GULLEN RANGE WIND FARM BIRD AND BAT ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT ON YEAR ONE IMPLEMENTATION New Gullen Range Wind Farm Suite 5 61 63 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3123 P.O. Box 337, Camberwell, VIC 3124 Ph. (03) 9815 2111 Fax. (03) 9815 2685 February 2016 Report No. 14182 (15.1)
CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 1 2. INTRODUCTION... 4 3. METHODOLOGY... 6 3.1. Carcass searches... 6 3.2. Correction factors for carcass searches... 7 3.2.1. Searcher efficiency trial... 7 3.2.2. Scavenger trials... 8 3.3. Bird utilisation survey... 9 3.4. Bat surveys... 10 3.5. Raptor surveys... 10 3.6. Avoidance behaviour... 11 3.7. Locality surveys... 11 4. RESULTS OF THE MONITORING PROGRAM... 14 4.1. Carcass search results for 2015... 14 4.1.1. Bird carcass and feather spot results... 14 4.1.2. Bat carcass results... 17 4.1.1. Analysis of carcass searches... 23 4.2. Result of scavenger and observer efficiency trials... 26 4.2.1. Searcher efficiency... 26 4.2.1. Scavenger trials... 26 4.3. Bird Utilisation Survey... 30 4.3.1. Species composition... 30 4.3.2. Flight heights... 31 4.3.3. Listed Species... 25 4.3.4. Raptors... 26 4.3.5. Waterbirds... 26 4.4. Bat Survey... 28 4.5. Raptor Survey... 30 4.6. Avoidance survey... 34 4.7. Locality surveys... 34 5. SUMMARY OF IMPACTS ON BIRDS AND BATS... 35 6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS... 37 7. REFERENCES... 39 Page i
TABLES Table 1: Turbine groups at Gullen Range Wind Farm... 7 Table 2: The species of carcasses used in the searcher efficiency and scavenger trials at Gullen Range Wind Farm... 9 Table 3: Summary of carcass search results for bird and bats at Gullen Range Wind Farm, 2015.... 14 Table 4: Summary of bird carcasses across the Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015... 15 Table 5: Summary of feather spot records across the Gullen Range Wind Farm, 2015 16 Table 6: Summary of bat carcasses across the Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015 17 Table 7: Wind farm carcass per turbine search comparison... 25 Table 8: Searcher efficiency trial results... 27 Table 9: Scavenger disappearance rate for Gullen Range Wind Farm... 29 Table 10: Number and height distribution of bird species at survey points during four seasons of post-construction surveys at Gullen Range Wind Farm... 29 Table 11: Summary of birds recorded during 2015 at RSA height during BUS... 24 Table 12: Birds of prey and waterbirds in the study area during the 2015 BUS.... 27 Table 13: Summary of results from ultrasonic bat detectors... 29 Table 14: Summary of number of bat calls recorded from threatened bat species at Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015... 29 Table 15: Summary of observed raptor flights at Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015 monitoring period... 31 FIGURES Figure 1: Locations of bird utilisation surveys, bat surveys and turbine numbers - North 12 Figure 2: Locations of bird utilisation surveys, bat surveys and turbine numbers - South... 13 Figure 3: Location of bird and bat carcasses at Kialla and northern section of Bannister... 19 Figure 4: Location of bird and bat carcasses found at the southern section of Bannister... 20 Figure 5: Location of bird and bat carcasses found at Pomeroy... 21 Figure 6: Location of bird and bat carcasses found at Gurrundah... 22 Figure 7: Wedge tailed Eagle flight paths observed at Gullen Range Wind Farm 2015 (North)... 32 Figure 8: Wedge tailed Eagle flight paths observed at Gullen Range Wind Farm 2015 (South)... 33 Page ii
APPENDICES Appendix 1: Summary of bird mortality at Gullen Range Wind Farm associated with wind turbines... 40 Appendix 2: Summary of bat mortality at Gullen Range Wind Farm associated with wind turbines... 42 Appendix 3: Raw data of all raptor movements recorded at Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015 monitoring period... 45 Appendix 4: Raw data of avoidance surveys undertaken at Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015... 53 Page iii
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gullen Range Wind Farm is located in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales (NSW). Four groups of turbines are sited within approximately 2,800 hectares of agricultural and wooded land associated with the project, the Kialla, Bannister, Pomeroy and Gurrundah groups. The Wind Farm is owned by New Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty Ltd (NGRWF). The Minister for Planning approved the project for 73 turbines (File No: S07/00846) and operations started in December 2014. Brett Lane and Associates Pty Ltd (BL&A) was commissioned by NGRWF to implement stage 2 of the monitoring program of the Bird and Bat Adaptive Management Program (BBAMP) for Gullen Range Wind Farm, NSW (ngh environmental, 2012), the first year of post-construction monitoring in 2015. Stage 2 of the monitoring program comprised post-construction surveys including: Monthly monitoring of bird and bat collisions with turbines through carcass searches, including scavenger surveys (to determine carcass removal rates before detection), and observer efficiency trials (to determine how well observers detect carcasses); Assessing the effects of the wind farm on bird activity at the wind farm site, based on bird utilisation rates; Monthly Bat activity surveys using ultrasonic bat detectors (to determine presence and absence of bat species and activity levels of threatened bat species); Monitoring of raptor flight paths and Wedge tailed Eagle nesting sites; and Monitoring of