HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix_M_-_Avian_Studies.pdf AVIAN RISK ASSESSMENT Black Oak Wind Farm March 20 , 2012 Prepared by: William R. Evans Old Bird, Inc. 605 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Prepared for: Enfield Energy P.O. Box 547 Ithaca, NY 14851
1 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. SUMMARY There are no Federally Endangered or Threatened bird species documented at or likely to occur at the Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF) project site . All bird species within the project are protected by the Migratory Bird Treatise Act except several game and introduced species. The bald and golden eagle s are additionally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Four species listed as Endangered or Threatened in NY were documented within or flying over the Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF) project site during the project’s bird studies: golden eagle, bald eagle, northern harrier, and peregrine falcon. Based on widespread reports in central NY during migration and/or that the location of the BOWF is between their wintering and breeding grounds, six additional NY Endangered or Threatened species occasionally migrate over the BOWF: short-eared owl, pied-billed grebe, least bittern, upland sandpiper, sedge wren, and Henslow’s spa rrow. It is conceivable that on rare occasions these species (except pied-billed grebe) might utilize or consider the project area as a rest stop during their migration periods. Five species listed as Special Concern in NY were detected during the BOWF’s avian studies: common loon, osprey, Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and red-shouldered hawk. Based on widespread reports in central NY during migration and the fact that the location of the proposed BOWF is between their wintering and breeding grounds, ten additional species listed as Special Concern in NY are also likely to migrate over and occasionally utilize the project site: American bittern, northern goshawk, common nighthawk, whip-poor-will, red-headed woodpecker, horned lark, golden-winged warbler, cerulean warbler, grasshopper sparrow, and vesper sparrow. The project is on the western edge of the dense vector of common loons that pass southward over the Cayuga Lake Basin in fall migration. Based on observations made during the project’s avian studies, some mortality of migrating common loons should be anticipated at the BOWF. There are no theoretical or documented concentration dynamics for migrating raptors at the project site and no reason to anticipate unusual fatality rates for raptors in active migration. Occasional fatalities for local breeding raptors would be likely based on evidence from postconstruction studies at other wind energy projects in New York. The breeding bird species potentially impacted by the project are mostly widespread, common species that inhabit the woodland or second growth in New York.
2 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. Introduction This report presents an avian risk analysis for the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm, Town of Enfield, NY. The project would consist of the construction and operation of 13 commercial-scale wind turbines and associated operational facilities (transmission lines, roads, etc.) in western Tompkins County NY, about 13 km west of Ithaca, NY. The project site is roughly midway between the southern ends of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes at the northern edge of the Appalachian/Alleghany Plateau. The altitudes within the project area range roughly between about 530-600 m above sea level (asl). The land to the north slopes gradually lower to Lake Ontario. The land immediately to the south is generally higher terrain (up to 640 m asl) of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area (CHWMA). The Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF) area contains open fields, some agricultural lands, and mixed deciduous woods with scattered evergreen plantations. Details on the project’s wind turbine generators (WTGs), proposed turbine sites, supporting roads and infrastructure, and habitat types are included in the Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The avian impact of a wind energy project is generally defined as the realm of changes that occur to the pre-construction avian resource during and after wind project construction. Each wind energy site typically has unique avian dynamics. The primary basis we have for assessing the potential avian impacts of the BOWF is through comparison of the project’s bird study data with that from other wind energy project sites where fatality rates and habitat impacts have been studied, and through considering historical avian information for the site or immediate locale. This avian risk assessment focuses on the primary avian concerns for the BOWF as outlined in the Bird and Bat Workplan for the project.1 The avian studies commissioned by the project sponsor provide a basic record of the avian resource for the BOWF following standard avian survey guidelines recommended by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation.2 This includes a 2011 breeding bird study as well as a spring and fall raptor migration study. An additional investigation looked at the migration dynamics of the common loon through the project area. Methods No historical information was found regarding birdlife specifically on the BOWF project site. This risk analysis primarily considers the three bird studies carried out for the SEQRA review that were outlined in the Bird and Bat Workplan for the project. See study list below: Evans, W. R. 2 012 . Breeding Bird Study – Black Oak Wind Farm 2011. Report prepared for Enfield Energy – January 12, 2012. Evans, W. R. 2012 . Raptor Migration Study – Black Oak Wind Farm 2010-2011. Report prepared for Enfield Energy – January 12, 2012. Evans, W. R. 2012. Diurnal Movement Study – Black Oak Wind Farm 2010. Report prepared for Enfield Energy - January 13, 2012. 1 Proposed Work Plan for Bird and Bat Preconstruction Studies for the Black Oak Wind Farm. Prepared for Enfield Energy by W. R. Evans - March 2011. 2 Guidelines for conducting bird and bat studies at commercial wind energy projects. New York State. 2009. Department of Environmental Conservation. http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/finwindguide.pdf
3 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. The following additional regional avian information was reviewed: New York State Natural Heritage Database (NYNHD). Letter from NYNHD (26Sep11) provided historical information on state listed birds within 10 miles of the project area. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State . 1988 . Andrle, R.F., Carroll, J.R. (Eds.) Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 551 pp. [http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7312.html ] The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State. 200 8. McGowan, K.J., Corwin, K. (Eds.) Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. [http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7312.html] The following regional post-construction (wind energy) avian impact studies were reviewed: Jain, A., P. Kerlinger, R. Curry, and L. Slobodnik. 2007. Annual report for the Maple Ridge Wind Power Project: post -construction bird and bat fatality study - 2006. Report to PPM Energy and Horizon Energy and Technical Advisory Committee for the Maple Ridge Project Study, McLean, VA, USA. Jain, A., P. Kerlinger, R. Curry, and L. Slobodnik. 2008. Annual report for the Maple Ridge Wind Power Project: post -construction bird and bat fatality study - 2007. Report to PPM Energy and Horizon Energy and Technical Advisory Committee for the Maple Ridge Project Study, McLean, VA, USA. Jain, A., P. Kerlinger, R. Curry, and L. Slobodnik. 2009. Annual report for the Maple Ridge Wind Power Project: post -construction bird and bat fatality study - 2008. Report to PPM Energy and Horizon Energy and Technical Advisory Committee for the Maple Ridge Project Study, McLean, VA, USA. Stantec Consulting. 2009. Post -construction monitoring at the Munnsville Wind Farm, New York, 2008. Prepared for E.ON Climate and Renewables. Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 20 10. Cohocton and Dutch Hill Wind Farms Year 1 Post -Construction Monitoring Report, 2009 . Prepared for Canandaigua Power Partners, LLC and Canandaigua Power Partners II, LLC. Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 2011. Cohocton and Dutch Hill Wind Farms Year 2 Post -Construction Monitoring Report, 2010. Prepared for Canandaigua Power Partners, LLC and Canandaigua Power Partners II, LLC. Stantec Consulting. 2009. Post -construction mo nitoring at the Munnsville Wind Farm, New York, 2008. Prepared for E.ON Climate and Renewables. Other information reviewed: United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Letter from USFWS regarding impact of the project to birds (12Aug10 ) and pertinent Federal bird protection laws. Additional studies and unpublished information are referred to in the text.
