read, in the Methods section of the report:

"this suggested that recruitment in this NHZ must be supplemented by immigrants from other NHZ. The percentage of pairs in which both partners were adult in 2003 was 84.3% which was also an indication of demographic difficulty (national value was about 90%; see also Whitfield et al., 2004b)."

Thus, at the national level, 10% of breeding pairs include non-adults - whereas the figure should not exceed 5% (as we have seen: Whitfield et al. 2004a). This indicates, in Whitfield´s words: "an indication of demographic difficulty".

The implications are clear : all being equal, such a population will not keep stable much longer. If mortality remains high, and/or if recruitment does not improve, the golden eagle population will slip into decline. And if a new cause of mortality, such as windfarms, comes into play, the decline will be steeper and may lead to the extinction of the species in the UK.

In this context, any windfarm built where golden eagles fly will contribute to their population decline, which is a breach of the EU Wild Birds and Habitats Directives. The Pairc project, which is predicted to kill 66 to 165 golden eagles, is mocking European law. Alternative locations abound in Scotland, but the subject is being avoided by all and every stakeholders, including SNH and the RSPB.

Note : a study commissioned by SNH was published in 2006, which pretends that 500 windfarms in Scotland would have an insignificant effect on the national golden eagle population : SPATIAL ASSOCIATION AS AN INDICATOR OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS AND GOLDEN EAGLES AQUILA CHRYSAETOS IN SCOTLAND by Alan H. Fielding, D. Philip Whitfield and David R.A. McLeod.
But that report is corrupt, as shown here : The shame of Scotland section 1, which please consider as part of my objection.

My complaint to the European Commission is also to be considered as part of my objection : COMPLAINT TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION (http://www.iberica2000.org/documents/eolica/bird_mortality/Complaint_ to_EC_Scottish_eagles.doc)

B) WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLES

The UK population of this magnificent bird is very small ( 34 breeding pairs ), yet it adds to the appeal that Scotland exerts on tourists coming from all over the world . The consultant predicts the windfarm could kill 2 WT eagles over 25 years, and probably more once a new collision assessment is made that will take into account the recent arrival of a new pair on the site.

How many more will be killed by the Eisgein windfarm nearby ? and by the Barvas windfarm ( Lewis Wind ), and by the Edinbane windfarm on Skye ? Etc... A cumulative study needs to be conducted. Failing which, it would be another violation of the EU Directives, which protect rare species such as this one across the board .

C) BLACK-THROATED DIVERS

There are only 150 breeding pairs in the UK, says the ES. This is a very small number. Yet the SSE project contemplates the killing of an estimated 16 – 34 specimens over the life of the “farm”, and more if it is repowered.

The European Directives, and UK legislation, aim to protect this species, not to wipe it out. Yet this is what will be achieved if a number of windfarms are killing them across Scotland, acting as population sinks . They may also interfere with the survival of the species by preventing reproduction ( these birds are very sensitive to disturbance : « Disturbance is considered a key problem with breeding in this species that, combined with flight characteristics (as with Red-throated diver), make the species vulnerable to wind farm development. » - ES, section 11.6.2 )

Here again, a nation-wide cumulative study is in order, before approval is granted to Pairc and other windfarm projects.

D) MERLINS, HARRIERS, SWANS, GEESE, ETC.

Nine breeding pairs will be affected by the windfarm. This is not insignificant for a species that only numbers 1,100 – 1,500 pairs in the UK ( 1993 census ). But the collision risk for Merlins was not assessed .

The ES also warns us that birds from yet other protected species will be struck by the giant blades. As estimated by the consultant, 32 - 87 red-throated divers will be killed, and 19 golden plovers. The consultant dismisses such mortality as being of low significance for the species; but cumulative effects with the planned 500 windfarms in Scotland were not addressed .

The risk to Hen harriers, Peregrine falcons, Whooper swans, Dunlins, Greenshanks, and 4 species of Geese was not assessed - let alone cumulatively .

Conclusion :

1) this location is one of the worst ever considered for a windfarm .

2) the European authorities, no doubt, will appreciate that no study was done to evaluate the cumulative effect of approximately 500 windfarms on the populations of these protected species.

As for the proposed mitigation :

a) barring the decommissioning of the windfarm ( something that is never done, no matter how deadly it turns out to be - eg Altamont, Smola, Woolnorth - this one is even being extended, while Altmont is being repowered ), it won’t save the lives of the birds. And removing a few turbines won´t do : in Sweden, a 3-turbine windfarm killed ( at least ) one sea eagle - Eagles and wind farms : mortality statistics

b) heather management : its effect will be long-term, if any, but in the short/medium term the burning of heather habitat ( as planned by the consultant ) will have a catastrophic effect on red grouse and other wildlife.

c) as for the building of dams and sluices: they will further disrupt the life of otters, fish, and other aquatic life forms.

X X X

I have published other objections to the project :

Absurdity is... destroying carbon sinks in the name of Kyoto

Absurdity is .... repeating the same mistake, thus causing more peat slides

The next one will be dealing with the subject of water contamination.

A final one will address the damage to tourism.

Yours, faithfully

Mark Duchamp..................................................24 July 2007

FOOTNOTES

(1) - BBC article

(2) - DEVELOPING METHODS TO REDUCE BIRD MORTALITY IN THE ALTAMONT PASS WIND RESOURCE AREA - Dr. Smallwood & K. Thelander, Aug. 2004. - SMALLWOOD - SEE CHAPTER 3, TABLE 3.11, 1ST LINE: "116.5 golden eagles p.a. adjusted for search detection and scavenging." - also available here:
ALTAMONT EAGLE MORTALITY

(3) - :
Smola windfarm, 2005 - 2006

Smola windfarm, 2006 - 2007

Woolnorth windfarm : Eagles and wind farms : mortality statistics

(4) A CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE GOLDEN EAGLE IN SCOTLAND - REFINING CONDITION TARGETS AND ASSESSMENT OF CONSTRAINT INFLUENCES, by Philip Whitfield, Alan H.Fielding, David R.A. McLeod, Paul F. Haworth and Jeff Watson. - Biological Conservation, Volume 130, Issue 4 , July 2006, Pages 465-480 - received 12 September 2005; revised 4 January 2006; accepted 10 January 2006. Available online 23 February 2006.

>> Autor: Mark Duchamp (24/07/2007)
>> Fuente: Mark Duchamp

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