bird behaviour near turbines to determine if birds are demonstrating avoidance behaviour. During the formal carcass searches in the year 2015, 30 bird carcasses, 59 bat carcasses and 42 featherspots were recorded. In addition, 11 bird carcasses and 3 bat carcasses where recorded incidentally. These consisted of mostly common farmland and woodland species. Most bird mortality occurred in common species with no assigned conservation significance with a secure conservation status in New South Wales. Two featherspots were recorded of the White-throated Needletail, a migratory species listed under the EPBC Act and one featherspot was recorded of the Spotted Harrier, listed as vulnerable under the NSW TSC Act. Raptors as a proportion of birds on site were highly represented in the recorded carcasses. A total of nine Wedge-tailed Eagle (WTE) were found over the duration of the year, six were found during formal searches and three were found incidentally outside of formal searches. The majority of the wind farm site correlates with Wedge-tailed Eagle habitat and four pairs of WTEs have been recorded holding territory and breeding in the vicinity of the wind farm site. Notwithstanding the loss of adult eagles, the four resident pairs were still observed flying on and near the wind farm site at the end of the surveys in 2015. No threatened bat species carcasses were recorded during the carcass searches in 2015. Page 1
No discernible pattern was observed between different turbine groups or individual turbines in relation to mortality. And also no seasonal pattern was observed in the mortality of birds and bats. A comparison with two other wind farms in New South Wales revealed that the average of carcasses found per turbine search (bats and birds) was comparable with these wind farms. The analysis revealed though that the average number of bird carcasses recorded per turbine search was slightly higher, but the number of bat carcasses was slightly lower than at the comparable wind farms. The bird utilisation surveys (BUS) recorded predominantly farmland and woodland species with some records of raptors and waterbirds. A similar number of bird species were recorded during pre- and post- construction BUS. The most common species recorded in pre construction surveys were still common after turbines became operational. Three threatened bat species were recorded during the bat activity surveys. Largeeared Pied Bat and Eastern False Pipstrelle Bat were recorded in low numbers. The Eastern Bent-wing Bat was recorded in slightly higher numbers in November (39 calls) during its landward migratory season. A lower increase in numbers was observed in March, with 21 calls. These call numbers are similar to those observed during the pre-construction surveys. Four threatened bird species were recorded in low numbers during the BUS, White-fronted Chat, Varied Sittella, Scarlet Robin and Flame Robin. The migratory species Rainbow Bea-eater was heard calling outside the formal BUS surveys. Given the low number of carcasses found that belonged to listed species (no bats, three bird feather spots), Gullen Range is considered to pose a low risk to migratory bird and bat species and a lesser risk to threatened bird species. The loss of nine Eagles per year at the Gullen Range wind farm will not have a considerable impact on the Wedge-tailed Eagle population given that the overall population is very large (tens of thousands of pairs, Olsen 2005) Therefore, the Gullen Range wind farm is not considered to pose a threat to the overall Wedgetailed Eagle population. No additional monitoring requirements are considered necessary over and above those recommended in the proposed revised BBAMP (BL&A 2015a), which are listed below: Monthly carcass searches of a third of all turbines (24 randomly chosen turbines and five reference sites) until the end of 2016 (including pulse searches, which repeats each turbine search within two days to provide an estimate of the rate at which carcasses appear) Scavenger and observer trials using local birds and bats (two trials, one when grass is high and one when grass is low) Four further BUS are proposed, one in each season Two more intensive Anabat surveys (one in late spring and one in late summer-early autumn), coinciding with the Eastern Bent-wing Bat migration season are proposed at 10 survey locations Avoidance behaviour surveys during all surveys, if birds are observed in proximity to the Rotor Swept Area (RSA) Page 2
Statistical analysis of the carcass monitoring results was not undertaken in this report, as the methodology for turbine searches in the approved BBAMP (ngh environmental, 2012) is not compatible with this approach. The turbine locations have not been chosen randomly and the same turbines have not been surveyed repeatedly each month. A revised methodology which would allow this analysis to be undertaken has been put forward in the proposed revised BBAMP (BL&A 2015a) and this is pending approval prior to implementation. Page 3