4 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. RESULTS Breeding Birds New York State Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species documented during the breeding bird study for the BOWF. Northern harrier (NY : Threatened) and Cooper’s hawk (NY : Special Concern) were document on one occasion each during the BOWF 2011 breeding bird survey. NY breeding bird atlas records for the project area Three NY listed species were documented in the 2000-2005 NY breeding bird atlas within the block that contains most of the Enfield Wind Project. Two were species documented during the BOWF breeding bird survey (Cooper’s hawk and northern harrier) and the other was vesper sparrow (NY : Special Concern). Natural Heritage Program Database According to this database, the following rare birds have been historically documented within 10 miles of the BOWF project site: bald eagle (NY : Threatened), Henslow’s sparrow (NY : Threatened), least bittern (NY : Threatened), northern harrier (NY: Threatened), pied-billed grebe (NY : Threatened), short-eared owl (NY : Endangered). In addition, this database indicates that there have been significant concentrations of wintering waterfowl within 10 miles of the project site. This presumably refers to the ducks and geese that overwinter at the south end of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Additional reports of NY listed species (within 5 km of the BOWF project site) From 1989-1992, W. Evans lived on the Rothermich Farm, 3 km northeast of the wind project area and extensively birded the vicinity, including carrying out point count work within the adjacent Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area for the Cornell Department of Natural Resources (via Charles R. Smith). Evans documented the following New York State listed bird species breeding on or directly adjacent to the Rothermich Farm in 1990 & 1991. Upland sandpiper (NY : Threatened), northern harrier (NY : Threatened), horned lark (NY : Special Concern), grasshopper sparrow (NY : Special Concern), vesper sparrow (NY : Special Concern), Cooper’s hawk (NY: Special Concern), red-shouldered hawk (NY: Special Concern). All sitings were within a kilometer of the intersection of Rothermich Rd./Enfield Center Rd. (Evans, unpub. data).
5 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. Bald Eagle nests In 2010, a bald eagle nest was discovered on the southwestern shoreline of Cayuga Lake (Maplewood Rd), approximately 9 miles northeast of the northeastern corner of the BOWF project area. Two young eagles were reported in the nest during summer 2010 and also in summer 2011.3 Adjacent important breeding bird areas The 11,000 acre Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area (CHWMA) borders the south and southwestern portion of the proposed BOWF. The area has been designed as an Important Bird Area 4 for its diversity of upland forest bird species, including breeding northern goshawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, and red-shouldered hawk – all listed as species of Special Concern in NY. Migrating Birds Raptors The raptor migration study for the BOWF did not document any unusual concentrations or low-flight altitudes of migrating raptors across the BOWF project area. The NY listed species documented were northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, golden eagle, bald eagle, osprey, and peregrine falcon. Diurnal migrant birds The fall diurnal movement study for the BOWF confirmed the presence of migrating common loons over the project site. The numbers documented were relatively small compared to much larger flights that have been documented at the Taughannock State Park Loon Watch. This suggests that the highly concentrated vector of fall loon migration observed at Taughannock continues southward passing to the east of the BOWF. On one low-cloud ceiling morning, two common loons were seen in circling flight over the BOWF and were estimated to be below WTG height. The other notable avian activity documented during the BOWF diurnal bird movement study was the large numbers of migrating blackbirds passing high overhead in southbound flight. Nocturnal migrant birds No studies of nocturnal bird migration were carried out at the BOWF project site. The BOWF is between wintering and breeding grounds for the following NY listed species: pied-billed grebe, American bittern, least bittern, upland sandpiper, common nighthawk, whip-poor-will, short-eared owl, red-headed woodpecker, horned lark, sedge wren, Henslow’s sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, vesper sparrow, golden-winged warbler and cerulean warbler. 3 Dave Nutter (Cayuga Bird Club) post to Cayugabirds-L http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/msg03947.html 4 The Important Bird Areas Program (IBA) is a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity.
6 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. DISCUSSION NY Threatened & Endangered Species Four species listed and Endangered or Threatened in NY were documented within or flying over the BOWF project site: golden eagle, bald eagle, northern harrier, and peregrine falcon. Six additional NY Endangered or Threatened species are likely to migrate over or on rare occasions use the project area as a rest stop during their migration periods: short-eared owl, pied-billed grebe, least bittern, upland sandpiper, sedge wren, Henslow’s sparrow. Golden Eagle (NY: Endangered – as a breeding bird) Small numbers of migrating golden eagles were observed in high flight over the BOWF project site during the project’s raptor migration study. This was anticipated based on existing populations and migration patterns documented across New York and Pennsylvania.5 All the BOWF sitings were well above WTG height. It is certainly possibly that on rare occasions a migrant Golden Eagle might pass through the BOWF project site below WTG height. As of 2011, the golden eagle has not been reported as a fatality at existing wind energy facilities in eastern North America. Given that the BOWF topography does not have characteristics that concentrate migrating raptors, there appears to be a very small possibility for collision fatalities of migrant golden eagles . Bald Eagle (NY: Threatened – as a breeding bird) Small numbers of migrating bald eagles were observed in high flight over the BOWF project site during the project’s raptor migration study. This was anticipated based on existing populations and migration patterns documented across New York and Pennsylvania.6 All sitings were well above WTG height. It is certainly possibly that on rare occasions a migrant bald eagle might pass through the BOWF project site below WTG height. As of 2011, there were no reports of migrant bald eagle fatalities at wind energy facilities in eastern North America. Given that the BOWF topography does not have characteristics that concentrate migrating raptors, there appears to be a very small possibility for collision fatalities of migrant bald eagles. As of 2011, there are no publically available reports of bald eagle fatalities at wind projects during the nesting season in eastern North America, however most wind projects built so far have not been in close proximity to breeding bald eagles. Based on impacts to breeding white-tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla (similar to bald eagle) on the island of Smøla, 6 km off the northwestern coast of Norway, wind farms may have especially high impacts on bald eagles breeding in close vicinity to wind projects. Smøla had sixty 2.0 MW wind turbines as of 2005 and from October 2005 to December 2009, 28 dead white-tailed eagles were recorded as collision victims.7 In 2010, 11 additional eagle fatalities were found and recent studies at Smøla provide additional evidence that eagles the wind project has displaced nesting eagles.8 A bald eagle nest site was reported to be established about 9 miles northeast of the BOWF project site in 2010 and was active again in 2011.9 While the nest is within the region of the 5 Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) data accessed at www.hawkcount.org 6 Ibid 7 Bevanger, K., Berntsen, F., Clausen, S., Dahl, E.L., Flagstad, Ø., Follestad, A., Halley, D., Hanssen, F., Hoel, P.L., Johnsen, L., Kvaløy, P., May, R., Nygård, T., Pedersen, H.C., Reitan, O., Steinheim, Y., Vang, R., 2009. Pre - and Post-Construction Studies of Conflicts Between Birds and Wind Turbines in Coastal Norway (BirdWind). Progress Report 2009, In NINA Report. Norsk Institute for Naturforskning, Trondheim, p. 70. 8 Dahl,E.L., Bevanger , K. Nygård , T., Røskaft, E., Stokke, B.G. 2012. Reduced breeding success in white-tailed eagles at Smøla windfarm, western Norway, is caused by mortality and displacement. Biological Conservation 145 (2012) 79–85. 9 Dave Nutter (Cayuga Bird Club) post to Cayugabirds-L http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/msg03947.html
7 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. BOWF, it is very unlikely that the BOWF will have an impact on the adult or juvenile eagles associated with this nest. These individuals will likely spend most their time in the vicinity of Cayuga Lake or perhaps in transit on occasion to Seneca Lake. The only likely venturing into the BOWF project area will be in high soaring flight, especially after the young have fledged. Impact to these eagles from the BOWF is a very remote possibility. The recent Smøla study notes that most eagle fatalities there occurred during the period when chicks were in the nest and eagles were making numerous feeding flights to and from the nest across the airspace of the wind farm.10 In the case of the BOWF there is not a scenario where one can imagine eagles making regular feeding flights between the wind farm and the existing or any future nest sites along Cayuga or Seneca Lake. In January 2011, The United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) released Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance intended to assist parties to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse effects on bald and golden eagles. In this Guidance, FWS recommends identifying all nesting and eagle activity within a 10-mi le perimeter of a wind energy project’s footprint. As noted, the existing nest on the southwest side of Cayuga Lake is 9 miles from the BOWF and technically within the 10-mile perimeter of FWS concern. In addition, the south end of Cayuga has had increase activity of nonbreeding bald eagles over the past decade (W. Evans pers. obs.). Because of the factors discussed previously regarding likely bald eagle fli ght behavior and activity range centered on Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, it seems extremely unlikely that bald eagles from the nest on the southwestern shoreline of Cayuga Lake would be affected by the BOWF. However, consultation with USFWS should be carried out to see whether obtaining a take permit might be advisable. Northern Harrier (NY: Threatened) Small numbers of migrating northern harriers were observed in flight over the BOWF project site during the project’s raptor migration study. This was anticipated based on existing populations and migration patterns documented across New York and Pennsylvania.11 In several cases individuals were below WTG height. There appears to be a very small possibility of collision fatalities for migrant northern harriers at the proposed BOWF project site. As of 2011, there are no publically available reports of northern harrier fatalities at wind projects in eastern North America. The existing BOWF project site has very little suitable habitat for breeding northern harriers. However, the species is known to nest in the area and a single male northern harrier was observed flying at low altitude over the project site in August 2011. Accordingly, there appears to be a small collision risk for northern harriers during the breeding season. While the project’s lack of grassland habitat did not warrant a dedicated winter raptor study, it is presumed due to the regular but uncommon presence of the northern harrier in the region during the winter that it would be subject to collision risk during that period as well. Short-eared Owl (NY:Endangered – as a breeding bird) There are no records, historic or recent, for short-eared owls on the BOWF project site and there are no extensive grassland areas in within 20 km suitable for nesting. The last documented nesting of this species in the region was more than 20 years ago in the Finger Lakes National Forest, approximately 20 km to the northwest (Charles R. Smith, pers. comm). The regional observations noted in the NYNHD are most likely wintering or foraging migrant individuals in 10 Ibid (Dahl et al.) 11 HMANA, web cit., p. 6 footnotes.
8 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. hayfields that are more common in the terrain north of the BOWF project site. The species undoubtedly migrates over the BOWF in very small numbers and on occasion a few of these migrants may forage in the field at the southern end of the project or perhaps very rarely in the agricultural land on the eastern side of the project area. Existing research does not suggest that the size of the current grassland habitat of the BOWF project area has enough acreage to host a population of wintering short-eared owls.12 13 Furthermore, based on extensive searches for wintering short-eared owls in the Cayuga Lake Basin in the 1990s by W. Evans, the fields associated with the BOWF would not be good candidates for finding wintering short-eared owls. Based on its scarcity in the region and the lack of suitable foraging and nesting habitat within the BOWF, this species would be a very unlikely collision victim at the BOWF project site. Peregrine Falcon (NY: Endangered – as a breeding bird) This species currently does not breed in central NY. It was documented as a migrant over the BOWF project site and is regularly seen in the region in small numbers during spring and fall migration.14 It is conceivable that on rare occasions a migrant peregrine falcon might pass through the BOWF project area below WTG height. As of 2011, there are no documented fatalities of peregrine falcons at wind energy facilities in eastern North America. There appears to be a very small possibility of collision fatalities for migrant peregrine falcons at the proposed BOWF project site. Pied-billed Grebe (NY: Threatened), Least Bittern (NY: Threatened), Upland Sandpiper (NY:Threatened), Sedge Wren (NY: Threatened), Henslow’s Sparrow (NY: Threatened) These migrant species were not documented in the BOWF avian studies and the current habitat of the project does not support their breeding. Based on regular reports in the region during their migration periods and the fact that the BOWF is located between their breeding and wintering grounds, they may on occasion migrate over the BOWF and be subject to collision risk. The latter three conceivably could on rare occasions land in the grassland or agricultural lands of project during their migration periods. NY Species of Special Concern Five species listed as Special Concern in NY were detected during the BOWF’s avian studies: common loon, osprey, Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and red-shouldered hawk. The four raptors are regular migrants across the region.15 And all the raptors except osprey also potentially breed in the forested areas of the BOWF project area, though only Cooper’s hawk was documented during the BOWF’s breeding bird survey. Ten additional migrant species listed as Special Concern in NY, also potentially fly over and occasionally utilize the project site: American bittern, northern goshawk, common nighthawk, whip-poor-will, red-headed woodpecker, horned lark, golden-winged warbler, cerulean warbler, grasshopper sparrow, and vesper sparrow. This is based on regular reports in the region during their migration periods and the fact that the BOWF is located between their breeding and wintering grounds. 12 Herkert, J.R., S.A. Simpson, R.L. Westemeier, T.L. Esker, and J.W. Wal k. 1999. Response of northern harriers and short-eared owls to grassland management in Illinois. Journal of Wildlife Management 63:517-523. 13 Dechant, J.A.. M.L. Sondreal, D.H. Johnson, L.D. Igl, C.M. Goldade, M.P. Nenneman, and B.R. Euliss. 1998 (revised 2000). Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Short-eared owl. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND. 10 pp. 14 HMANA, web cit., p. 6 footnotes. 15 Ibid.
9 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. Impact to night-migrating songbirds For a potential indication of numbers of night-migrating songbird fatalities at the proposed BOWF , data from fatality studies at two other proximal wind projects in New York were reviewed in detail: the Cohocton-Dutch Hill Wind Projects south of Naples, NY (~50 miles to the west of BOWF) and the Maple Ridge Wind Project (~100 miles to the northeast).16 These studies used standardized survey protocolss and were carried out in correspondence with NYDEC. Wh ile the Maple Ridge project is relatively distant, the vector connecting it with the BOWF is parallel to the primary spring and fall night migrant flight directions documented by radar at over 20 wind energy project sites in New York.17 This suggests that the nocturnal migration patterns and associated collision fatalities may have some commonality. In considering fatality data from Cohocton-Dutch Hill Wind Project, only the 2010 study was evaluated because the 2009 study did not have consistent mowing of the grounds under WTGs. The 2010 fatality survey was conducted between April 26 and October 22. Seventeen out of 50 WTGs were surveyed once a week, except that from July 15 through September 17 five WTGs were searched daily while 12 were searched weekly. A total of nine bird fatalities were found: four during daily WTG searches, four during weekly WTG searches, and one was found incidentally by a maintenance worker. Eight of the nine bird fatalities (89%) were night migrating songbirds. Factoring in estimates of carcasses removed by scavenging and surveyor efficiency, a maximum estimate of 103 birds may have been killed during the approximately 6 month period of fatality study. This translates to a maximum estimate of 2.06 bird fatalities per turbine during the 6 month study period and about 92 night migrating songbird fatalities. In considering data from the fatality studies at the Maple Ridge wind project (MRWP), only the latter two years of study (2007 & 2008) are evaluated because the first year (2006) did not include the spring migration period. In the latter two years of study, 64 of 195 WTGs were searched weekly. The MRWP fatality study time periods were about two weeks longer than the Cohocton-Dutch Hill study in covering May 1 – November 15, 2007 and April 15 - November 9, 2008. There were 64 avian fatalities during the 2007 survey and 74 in the 2008. Factoring in estimates of carcasses removed by scavenging and surveyor efficiency, an estimate of 1106 bird fatalities occurred during the MRWP 2007 study for a rate for the 6+ month study period of 5.67 birds per WTG. In 2008 an estimated 667 birds were killed for a rate of 3.47 per WTG. Over 50% of the identified carcasses in both these years were night migrating songbirds. The documented avian fatality estimates at CDHWP and MRWP are in the range of other avian fatality estimates at wind farms in eastern North America.18 One should keep in mind that the fatality study methods utilized pro vide a relative index for avian fatalities and do not represent actual avian fatalities from collisions at wind projects. Due to the heavy reliance on statistical corrections, the estimated fatality rate figures could overestimate or underestimate actual fatalities. And, for example, the existing fatality study protocols do not account for fatalities that fall beyond the typical search area. Results from an additional avian fatality study carried out at the Munnville wind project, 65 miles northeast of the proposed BOWF were also reviewed. This fatality study was not carried out in coordination with NYDEC and used different survey protocol. However, the results were similar 16 See citations for fatality studies from these wind projects on p. 3. 17 http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/radarwind.pdf 18 National Research Council of the National Academies. 2007. Environmental Impacts of Wind-Energy Projects. Committee on Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy Projects Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology Division on Earth and Life Studies. Available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11935.html