2. INTRODUCTION The Gullen Range Wind Farm (GRWF) received Project Approval from the NSW Land and Environment Court (L&EC) on the 4 th of August 2010 following assessment under Part 3A of the NSW Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). The GRWF comprises 73 wind turbines, one substation, associated access roads and 33kV electrical collection infrastructure. Construction occurred from September 2012 to December 2014. The GRWF has been fully operational since 23 rd December 2014. The GRWF owner and operator is New Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty Ltd (NGRWF). Gullen Range Wind Farm is located in the Southern Tablelands region of NSW (Figure 1). Four groups of turbines are located within approximately 2,800 hectares of agricultural and wooded land associated with the project: these are referred to as the Kialla, Bannister, Pomeroy and Gurrundah groups. The Minister for Planning approved the project application for up to 84 turbines (File No: S07/00846) subject to conditions given by the Land & Environment Court (L&EC) that included deletion of 11 turbines (allowing up to 73 turbines to be installed). Brett Lane and Associates Pty Ltd (BL&A) was commissioned by NGRWF to implement stage 2 of the monitoring program of the Bird and Bat Adaptive Management Program (BBAMP) for Gullen Range Wind Farm, NSW (ngh environmental, 2012). The surveys are requirements of the approved BBAMP, which is a condition of the Project Approval (Condition 3.1) The objectives of the BBAMP implementation are to assist in minimising bird and bat disturbance from the operation of Gullen Range Wind Farm, and in particular assessing bird and bat turbine collision risk. This was achieved by undertaking monitoring and management procedures, consistent with the methods outlined in the BBAMP for Gullen Range Wind Farm, NSW (ngh environmental, 2012). Stage 2 of the monitoring program included post-construction surveys. The specific scope of the investigations is detailed below. Monthly monitoring of bird and bat collisions with turbines through carcass searches; the methodology of these included scavenger surveys (to determine carcass removal rates before detection) and observer efficiency trials (to determine how well observers detect carcasses) Assessing the effects of the wind farm on bird utilisation rates (to determine if there is an exclusion effect) Monthly bat activity surveys using ultrasonic bat detectors (to determine presence and absence of bat species and activity levels of threatened bat species) Monitoring of raptor flight paths and Wedge tailed Eagle nesting sites Monitoring of bird behaviour near turbines to determine if birds are demonstrating avoidance behaviour. This report presents the results of the first 12 months of implementation of the BBAMP and it is divided into the following sections. Section 3 describes the methods used for the bird and bat monitoring program field surveys. Page 4
Section 4 provides the results of bird and bat monitoring program. Section 5 discusses the impacts on birds and bats from the operational wind turbines. Section 6 provides conclusions and recommendations. This investigation was undertaken by a team from Brett Lane & Associates Pty Ltd, comprising Jeremy Ward (Zoologist), Peter Lansley (Zoologist), Khalid Al- Dabbagh (Zoologist), Curtis Doughty (Zoologist), Inga Kulik (Senior Ecologist and Project Manager) and Brett Lane (Principal Consultant). Page 5
3. METHODOLOGY 3.1. Carcass searches The carcass searches involved intensively searching around a turbine for dead or injured birds and bats. Procedures for the carcass searches are detailed below. Target turbines are the turbines searched in a particular month. The approved BBAMP required that target turbines be varied from month to month. An incidental record is a carcass that was found under a turbine outside the formal carcass search program (e.g. by wind farm personnel during routine inspections of infrastructure). Monthly carcass searches were carried out at 32 to 34 target turbine sites each month. o Originally 16 turbines in focus areas and 16 randomly chosen turbines in non-focus areas were searched in January and February. o From March on, the non-focus area turbines surveyed were varied to ensure all turbines were searched during the monitoring program in accordance with the approved BBAMP. o Additional turbines were added to the focus group as the monitoring continued due to the decision to increase monitoring for Wedge-tailed Eagle carcasses (explained below). From July onwards there were 19 turbines in focus areas and 13 to 15 turbines in each non-focus group on rotation (see Table 1). Each target turbine was surveyed four times each month. The turbines were searched to a radius of 60 metres (rotor swept area plus 10 metres). The searcher walked transects about six metres apart, searching a zone three metres either side for dead birds and bats across the circular search area. On finding a dead bird, feather-spot or dead bat, the searcher: o Removed it from the site to avoid re-counting; and o Transferred fresh carcasses to a freezer at the site office for storage so it could be identified and used in observer efficiency and scavenger trials (see below). When a dead bird or bat was recorded under the turbine the species was recorded as a carcass with a report number. When only feathers were recorded this was recorded as a feather spot. It is likely that feather spots represent a bird that has collided with a turbine and has later been scavenged. Turbines that have been selected for monthly searches are listed below and presented in Figure 1 and 2. Turbines POM 12, POM 17 and GUR 02 were originally in Group 2, 3, & 4, respectively, but were added to the focus group as an outcome to increase mortality monitoring for the Wedge-tailed Eagle. POM 17 was added to the focus group from May onwards and POM 12 and GUR 02 were added to the focus group from July onwards. A statistical analysis of the carcass monitoring results was not undertaken since the turbines prescribed to be searched in the approved BBAMP were not chosen Page 6