10 Black Oak Wind Farm Avian Risk Assessment – Old Bird Inc. to CDHWP and MRWP resulting in a maximum estimated fatality rate of 2.22 birds/turbine/study period – again, mostly night migrating songbirds. The noted avian fatality studies suggest the proposed BOWF might have an estimated fatality rate in a similar range of 2-6 birds per turbine between mid-April and mid-November with night-migrating songbirds composing somewhere between 50 to 90% of the incidents. This assumes similar fatality survey protocols are used. Estimates of species composition of overall bird fatalities As discussed in the previous section, at least 50% of avian fatalities at the BOWF are likely to be night migrating songbirds. The species composition of other fatalities will likely have some commonality with the other fatality studies discussed regarding landbirds. For example, Red-tailed hawk is a likely fatality at BOWF as it was a fatality at both CDHWP and MRWP. However, the BOWF avian collision fatality composition may differ from that at CDHWP and MRWP in having greater variety and numbers of waterfowl. Common loon has been mentioned as a likely occasional late fall fatality. Perhaps fatalities of other waterfowl that migrate between southeastern Lake Ontario and the mid-Atlantic would occur at the BOWF due to its location at the high point of the southern Lake Ontario Basin. It is well known that hundreds of thousands of Canada & snow geese, brant and other waterfowl fly over the Finger Lakes each migration period.19 While there is no expectation that 13 WTGs will have any significant impact on these species, we have no way to know what to expect regarding the extent of their fatalities because no wind projects have yet been built in a location with such waterfowl migration dynamics. However, W. Evans has observed diurnal waterfowl migration in the central Fingerlakes region for 25 years and noted the vast majority of the overland movement is at high altitudes, well above WTG height. The likely scenario for collision impacts would occur as noted for common loon. This is in fall migration when low cloud ceiling leads to lower flight altitudes. Impact to birds of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area The CHWMA has been designated an Important bird Area (IBA) due to the fact that it is a regionally large and isolated tract of contiguous upland forest at the northern reaches of the Appalachian/Allegheny Plateau in west-central NY. As such it hosts high densities of a wide range of forest-dwelling landbird species. Most of the landbird species that nest within the CHWMA are migrant songbirds. Most of these individuals migrate from the south to the CHWMA, breed and then migrate back south without likely encountered the BOWF. However, little is known about post-breeding dispersal of birds before they migrate and it is likely that some CHWMA breeding birds may wander into the BOWF site. This would perhaps be especially the case with birds breeding in the northern portion of CHWMA adjacent the BOWF. And, species with larger home ranges, such as raptors, may be more prone to wander into the BOWF. It is conceivable that species breeding at the northern edge of the CHWMA would be subject to higher collision risk and may be displaced due to the addition of high structures and increased noise in their environment. 19 Taughannock Loon Watch Data, W. Evans pers. obs., Ebird.org, Cayugabirds-l listserv archives.
Breeding Bird Survey Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 January 12, 2012 Prepared by: William R. Evans Old Bird Inc. 605 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Prepared for: Enfield Energy PO Box 547 Ithaca, NY 14851
Summary A breeding bird study was carried out at the proposed Black Oak wind Farm (BOWF), Tompkins County, NY in spring/summer 2011 as part of the SEQR review process for the project. Two 10-minute breeding bird point count surveys were carried out at each of 12 proposed wind turbine generator (WTG) sites within the BOWF during the 2011 breeding season. All 12 WTG sites were surveyed on each survey day (June 7 and June 28 ). An additional survey was performed on August 20th for juvenile Northern Harrier. 43 species of birds were doc umented by point counts. A family of Ruffed Grouse was encountered while walking between point counts. Seven additional species were documented as flyovers during the point count surveys: American Crow, American Goldfinch, Barn Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Eurasian Starling, Common Raven and Rock Dove. New York State listed Northern Harrier (NYS: threatened) and Cooper’s Hawk (NYS: special concern) were document on one occasion each during the surveys. No historical records of New York S tate listed bird species exist in the NY Natural Heritage database for the BOWF. Three NYS listed species were documented in the 2000-2005 NY Breeding Bird Atlas within the block that contains most of the BOWF. Two were species documented during this present breeding bird survey (Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Harrier) and the other was Vesper Sparrow (NYS: special conc ern). From 1989-1992, W. Evans lived on the Rothermich Farm, 3 km northeast of the BOWF and extensively birded the vicinity, including carrying out point count work within the adjacent Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area for the Cornell Department of Natural Resources (for Charles R. Smith). Evans documented the following New York State listed bird species breeding on or directly adjacent to the Rothermich Farm in 1990 & 1991. Upland Sandpiper (NYS: threatened), Northern Harrier (NYS: th reatened), Horned Lark (NYS: special concern), Grasshopper Sparrow (NYS: special concern), Vesper Sparrow (NYS: special concern), Cooper’s Hawk (NYS: special concern), Red-shouldered Hawk (NYS: special concern). All sitings were within a kilometer of the i ntersection of Rothermich Rd./Enfield Center Rd. (Evans, unpub. data). The Bald Eagle, which is Federally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act , bred in 2011 along the southwestern shoreline of Cayuga Lake – about 15 km from the BOWF. No sightings of this species occurred within the BOWF during the 2011 breeding bird survey. No Federally listed birds were d ocumented in the 2011 BOWF breeding bird survey. The Migratory Bird Treaty Protection Act protects all but three species documented during this study (Ruffed Grouse, Rock Dove, and Eurasian Starling).
1 Bl ack Oa k Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird, Inc. Introduction This report presents results from a 2011 breeding bird study within the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF), Tompkins County, NY (Fig. 1). The study was part of the SEQRA review process for the wind project. Breeding bird studies are recommended at proposed wind energy projects in New York.1 The objective is to collect baseline breeding species data that can be compared to similar data collected after the wind farm is construction to evaluate project impacts . Such information can then be used to support mitigation measures for specific species if necessary. Fig. 1. Arrow points to approximate location of the proposed BOWF (blue shaded area), about 13 km west -southwest of Ithaca, NY. The wind project is just north of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area and a piece of Robert H. Treman State Park. Blue lines mark 10-km by 10 -km blocks of the New York Breeding Bird Atlas. The wind project is primarily in block 3569B with roughly the southern quarter of the project in block 3569D. Methods Point counts were performed following United States Geological Service (USGS) Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) guidelines. 10-minute instead of 3 -minute survey periods were used. Two point co unts were conducted at each of 12 proposed Enfield Wind Project wind turbine generator (WTG) sites. Point count locations were based on approximate lat/long information for the project’s proposed wind turbine generator sites in 2010 (Fig. 2 ). A Garmin “Col orado” 1 Guidelines for conducting bird and bat studies at commercial wind energy projects. New York State. 2009. Department of Environmental Conservation . http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/finwindguide.pdf
2 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. 400 series GPS was used to originally document and then relocate sites. Accuracy appeared to be consistently within +/- 10 m. All point count surveys were carried out by a single surveyor, William Evans. Po int counts were conducted within the first five hours after sunrise on days without precipitation or strong winds. Weather conditions were noted, including wind speed (Beaufort scale). In addition to the point count surveys, a visual survey for juvenile Northern Harriers was carried out August 20th, from 10AM- 1PM and 2PM– 4PM. The survey occurred at the existing met tower off Bl ack Oak Rd. (near proposed WTG 7, see Fig. 2). A spotting scope and binoculars were used to scan the adjacent fields and skyline for harriers. Fig. 2. Layout of 12 WTGs surveyed for breeding birds in the BOWF. See red WTG markers with associated numbers (1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20).
3 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. Results On the two primary survey days (June 7 & 28 ), 43 species of potential breeding birds were documented on 24 point counts at 12 proposed WTG sites (two at each site) within the BOWF (See Appendix A). A family of Ruffed Grouse was encountered while walking between point counts at WTG 18 and WTG 8. Seven additional species were detected during the point count surveys but were flyovers and not likely on breeding territory. These were American Crow, American Goldfinch, Barn Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Eurasian Starling, Common Raven and Rock Dove . Table 1 shows the top ten species by the total number of point count sites in which they were detected. Table 1. Species detected at the most point counts in either the first or second point count survey date (12 total). Species No. of point counts Red-eyed Vireo 10 American Robin 7 Ovenbird 7 Song Sparrow 6 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Eastern Towhee 6 Common Yellowthroat 5 Brown -headed Cowbird 4 Chipping Sparrow 4 Wood Thrush 4 Species information and start times for each point count are indicated in Appendix B. All point counts were 10 minutes in duration. All occurred over 10 consecutive minutes. Points that had the most species were tallied were at WTG 12 and 2. Both sites had woodlands adjacent to either fields of young second growth. The dates for the point count surveys were chosen for conditions when weather would not include moderate or heavy rain, or strong winds. Wind noise in the trees did not noticeably impact vocalization detection ability during the surveys. The following is the weather summary for each survey date: Date sunrise wind spd wind dir temp sky cover Jun 7 5:29am <10mph WSW ~65F clear Jun 28 5:31am 5mph S ~65F mostly cloudy Aug 20 calm variable 70-80F clear The August 20 survey for juvenile Northern Harriers documented no juveniles. A single male Harrier was seen flying (<50 m above ground level) from northeast to southwest directly over the field associated with the met tower (near WTG 7) at the southern end of the wind project.
4 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. No Federally listed birds were documented in the 2011 Enfield Wind Project breeding bird survey. The following species detected are listed in New York State: Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus (NY : Threatened) One adult male Harrier was noted flying through the airspace of the wind project on August 20, 2011. Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii (NY: Special Concern) A single male Coope r’s Hawk was seen on June 28, 2011 in the vicinity of WTG 16. Additional information No records of New York State listed bird species exist in th e NY Natural Heritage database for the BOWF area. The New York State Breeding Bird Atlas block 3569B contains about 75% of the Enfield Wind Project area.2 Three NYS listed species were documented in this block in the 2000 -2005 atlas. Two were species documented during this present breeding bird survey (Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Harrier) and the other was Vesper Sparrow (NYS: special concern). There is currently no habitat for Vesper Sparrow in the BOWF (west of B lack Oak Rd.). In block 3569B this species has resided uncommonly in areas with tilled fields adjacent to gravel roads (Evans, unpub. data). In the 1980-1985 atlas, neither of these three NYS listed species were documented in block 3569B, but several other NYS listed species were documented: Cerulean Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Henslow’s Sparrow. About 25% of the BOWF is contained within atlas block 3569D. This southernmost section of the wind project is primarily hayfield and Alder thicket with a substantial transmission line running through its midsection. Two point counts were within this field section and no Grasshopper and Henslow’s Sparrow were found. From 1989-1992, W. Evans lived on the Rothermich Farm, 3 km northeast of the wind project area and extensively birded the vicinity, including carrying out point count work within the adjacent Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area for the Cornell Department of Natural Resources (via Charles R. Smith). Evans documented the following New York State listed bird species breeding on or directly adjacent to the Rothermich Farm in 1990 & 1991. Upland Sandpiper (NYS: threatened), Northern Harrier (NYS: threatened), Horned Lark (NYS: special concern), Grasshopper Sparrow (NYS: special concern), Vesper Sparrow (NYS: special concern), Cooper’s Hawk (NYS: special co ncern), Red-shouldered Hawk (NYS: special concern). All sitings were within a kilometer of the intersection of Rothermich Rd./Enfield Center Rd. (Evans, unpub. data). The Bald Eagle, which is Federally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, bred in 2011 along the southwestern shoreline of Cayuga Lake – about 15 km from the BOWF. No sightings of this s pecies occurred during the 2011 BOWF breeding bird survey. Ramifications of new 2011 WTG layout In late 2011, the layout of WTGs in the BOWF changed and the scale of the project was reduced. There are now only 9 WTGs planned west of Black Oak Rd. Seven of these are the same as the previous layout. One of the old locations has been moved a half kilometer and a new location added half a kilometer east of an existing WTG site. While the resulting two new WTG sites were not surveyed for breeding birds, their near proximity was covered in walking transects between the WTGs in the former layout. 2 Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State. 200 8. McGowan, K.J., Corwin, K. (Eds.) Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. [Online version available at <http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7312.html>]
5 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. In addition, there are four WTG sites in the BOWF located east of Black Oak Rd. None of these were surveyed in the 2011 breeding bird study. Three of these are in agricultural land and impacts to breeding birds are anticipated to only involve a few species of common birds. One site, WTG #13 , is on forested land adjacent to the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. This site likely has breeding of a number of species of neotropical migrant songbirds. Conclusion This report presents results from an intensive breeding bird survey carried out at the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm during spring/summer 2011. The breeding species encountered within the BOWF are for the most part common birds. No Federally endangered species were documented. Observations of one NYS threatened species (Northern Harrier) and one NYS species of special concern (Cooper's Hawk) were documented. The results of thi s study provide a resource for assessing the potential impact of the proposed BOWF and may function as baseline data from which to assess impacts to the location’s currently breeding birds.