randomly and the same turbines have not been surveyed repeatedly each month. Instead, surveyed turbine groups changed each month in order to survey each turbine at the wind farm site over the course of the first year. A statistically sound approach would be to survey a randomly chosen proportion of the turbines each month. This approach is adopted in the proposed revised BBAMP (BL&A 2015a), which is pending approval. Adoption of this methodology will enable an estimate of overall bird and bat mortality rates for the wind farm. Without a statistically designed carcass search program, it was also not possible to apply the scavenger and observer efficiency correction factors generated by the trials required in the approved BBAMP (see below). In this sense, the results of the first year of the wind farm should be considered as descriptive of the bird and bat impacts of the first year of operations, rather than an estimate of the likely ongoing level of bird and bat mortality. Table 1: Turbine groups at Gullen Range Wind Farm Focus Areas Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 KIA 01 KIA 02 BAN 03 BAN 06 BAN 08 BAN 01 BAN 07 BAN 12 BAN 09 BAN 10 BAN 02 BAN 11 BAN 18 BAN 13 BAN 16 BAN 04 BAN 17 BAN 23 BAN 19 BAN 20 BAN 05 BAN 22 BAN 27 BAN 24 BAN 25 BAN 14 BAN 26 POM 01 BAN 28 BAN 29 BAN 15 BAN 30 POM 06 POM 02 POM 04 BAN 21 POM 05 POM 16 POM 08 POM 09 POM 03 POM 10 POM 22 POM 13 POM 14 POM 07 POM 15 GUR 04 GUR 01 POM 19 POM 11 POM 21 GUR 08 GUR 05 GUR 06 POM 12 GUR 03 GUR 13 GUR 09 GUR 11 POM 17 GUR 07 GUR 18 GUR 14 GUR 15 POM 18 GUR 12 POM 20 GUR 17 POM 23 GUR 02 GUR 10 GUR 16 3.2. Correction factors for carcass searches 3.2.1. Searcher efficiency trial The searcher efficiency trial was undertaken on the 17 th June 2015. This was done to assess the efficiency of the observers Khalid Al Dabbagh and Curtis Doughty who conducted the vast majority of the searches at Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015. Weather conditions on the day of the trial were good, being cool overcast conditions with a gentle wind. The trial was undertaken during winter with grass Page 7
being fairly short when detectability was likely to be at its highest. Experience indicted that this was similar to conditions for the majority of the year, given the dry spring growth season. One bird and one bat was placed under each of ten pre-selected turbines at both Bannister and Pomeroy sections of the wind farm. Observer 1 placed the carcasses at Bannister for observer 2 to search and observer 2 placed the carcasses at Pomeroy for observer 1 to search. The positions of the placed carcasses were randomly generated using the Microsoft Excel random number function within a 50 metre radius of each turbine. The 40 carcasses used for this trial comprised those which had been previously collected during previous searches, as well as road killed bird carcasses collected in preceding months and stored in a freezer at the wind farm office. An additional nine bird carcasses comprised Common Mynah and Common Starling species that were sourced from the control program of the Yarra Indian Mynah Action Group. A total of twenty carcasses were used for each observer. This included ten bats, five large birds and five medium sized birds (see Table 2). The observer searched all turbines within two hours of the carcasses being placed and recorded the number of carcasses found on the first search. The observer efficiency was calculated as the percentage of carcasses found of those placed. 3.2.2. Scavenger trials The effect of carcasses being removed by scavengers prior to being detected by the observer was quantified through scavenger trials. The effect is expressed as the average duration of carcasses in the field prior to being removed by scavengers. This trial started on 17 th June 2015 and ended on 17 th July 2015. Forty carcasses were placed at twenty pre-selected turbines. Their location was randomised as described for the searcher efficiency trial. These were monitored daily each morning for the first five days. They were then monitored on day 7, 9, 13, 21, 25 and 30. Not all carcasses were removed by scavengers by day 30. In this scenario if a carcass was still present on site at day 30 it was assumed it was taken by day 30. In this case, a slightly lower carcass duration will be calculated representing a conservative approach as this will result in a slightly higher estimate of total carcasses. The disappearance rate is calculated as the average duration in days that carcasses remained on the ground before being taken by a scavenger. Page 8
Table 2: Species of carcasses used in the searcher efficiency and scavenger trials at Gullen Range Wind Farm Observer 1 (Khalid Al-Dabbagh) Bats Bats Medium birds Large birds Gould's Wattled Bat Gould's Wattled Bat Common Starling Galah Gould's Wattled Bat White-striped Freetail Bat Common Starling Laughing Kookaburra Gould's Wattled Bat Large Forest Bat Common Mynah Wedge-tailed Eagle Gould's Wattled Bat White-striped Freetail Bat Common Mynah Magpie-lark Gould's Wattled Bat White-striped Freetail Bat Common Mynah Crimson Rosella Observer 2 (Curtis Doughty) Bats Bats Medium birds Large birds White-striped Freetail Bat White-striped Freetail Bat Common Mynah Laughing Kookaburra Forest Bat White-striped Freetail Bat Common Mynah Crimson Rosella White-striped Freetail Bat Forest Bat Common Mynah Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Gould's Wattled Bat Forest Bat Red-rumped Parrot Australian Magpie White-striped Freetail Bat Forest Bat Common Starling Peregrine Falcon 3.3. Bird utilisation survey Bird utilisation surveys (BUS) were undertaken at the same nine survey locations used for pre-construction surveys (Autumn 2011). The bird utilisation survey, consistent with the Birds Australia methodology, was undertaken each month and involved a bird census over two hectares for 20 minutes at nine monitoring sites (Figure 1 and 2) within the wind farm (ngh environmental 2012). The methodology is described below. An observer recorded all birds within the 100x200 metre survey area including birds flying over the survey site Species, number of birds and flight height were documented, with flight height being recorded in 20 metre intervals for later classification as below, at or above rotor swept area height (RSA height) Twice daily surveys were undertaken before and after the carcass searches to ensure 12 BUS were undertaken per month, covering nine locations (same as the pre-operational surveys) Six afternoon and six dawn surveys were undertaken each month. RSA heights for this assessment were below (< 30 metres), at (30 130 metres), and above (> 130 metres) RSA height. In addition to the bird utilisation surveys, a list of all species recorded was compiled each month during the monitoring period. Page 9
3.4. Bat surveys Bat activity surveys were undertaken each month using ultrasonic bat detectors. Surveys were undertaken at five sites each month. Sites were located at areas representing woodland habitat over the wind farm, two sites were at the northern Bannister (BAN) section, two at the central Pomeroy (POM) section and one at the southern Gurrundah (GUR) section (Figure 1 and 2). The bat detectors were used each month over at least five nights. Bat calls were analysed by Dr. Greg Richards (Greg Richards and Associates Pty Ltd.). This analysis determined presence and absence during each site survey of the common species and the numbers of calls during each site survey of any threatened bat species. The identification of echolocation calls from microbats in south-eastern Australia is facilitated by the fact that many calls are species-specific; however, not all species can be consistently or reliably identified using this technique. The identification of Eastern Bent wing Bat calls using ultrasonic bat detectors is difficult (G. Richards, pers. comm.) and often key salient call characters may not feature prominently in all recordings. This leaves open the possibility that the call may belong to one of the forest bat species (Vespadelus spp.). Calls that could not be identified definitively as either were allocated to the category Bentwingbat/Forest Bat, species complex. The Long-eared Bat group is also difficult to identify to species level. The calls belonging to this group at the wind farm site are most likely attributed to the Lesser Long-eared Bat as two individuals from this species have been recorded as casualties under turbines. The two other species that could also be attributed to this group are Corben s Long-eared Bat (threatened under TSC Act) and Gould s Long-eared Bat. 3.5. Raptor surveys A raptor survey was undertaken during the morning from 10:00am onwards once the day started to warm up and thermals were present. The survey involved standing at different vantage points each morning and recording all raptors that were observed flying in the vicinity of the turbines that could be viewed from vantage points. Different vantage points were chosen each morning in the vicinity of the turbines searched that day, based on elevation (hills and elevated sites) and visibility. Up to five turbines were visible from these vantage points. Since a Wedge-tailed Eagle carcass was found under a turbine on 10 th January 2015, site wide surveys were initiated. This involved roaming surveys, starting on 11 th January 2015, during which all raptors, including Wedge-tailed Eagle, were surveyed. This involved observing the whole wind farm site for Wedge tailed Eagles during the bird utilisation surveys and carcass searches as well as during the driving time in between turbines and BUS survey points. All raptor flights observed were plotted on a map. Flight behaviour, heights, direction and the duration of the flight observations were recorded. The outcome of the May monitoring period suggested that a report be prepared detailing Wedge-tailed Eagle casualties and observations, further assessing the risk of impacts to Wedge-tailed Eagles from operation of the Gullen Range Wind Farm, and outlining suggested mitigation measures and further studies. The findings of this report are presented in BL&A (2015b). Page 10
Monitoring of Wedge tailed Eagle nests was undertaken during the breeding season from September to December. This included the activities listed below. Roaming searches for eagle nests in and around the wind farm site Once a nest was found determining if it had been used this breeding season If the nest was in use, continued monitoring to determine if any young birds successfully left the nest as fledglings. 3.6. Avoidance behaviour Avoidance behaviour surveys were undertaken each morning if conditions were windy and blades were spinning from 10:00 am. This involved standing at a vantage point and recording bird behaviour close to turbines and noting if any avoidance behaviour was occurring. Any incidental avoidance observations were also recorded. 3.7. Locality surveys During the monthly surveys any change in the local environment was documented. This may include the following listed below. Seasonal changes, including evidence of nesting by key species Changes in land use practices Significant changes in water levels in nearby water bodies Significant weather events Evidence of shooting occurring on the wind farm site Any anecdotal information from land owners, land managers, wind farm staff or the local community. Page 11