6 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. Appendix A – Breeding or possible breeding species found during the 2011 breeding bird study at the BOWF , Tompkins County, NY Species code Common name Scientific name ALFL Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum AMRO American Robin Turdus migratorius BCCH Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapilla BHCO Brown -headed Cowbird Molothrus ater BLJA Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata BRTH Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum BTBW Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens BTGW Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens BWWA Blue -winged Warbler Vermivora pinus CHSP Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina COGR Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscala COHA Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii COYE Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas CSWA Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica DEJU Dark -eyed Junco Junco hyemalis DOWO Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens EATO Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythropthalmus EAWP Eastern Wood -pewee Contopus virens FISP Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla GCFL Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus GRCA Gray Catbird Dumatella carolinensis HAWO Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus HETH Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus HOWA Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina HOWR House Wren Troglodytes aedon INBU Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea MODO Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura NOCA Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis NOFL Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus OVEN Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus PIWO Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus REVI Red -eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus RBGR Rose -breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus RUGR Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus RWBB Red -winged Blackbird Agelaius phoniceus SCTA Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea SOSP Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia SVSP Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis VEER Veery Catharus fuscescens WBNU White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis WOTH Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina YEWA Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia YBCU Yellow -billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus YRWA Yellow -rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
7 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. Appendix B – Point count data BOWF point count data - June 7, 2011. See Appendix A for species codes. WTG# 7 12 20 15 1 2 10 13.1 13.2 19 18 8.1 8.2 16 stop # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 start time 5:15 5:30 5:45 6:00 6:52 7:12 7:25 7:40 7:55 8:13 8:33 8:58 9:10 9:24 ALFL 1 1 1 AMRO 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 BCCH 1 2 1 1 1 1 BHCO 2 1 1 1 BLJA 1 1 BRTH 1 1 1 BTBW 1 1 1 1 BTGW 1 BWWA 1 1 CHSP 1 2 1 1 COGR 1 COYE 1 2 1 1 2 CSWA 1 1 1 1 DEJU 1 EAWP 1 1 1 FISP 2 1 2 GRCA 1 HAWO 1 HETH 1 1 HOWA 1 1 1 1 HOWR INBU 1 1 MODO 1 1 1 1 1 NOCA 1 1 NOFL 2 1 OVEN 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 PIWO 1 1 2 REVI 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 RBGR 1 RSTO 1 1 2 1 1 2 RWBB 4 SCTA 1 1 SOSP 1 2 1 1 2 1 SVSP 2 1 VEER 1 1 2 WBNU 1 WOTH 2 1 1 2 YEWA 2 2 YBCU 2 YRWA 1 # species 6 11 9 14 7 9 5 13 13 11 11 6 4 3
8 Black Oak Wind Farm 2011 Breeding Bird Study – Old Bird Inc. BOWF point count data - June 28, 2011. See Appendix A for species codes. WTG# 7 12 20 15 1 2 10 13.1 19 18 8.1 16 stop # 14 13 12 11 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 14 start time 9:35 9:20 9:05 8:50 8:03 7:45 7:25 7:05 6:45 6:25 6:00 5:30 ALFL 1 1 AMRO 3 1 1 2 4 1 2 3 BCCH 4 2 1 1 3 1 2 BHCO 1 2 1 1 1 1 BLJA 2 1 2 BRTH 1 BTBW 1 BTGW BWWA 1 CHSP 1 1 COGR COHA 1 COYE 1 1 1 1 CSWA 1 1 1 DEJU 1 DOWO 1 EAWP 2 1 1 1 FISP 1 GCFL GRCA 1 2 HAWO 1 HETH 1 1 HOWA 1 1 1 HOWR 2 INBU 1 2 MODO 2 1 1 NOCA 1 1 NOFL 1 1 OVEN 1 1 1 1 1 PIWO 1 2 REVI 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 RBGR 2 1 RSTO 1 1 2 1 2 RUGR 10 RWBB 6 SCTA 1 1 SOSP 1 1 2 3 2 1 SVSP 1 VEER 1 2 WBNU 2 1 WOTH 1 1 1 1 2 YEWA 2 2 # species 5 9 9 13 6 12 8 10 10 11 6 9
Diurnal Bird Movement Study Black Oak Wind Farm 2010 Janaury 13, 2012 Prepared by: William R. Evans Old Bird, Inc. 605 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Prepared for: Enfield Energy P.O. Box 547 Ithaca, NY 14851
1 Black Oak Wind Farm 2010 Diurnal Bird Movement Study – Old Bird Inc. Introduction This rep ort presents results from a 2010 diurnal bird movement survey at the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF), Tompkins County, NY (Fig. 1). This survey was part of the SEQRA review process for the wind project. Diurnal bird movement studies at wind farms are diurnal studies focusing on the numbers and flight dynamics of certain species of birds when there may be questions about collision mortality. Such a study was performed at the Black Oak Wind Farm primarily to investigate flight dynamics of the Common Loon in fall migration. In 1991, W. Evans and colleagues initiated a study of Common Loon migration at Taughannock State Park, 13 km NNE of the BOWF. The study documented the largest vector of migrating Common Loons in North America (Evans et al. 1994). These are loons arising off of Cayuga Lake and the Sodus Bay area of Lake Ontario in their southbound journey. On mornings with northerly winds and adequate visibility from mid-October through early December, the loon flight begins before sunrise with the peak flight of Lake Ontario birds usually passing over Taughannock in the second hour after sunrise. Tallies from the daily “Taughannock Loon Watch” in the mid-1990s indicated that at least 10,000 migrating loons were passing southbound within view from Taughannock State Park. Interestingly, the greater portion of migrant loons appears not follow the course of Cayuga Lake past Taughannock State Park (where Cayuga Lake veers to the southeast). They continue southbound overland in the vicinity of Taughannock State Park toward an apparent destination in the mid-Atlantic (e.g., Chesapeake Bay). In so doing, they soon encounter the higher terrain of the northern reaches of the Appalachian/Alleghengy Plateau. The proposed BOWF is 13 km SSW of the T aughannock Loon Watch and perhaps in some portion of the aforementioned dense southbound vector of migrating Common Loons. This study sought to investigate this possibility and evaluate how the wind project might impact migrating loons. Fig. 1. Blue marker is the BOWF; red marker is the Taughannock loon watch on Cayuga Lake ; Yellow marker is the 199 4 Seneca Lake loon watch . Solid arrows represent known fall migration Common Loon flight vectors (1000+ individuals).
2 Black Oak Wind Farm 2010 Diurnal Bird Movement Study – Old Bird Inc. Methods Surveys were conducted on 5 mornings with good conditions for Common Loon migration from late October through November 2010. Observations were made from the northeast side of the BOWF -- the corner of Connecticut Hill Rd. and Rumsey Hill Rd. (42° 24' 19.89", -76° 39' 10.13) using 11 x 80 binoculars on a tripod. W. Evans carried out all surveys. The sky to the north and east of the project was scanned for Common Loons and other migratory birds. The sky overhead was scanned with the naked eye. The surveys began one h alf hour after sunrise and lasted for two hours. The primary focus was on assessing numbers of Common Loons, their altitude above ground level, and their flight direction. Results Table 1 shows results of th e diurnal movement survey for Common Loons. Loons were seen on three out of five survey mornings in small numbers (compared to typical numbers on flight mornings at the Taughannock Loon Watch, 13 km to the NNE). 82% of the 49 loons observed were estimated to be passing at or above 300 m agl. 14% (7 loons) were estimated to be passing over between 150-300 m agl. 2 loons were estimat ed to be passing over below 150 m agl, potentially within the rotor-swept zone of the BOWF wind turbine generators (WTGs ). For a short time b oth these individuals were performing circling flight behavior under low cloud ceiling with light snow and limited visibility. All other loons observed in the survey were flying in straight-line southerly directions. Table 1. Common Loon survey results from BOWF with associated reports from Taughannock State Park and Ithaca, NY (Loons near east). date survey time wind dir/spd clouds visibility Loons BOWF Loons near eas t 29-Oct 8AM-10AM WNW/10mph 100% overcast 10 miles 23 no near east report 31-Oct 8AM-10AM NW/10-15 mostly cloudy 10 miles 5 100+ in high flight over Taughannock 6-Nov 7:45AM-9:45AM NNW/5mph mostly cloudy 10 miles 21 228 19-Nov 7:30AM-9:30AM NW/10-15 light snow 6 miles 0 1000+ over Ithaca 28-Nov 7AM-9AM W/5 partly cloudy 10 miles 0 ? Other species On the October 29 & 31 and Nov 6 survey dates, substantial morning flight of migrant American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinch, and blackbirds occurred along with low numbers of American Pipits and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Except for blackbirds, the numbers and flight behavior of these species were typical for the region. The altitude of flight of most of these
3 Black Oak Wind Farm 2010 Diurnal Bird Movement Study – Old Bird Inc. species (except blackbirds) was within the rotor-swept zone of the proposed WTGs. The flight direction was variable but generally in southerly directions. Notable, was the documentation of perhaps 20,000 or more blackbirds (most Red-winged, Common Grackle) in southbound migratory flight over the project area. The larger portion (estimated 95%) passed over at altitudes higher than 300 m above ground level. Discussion Three out of the five survey days detected low numbers of loons passing over the BOWF while an order of magnitude or more migrating loons were coincidentally documented by birders in the southern Cayuga Lake flyway to the east. On the other two survey days no loons were seen at BOWF and there were no reports of loon flights in the region. It is difficult with one season of targeted surveys to get an overview of the range of possible interactions between the “Lake Ontario – Cayuga Lake” fall loon mig ration and the BOWF . However, it appears from the data gathered in fall 2010 that the main concentration of migrant loons passing over Taughannock passes to the east of the BOWF project site. This is what might be expected based on the observed direction of flight (south) of migrant Common Loons as they pass over Taughannock State Park and vicinity. Such a vector would take those masses of higher-altitude migrant loons about 5 km east of the BOWF project area. What had never been previously established though is how far westward the concentrated flight of Common Loons occurs from the Taughannock watch site. Substantial, but lower volume, loon flights occur on Seneca Lake (15 km west of BOWF) in synchrony with the Cayuga Lake flights (Evans, unpub. data). Flights documented by W. Evans in 1994 suggest that the Seneca Lake common loon flight is at least 50% lower in numbers than that occurring over Cayuga Lake. But the Seneca Lake concentrations may be due to birds arising off of Seneca L ake and not Lake Ontario, so wouldn ’t be indicative of a broad front migration between these two largest of the Fingerlakes. Another unknown is whether southbound loons may see the higher terrain associated with the BOWF and actively avoid it opting for the Cayuga Inlet valley to the east. In any case, the loon migration surveys at BOWF in fall 2010 did not document large numbers of loons passing over the site. What was documented at the BOWF in two cases was individual Common Loons circling in flight at an altitude that could have been within the rotor-swept zone of the proposed BOWF WTGs. The fact that these incidences happened in conditions of low visibility (light snow) suggests that construction of the BOWF will likely on occasion incur collision fatalities of the Common Loon in fall migration (mid-October through mid-December). The extent of such fatalities annually would depend on weather conditions and the numbers of loons passing through each year. It is conceivable that in a year when low cloud and snow coincides with substantial loon migration that there could be multiple loons fatalities. It is also conceivable that no loons will be killed in most years. The main ramification of this finding of loon migration over the BOWF is that any post-construction avian fatality study at the wind project should perhaps survey a larger portion of ground under WTGs during the late October to mid-December loon migration period. Due to the flight speed of Common Loons, it is likely that after a win g collision the momentum of a fast flying loon would carry it further from the WTG base than is typical for slower flying birds. Literature cited Evans, B., B. Meade, T. Nix, and S. Kelling. 1994. The fall flight of Common Loons over Cayuga Lake. Kingbird 44:164 -169.
Raptor Migration Study Black Oak Wind Farm 2010 -2011 January 12, 2012 Prepared by: William R. Evans Old Bird Inc. 605 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Prepared for: Enfield Energy PO Box 547 Ithaca, NY 14851
Summary A fall raptor migration survey was carried out at the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm on 12 days over two years, with surveys conducted from October – November 2010 and August 15 through September 2011. A spring raptor migration survey was conducted on 15 days during March – May, 2011. There were 60 total hours of observation during the fall study with 297 migrating raptors documented (4.95/hr). There were 72 total observation hours during the spring study with 393 migrant raptors documented (5.5/hr). 93% of flight direction in spring was toward north to northeast. 95% of flight direction in fall was toward south to southwesterly directions. In fall, 49% of raptors flew by less than 150 m above ground level, in spring 54%. 14 species of migrating raptors (including Turkey Vulture) were documented with Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, and Turkey Vulture comprising nearly 80% of all raptors seen. Six Golden Eagles were seen during the spring and three in the fall – all were estimated to be flying 300 m or higher above the observation site ground level. The results from the Black Oak Wind Farm raptor migration study appear to be fairly similar to other raptor migration surveys in the region. No concentration dynamics were noted in spring or fall migration of the years studied.
1 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. Introduction This report presents results from a raptor migration study that occurred during 2010-2011 at the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm (BOWF), Tompkins County, NY. This study was part of the SEQRA review process for the wind project. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) recommends raptor migration studies at proposed wind energy projects in New York.1 The objective is to collect information on the species, numbers, behavior, and flight height for gauging potential collision impacts with wind turbine generators (WTGs). Fig. 1 illustrates the regional topography that plays a role in concentrating raptor movements through the project region. Fig. 2 shows a closer view of the local topography with respect to the BOWF project site. Fig. 1 . Blue square shows Black Oak Wind Farm project area with respect to regional topography. The large green-shaded valley to the left contains Seneca Lake; that to the right is Cayuga La ke. The broad, east-west running valley to the south contains the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers. Red square is the site of the Mount Pleasant Hawkwatch , 25 km ENE of BOWF . Purple square is the Kestrel Haven Bird Migration Observatory, 15 km NW of BOWF . 1 Guidelines for conducting bird and bat studies at commercial wind energy projects. New York State. 2009. Department of Environmental Conservation . http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/finwindguide.pdf
2 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. Fig. 2. Blue rectangle shows Black Oak Wind Farm project area with respect to local topography. Red rectangle outlines ridgeline along the southeast side of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management area that is suspected of shunting low-altitude spring raptor migration to the east of the BOWF. Methods One complete spring and fall raptor migration cycle was surveyed for raptors. Observations were carried out on days of favorable migration weather from March 1 to end of May and August 1 5 to December 1. On days with anticipated and observed steady raptor movement, surveys were carried out for the majority of the day, aim ing to begin by 9AM and continuing until at least two hours before sunset. On survey days when substantial raptor migration did not develop, survey sample periods were reduced in length. Fig. 3 and 4 show the locations of the spring and fall raptor migration observation sites for the project area. The primary spring and fall watch site wa s at the south-central edge of the project area and provided good viewing of raptors approaching most of the wind project. A site at the northeast corner of the project area was also used to supplement information on the raptor flight through the project area.
3 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. Fig. 3. Black & white rectangular areas show raptor o bservation sites chosen for the 2010 project layout . The lower location served as the primary observation site. Colors indicate estimated wind speeds with warmer colors representing faster speeds. Fig. 4. Red circle indicates th e primary raptor observation site . Blue circle was the supplemental observation site. Green circles show WTG locations in the new 2011 project layout.