KIA_02 $+ KIA_01 1 BAN_01 BAN_03 BAN_04 BAN_02 BAN_05 BAN_06 BAN_07 BAN_08 BAN_09 BAN_10 BAN_11 #* GR1 BAN_14 BAN_13 BAN_12 BAN_15 BAN_16 BAN_18 BAN_17 BAN_19 BAN_20 BAN_29 BAN_23 BAN_24 BAN_28 #* $+ BAN_30 GR2 BAN_21 BAN_22 BAN_25 BAN_26 BAN_27 2 Legend Wind farm boundary Tracks Turbines #* Bat recording sites $+ Bird Utilisation Survey Sites Metres 0 500 1,000 2,000 Figure 1: Bird and Bat survey sites - North Project: Gullen Range Wind Farm Client: Goldwind Australia Project No.: 14182 Date: 25/02/2015 Created By: M. Ghasemi / A. Stewart
POM_01 GR3 #* POM_03 POM_02 POM_05 $+ POM_04 3 POM_06 POM_09 POM_08 POM_10 POM_07 $+ 4 POM_12 POM_14 POM_13 POM_11 $+ 5 POM_15 6 POM_19 POM_16 POM_17 #* POM_18 $+ POM_20 GR4 7 POM_21 POM_22 $+ 8 POM_23 GUR_01 GUR_02 GUR_04 GUR_05 GUR_06 GUR_03 GUR_07 GUR_08 GUR_09 GR5 GUR_10 $+ GUR_11 #* GUR_16 9 GUR_17 GUR_18 GUR_12 GUR_13 GUR_14 GUR_15 Legend Wind farm boundary Tracks Turbines #* Bat recording sites $+ Bird Utilisation Survey Sites Metres 0 500 1,000 2,000 Figure 2: Bird and Bat survey sites - South Project: Gullen Range Wind Farm Client: Goldwind Australia Project No.: 14182 Date: 25/02/2015 Created By: M. Ghasemi / A. Stewart
4. RESULTS OF THE MONITORING PROGRAM 4.1. Carcass search results for 2015 The results of the bird and bat carcass searches at Gullen Range Wind Farm are summarised in Table 3. The table shows the number of carcasses and feather spots found during formal searches, and incidental finds by BL&A personnel when roaming the wind farm site. Table 3: Summary of carcass search results for bird and bats at Gullen Range Wind Farm, 2015. Search type Season Month Bird Bat Feather spot Total Summer January 3 9 4 16 February 2 15 4 21 March 1 11 8 20 Autumn April 1 11 4 16 May 6 2 3 11 Formal June 2 0 2 4 Winter July 0 0 2 2 August 2 0 4 6 September 2 0 3 5 Spring October 5 4 4 13 November 3 2 0 5 Summer December 3 5 4 12 Formal search totals 30 59 42 131 Summer January 1 0 0 1 February 0 2 0 2 Autumn March 1 0 0 1 Incidental Winter June 2 0 0 2 September 3 0 0 3 Spring October 2 0 0 2 November 1 1 0 2 Summer December 1 0 0 1 Incidental totals 11 3 0 14 Overall Totals 41 62 42 145 4.1.1. Bird carcass and feather spot results A total of 41 bird carcasses were found, 30 throughout the formal mortality search program and 11 incidentally when roaming the site. Additionally, 42 feather spots were recorded during these surveys. A total of 30 birds were collected as carcasses during the formal searches, including the species listed in Table 4 below. Page 14
Table 4: Summary of bird carcasses across the Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015 Species Number found during formal counts Number found incidentally Total Australian Magpie 6 3 9 Wedge-tailed Eagle 6 3 9 Nankeen Kestrel 3 1 4 Common Starling 3 3 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 3 3 Little Raven 1 1 2 Australian Raven 1 1 Collard Sparrowhawk 1 1 Crimson Rosella 1 1 Galah 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 Pied Currawong 1 1 Raven sp. (juvenile bird) 1 1 Red Wattlebird 1 1 Spotted Pardalote 1 1 Striated Pardalote 1 1 White-faced Heron 1 1 Total 30 11 41 Appendix 1 provides detailed information on each carcass, feather-spot and incidental record during 2015. The Australian Magpie carcasses were all found within the Bannister (BAN) section of the wind farm, underneath turbines 5, 12, 13, 15, 18, and 28. The BAN area of the wind farm is suitable magpie habitat, dominated by grazing pastures, with large old trees and fragmented woodland. It has been recorded as a common species on all surveys, and therefore it was likely to collide with turbines. Nine Wedge-tailed Eagle were found, six during formal searches and three incidentally. Three carcasses were found in a fresh condition, while many other carcasses were old and often in fragments. Of the six Wedge tailed Eagle carcasses found during formal searches, three were in the Pommeroy (POM) group, two in the BAN group and one was found in the Gurrundah (GUR) group. The majority of the wind farm site was suitable Wedge-tailed Eagle habitat, where the undulating topography created uplifting winds suitable for soaring flight. Across all three sections (BAN, POM & GUR), the site provided open foraging habitat and also nesting locations within expanses of mature woodland. At least four pairs of WTEs were recorded holding territories and breeding within the wind farm site, and due to the soaring nature of the species. A total of three Common Starling carcasses were found. This species is introduced (no conservation significance) and is very common in farmland habitats such as this, where mature hollow-bearing trees allow them to breed successfully. When flying from roosting/nesting locations to foraging grounds they often fly at RSA height, increasing the risk of collision. Page 15