4 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. All surveys were conducted by W. Evans using 11 x 80 binoculars mounted on a tripod. Survey days targete d weather conditions that were conducive for raptor migration --typically days with clear or high cloud ceiling and winds generally in the seasonally favorable migration direction. Negative data was not a focus of the study. S urvey days monitored only 2-4 hours unless sustained raptor flight was noted. The primary focus o f the study was to understand the flight dynamics of raptors through the project area – species, direction of flight and flight altitude. Individual raptors were logged by their flight direction if it was other than N -NE in the spring and other than S-SW in the fall. Flight altitude was logged if the individual bird was estimated to be below 150 m above ground level (agl) with respect to the highest altitude WT Gs in the proposed wind pro ject (WTG 1 & 2 on Buck Hill (see upper left WTGs in Fig. 3). Results The fall migration survey was carried out on 12 days over two years, with surveys conducted from October – November 2010 and August 15 through September 2011. The spring migration survey was conducted on 15 days during March – May, 2011. There were 60 total hours of observation during the fall study with 297 migrating raptors documented (4.9 5/hr). There were 72 total observation hours during the spring study with 393 migrant raptors documented (5.5/hr). Table 1 indicates the number and percentage of each species by season. Table 2 shows daily spring data and Table 3 shows daily fall data. Table 1. Species composition of Black Oak Wind Farm raptor migration study. TV = Turkey Vulture; OS = Osprey; BE = Bald Eagle; NH = Northern Harrier; SS = Sharp-shinned Hawk; CH = Cooper’s Hawk; RS = Red-shouldered Hawk; BW = Broad-winged Hawk; RT = Red-tailed Hawk; RL = Rough-legged Hawk; GE = Golden Eagle; AK = American Kestrel; ML = Merlin; PG = Peregrine Falcon; UR = Unidentified Raptor. Species Spring Fall BW 131 (33%) 83 (28 %) TV 108 (27%) 86 (29 %) RT 52 (13.2%) 69 (23 %) AK 15 (3.8%) 8 (3%) NH 17 (4.3%) 6 (2 %) SS 13 (3.3%) 9 (3%) BE 9 (2.3%) 5 (2%) OS 6 (1.5%) 5 (2%) ML 7 (1.8%) 4 (1%) RS 5 (1.3%) 4 (1%) GE 6 (1.5%) 3 (1%) CH 4 (1.0%) 3 (1%) RL 0 3 (1%) PG 1 (< 1%) 0 UR < 2% 8 (<3 %)
5 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. Table 2. Daily totals and information on spring 2011 raptor surveys. See Table 1 for species codes. Wind dir Wind sp obs time no. raptors <150 m TV OS BE NH SS CH RS BW RT RL GE AK ML PG UR 11-Mar SSW 10-15 10-2 4 4 3 1 17-Mar S 10 10-2 12 8 1 3 7 1 21-Mar S 10-15 9-1 2 2 2 30-Mar SW <5 9-1 6 6 4 2 2-Apr W 5-15 9-1 6 0 6 6-Apr W 5-10 10-2 0 10-Apr S 5-10 10-3 18 12 4 2 2 10 11-Apr S 10-15 9-12; 1-5 46 33 13 1 6 2 1 1 2 16 1 1 2 17-Apr WSW 10-20 10-2 14 14 2 1 1 1 4 2 1 2 20-Apr S 10-15 9-12; 1-5 127 65 42 3 2 2 1 1 56 4 1 2 6 2 5 23-Apr S 15-25 9-12; 1-5 45 21 6 2 1 1 1 18 4 1 4 1 1 5 27-Apr S 10-15 10-2 16 6 5 2 4 2 1 1 1 6-May SW 5-10 10-2 18 10 4 1 1 1 1 8 1 13-May SSE 10-15 10-2 65 18 16 3 1 3 2 1 31 2 2 23-May SSE 10-15 10-2 14 12 4 1 1 8 Table 3. Daily totals and information on fall 2010 & 2011 raptor surveys. See Table 1 for species codes. Wind dir Wind sp obs time no. raptors < 150 m TV OS BE NH SS CH RS BW RT RL GE AK ML UR 23-Aug 2011 NW 5-10 1-5 1 1 1 29-Aug 2011 NNW 5-10 11-4 3 1 1 2 10-Sep 2011 WN W 5-10 1-5 10 3 1 1 1 5 1 1 16-Sep 2011 NNW 5-10 10-1; 2-5 39 2 2 35 2 17-Sep 2011 E 5 9-12; 1-4 47 1 1 1 43 1 1 26-Sep 2011 E 5 9-12 8 0 5 1 1 2-Oct 2010 NNW 5-10 9-12; 1-2 20 12 2 3 1 1 1 8 3 1 9-Oct 2010 NNW 10-15 9-12; 1-5 56 32 21 1 1 3 1 1 20 1 1 6 16-Oct 2010 NW 15-20 10-3 12 12 6 6 28-Oct 2010 W 15 10-2 0 0 31-Oct 2010 NW 10-15 9:30-12:30; 2-4 16 6 1 14 1 6-Nov 2010 NNW 5 9-12; 1-4 67 67 57 10 3 22 2
6 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. 93% of flight direction in spring was toward north to northeast. 95% of flight direction in fall was toward south to southwesterly directions. 49% of fall migratory raptors were estimated to be below 150 m agl. 54% of spring migratory raptors were estimated to be below 150 m agl. Discussion The project site does not contain topographic features that con centrate migrating raptors – it is not located along a ridgeline, and ridgelines in the vicinity appear like they would steer ridge-moving raptors away from the project area (Fig. 2). With regard to fall migration, the project site is under neath Lake Ontario and the prevailing northwesterly migration winds in fall likely leads to higher concentrations of migrant raptors passing east of the project site. An organized raptor watch was begun by W. Evans and others about 5 miles east of Ithaca, NY (Mt. Pleasant; see Fig. 1) for several years in the early 1990s. The site has had regular coverage since then, though not in any standardized way. Generally, in fall migration, strong winds from the west or northwest are not productive at the Mt. Pleasant hawk watch. The largest flights have been documented on N, NE , or in light NW winds, which tend to enable the flow of raptors east of Lake Ontario to penetrate southwestward. Concentrated vectors of such flights have been reported along various ridgelines to the east of the project site (Cortland to Ithaca; W. Evans unpub. data). There are no reports of concentrated fall flight vectors at the project site or in the region to the west . In spring migration, the location of the Black Oak Wind Farm on the north side of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management (CHWMA) area suggests that low alt itude raptor migration would be steered to the east by the ridgeline on the southeastern portion of the CHWMA (see Fig. 2 ). High altitude raptor flight in spring appears to be a broad front movement across the region that is primarily shaped by weather dynamics (W. Evans, pers. obs.). The concentration dynamics of high altitude raptor migration across the region in fall is likely shaped to some degree by L ake Ontario as well as weather . In spring, few birds originated from directly south of the project (from over the CHWMA). Those that did were high and well above WTG height. This supports the theory based on topographic analysis that the CHWMA plays a role in shunting lower flying raptors away from the Black Oak wind project site. Most birds in spring were first seen to the southwest of the project and continued either to the north over Buck Hill (location of WTGs 1 & 2) or to the northeast over the central portion of the proposed Black Oak Wind Farm. Quantitative statistics from a single year of this present type of raptor migration survey are highly variable depending on weather dynamics and annual variations in the flow of migrant raptors from year to year. The documented spring and fall hourly rates of passage in this study are higher than they would be if the survey was carried out daily because only prospective good migration days were surveyed (based on weather forecasts ). In addition, survey periods were reduced if steady raptor flight did not materialize. That said, the results from the Black Oak Wind Farm raptor migration study appear to be fairly similar to other wind project raptor surveys in the region (Table 4).
7 Black Oak Wind Farm Raptor Migration Study – Old Bird Inc. Table 4. Regional raptor migration study data.2 All are from wind farm studies (WF) generally following NYDEC guidance except the study at Kestrel Haven Bird Migration Observatory (KHBMO), which was a more thorough, nearly daily study. That study was carried out 15 km northwest of BOWF. WF Prattsburgh is 50 km west of BOWF. Cohocton WF is 60 km west of BOWF. Howard is 60 KM WSW of BOWF. West Hill WF is 100 km ENE of BOWF. Study site Study period # days # hours # Birds Birds/hr % <WTG height WF Prattsburgh Fall 2004 13 73 220 3 62% Cohocton WF Fall 2004 8 41 128 3.1 80% Cohocton WF Fall 2005 7 40 131 3.3 63% Howard WF Fall 2005 10 57 206 3.6 65% West Hill WF Fall 2005 11 65 369 5.7 51% Kestrel Haven Fall 2005 80 729.5 907 0.8 n/a Black Oak WF Fall 2010/2011 12 60 297 4.9 49% WF Prattsburgh Spring 2005 10 60 314 5.2 83% Cohocton WF Spring 2005 10 60 164 2.7 73% Howard WF Spring 2006 9 52.5 260 4.9 64% West Hill WF Spring 2005 10 60 375 6.2 78% Black Oak WF Spring 2011 15 72 393 5.5 54% 2 Raptor data is from the NYDEC website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/rapmigwind.pdf (accessed Jan 12, 2012). Data from Kestrel H aven is from hawkcount.org