The remainder of the species found were all common farmland and woodland species. The Crimson Rosella, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Collard Sparrowhawk, Pied Currawong and Red Wattlebird are all predominately woodland species, which on occasion disperse across open country to other woodland habitats increasing their risk of collision. The Galah, Little Raven and Australian Raven, make up the other individuals found. These are common, open farmland species that also occasionally fly at RSA height. Most of the incidental carcasses found were Australian Magpie and raven species. Two were juvenile birds and the others were badly decomposed. These species are very abundant in the region and therefore have a high probability of colliding with turbines. Three species of raptor were located incidentally, including Wedge-tailed Eagle (three), Nankeen Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. Raptor species are prone to collision with turbines as they often fly at RSA height and do not show avoidance, being often observed flying very close to spinning turbine blades. A total of 42 feather-spots were detected during 2015, from 12 different species, including one unidentified species. Table 5 shows the species and number of feather spots found across the site. Table 5.Summary of feather spot records across the Gullen Range Wind Farm, 2015 Species Number of feather spots recorded Crimson Rosella 11 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 7 Nankeen Kestrel 6 Grey Teal 4 Australian Magpie 3 Brown Falcon 3 Pacific Black Duck 2 White-throated Needletail 2 Australian Wood Duck 1 Laughing Kookaburra 1 Spotted Harrier 1 unidentified waterbird 1 The Crimson Rosella was the most frequently found feather spot, with 11 records. It is unclear if all of these can be attributed to collisions with turbines. At least on one occasion the feathers were found along a fenceline at the base of a fence post. This could have been attributed to a goshawk kill, with the rosella being plucked by a goshawk standing on the fence post. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo was also frequently recorded with a total of seven feather spots, followed by the Nankeen Kestrel with six. It has to be assumed that these feather spots were the result of a turbine collision, where the individual was then scavenged later, by a Red Fox or raven for example. The majority of carcasses and feather spots of bird species found during the survey were considered common to agricultural landscapes with a secure conservation status in New South Wales with the exception of the Spotted Harrier Page 16
which is listed as vulnerable under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act). One listed species was recorded twice from feather spot remains was the White-throated Needletail. The White-throated Needletail is listed as a migratory species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Overall, there was no obvious pattern to carcass distribution among turbines or habitat types (see Figure 3 tofigure 6).. The wind farm site is made up of similar habitat types and turbines are located within open farmland habitats and adjacent to varying sized fragments of woodland.,. With this broad distribution of records and species, no parts of the wind farm are more or less prone to collisionrelated bird mortality 4.1.2. Bat carcass results A total of 62 bat carcasses were collected over the 2015 survey period (Table 6). Fifty nine were recorded during formal carcass surveys and three were incidental records. Appendix 2 provides detailed information on each bat carcass for 2015. No bat carcasses were found from June to September, the colder months when bat activity is absent as most bats are hibernating or have migrated from the area. Table 6: Summary of bat carcasses across the Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015 Number found Number found Row Labels Total during formal counts incidentally White-striped Freetail Bat 18 1 19 Large Forest Bat 12 12 Gould's Wattled Bat 10 1 11 Little Forest Bat 6 1 7 Chocolate Wattled Bat 6 6 unidentified forest bat 5 5 Lesser Long-eared Bat 2 2 Total 59 3 62 The White-striped Freetail Bat was the most commonly found bat (19 carcasses) at Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015. Carcasses were recorded across all four sections of the wind farm. This bat was considered a key species in the BBAMP (ngh environmental, 2012) due to the high fatality of this species at other wind farms in south eastern Australia. This bat flies higher than the other bats and will often fly at RSA height, which puts it at risk of collision with turbines. In this respect the finding of more of this species carcasses than other bat species is not unexpected. A total of 12 Large Forest Bat carcasses were found across all four parts of the Gullen Range Wind Farm during 2015. Six carcasses were recorded during formal counts and one incidentally. Five forest bats were too desiccated to identify to species level. Ten Gould s Wattled Bat were found during formal searches and an additional one was found incidentally. This bat was found across all four sections of the wind farm. The Chocolate Wattled Bat was found six times under turbines, the majority in the POM section and one in the BAN section. Page 17
There were two records of Lesser Long eared Bat, one at the BAN section and the other at the GUR section. Three bat carcasses were found incidentally at turbines not part of the formal search program. They included one each of White-striped Freetail Bat, Gould s Wattled Bat and Little Forest Bat. There was no obvious pattern in the distribution of bat carcasses among turbines, turbine groups or within and between habitat types. The wind farm site consisted of similar habitat types and turbines were located within open farmland habitats and adjacent to varying sized fragments of woodland. No part of the wind farm appears more or less prone to collision-related bat mortality (see Figure 3 tofigure 6). Page 18
KIA_01 KIA_02 BAN_01 BAN_02 BAN_05 BAN_03 BAN_06 BAN_04 BAN_07 BAN_08 BAN_11 BAN_09 BAN_14 BAN_10 BAN_12 BAN_13 BAN_15 Legend Wind farm boundary Turbines Tracks Type Bat (14) Bird (11) Raptor (3) Metres 0 295 590 1,180 Figure 3: 2015 carcass distribution - Kia & Ban North Project: Gullen Range Wind Farm Client: Goldwind Australia Project No.: 14182 Date: 16/02/2016 Created By: N. May / C. Doughty
BAN_16 BAN_18 BAN_17 BAN_19 BAN_20 BAN_21 BAN_22 BAN_23 BAN_25 BAN_24 BAN_26 BAN_27 BAN_29 BAN_28 BAN_30 Legend Wind farm boundary Turbines Tracks Type Bat (6) Bird (2) Raptor (2) Metres 0 235 470 940 Figure 4: 2015 carcass distribution - Ban South Project: Gullen Range Wind Farm Client: Goldwind Australia Project No.: 14182 Date: 16/02/2016 Created By: N. May / C. Doughty
POM_01 POM_02 POM_05 POM_03 POM_04 POM_06 POM_07 POM_08 POM_09 POM_10 POM_14 POM_11 POM_12 POM_13 POM_15 POM_16 POM_17 POM_19 POM_18 POM_20 POM_21 POM_22 POM_23 Legend Wind farm boundary Turbines Tracks Type Bat (30) Bird (4) Raptor (4) Metres 0 295 590 1,180 Figure 5: 2015 carcass distribution - Pom Project: Gullen Range Wind Farm Client: Goldwind Australia Project No.: 14182 Date: 16/02/2016 Created By: N. May / C. Doughty
GUR_01 GUR_02 GUR_04 GUR_03 GUR_05 GUR_07 GUR_06 GUR_08 GUR_09 GUR_16 GUR_10 GUR_17 GUR_11 GUR_18 GUR_12 GUR_13 GUR_14 GUR_15 Legend Wind farm boundary Turbines Tracks Type Bat (9) Bird (3) Raptor (1) Metres 0 235 470 940 Figure 6: 2015 carcass distribution - Gur Project: Gullen Range Wind Farm Client: Goldwind Australia Project No.: 14182 Date: 16/02/2016 Created By: N. May / C. Doughty
4.1.1. Analysis of carcass searches The number of carcasses and feather spots found during formal searches in the first year of implementing the carcass search program at Gullen Range Wind Farm (excluding incidental observation at other turbines) was 89 carcasses and 42 feather spots. This data has been analysed against the results of two other wind farms, both in terms of how many carcasses and feather spots were recorded on each wind farm, but also how many carcasses and feather spots were recorded per turbine search. This information is shown in Table 7. The two other wind farms used for comparison were both located in Southern NSW. The survey effort differed at these other two wind farms when compared to Gullen Range Wind Farm in a number of ways. This included: At GRWF each turbine was searched four times per month, whereas at the other two comparison wind farms a selection of turbines was searched once or twice per month; and A random selection method to select a third of all turbines to be search each month was used at the comparison wind farms whereas at Gullen Range Wind Farm a fixed focus group of 19 turbines plus changing groups of 13 15 turbines were searched each month (i.e. 32-34 turbines out of 73 turbines, which equates to over 40% of the turbines). Table 7 shows the average number of carcasses and featherspots found per turbine search at Gullen Range Wind Farm compared with the other two wind farm sites. The data used for this analysis and comparison was the first year of monitoring for the three wind farms. All totals exclude incidental observations and reference sites. Wind farm 1: Each month 15 turbines were searched once, totalling 180 searches in the first year (October 2009 September 2010). These searches were conducted at 50 metre radius of each turbine for 40 minutes by two observers (20 minutes each). Wind farm 2: Each month 17 turbine were searched, totalling 204 searches in the first year (March 2010 Feb 2011). Search sites were selected randomly from 65 turbines. These searches were conducted at 50 metre radius. Eight circular transects 6 metres apart were walked in each search area. An observer walked transects at a speed approximating 30 to 60 metres per minute. A comparison of the average bird and bat carcasses recorded per turbine search shows that at Gullen Range the mortality of birds was 3-4 times as much as at the two other wind farms while the bat mortality was only about half as much as at the other wind farms. The comparison of bird and bat carcasses together shows however that the average number of all carcasses found per turbine search does not differ considerably, 0.083 carcasses were found per turbine search at Gullen Range Wind Farm and 0.11 and 0.12 at the other two wind farm sites. It is therefore assumed that the higher number of total carcasses found is due to the much higher search effort at Gullen Range Wind Farm compared to the other wind farms. Page 23
Within the first year of carcass monitoring, nine Wedge-tailed Eagle carcasses/ have been found at Gullen Range Wind Farm (six during the formal turbine searches), resulting in 0.004 eagles found per turbine search, compared to 0.022 at wind farm 1 and 0.005 at wind farm 2. In terms of the average number of Wedge-tailed Eagle found per turbine search, comparison shows Gullen Range Wind Farm returns a lower result than at the other two wind farms, with 0.004 found at Gullen Range and 0.005 and 0.022 at the other two wind farms. It is therefore assumed that the higher number of total Wedge-tailed Eagle carcasses found is due to the much higher search effort at Gullen Range Wind Farm compared to the other wind farms. Page 24
Table 7: Wind farm carcass per turbine search comparison Gullen Range Wind Farm No of turbine searches Total Bird carcass Ave per search Bird feather spot Total Ave per search Wedge-tailed Eagle carcass* Total Ave per search Wedge-tailed Eagle feather-spot* Total Ave per search Total Bat carcass Ave per search Overall mortality totals Total Average per search 1,584 30 0.020 42 0.027 6 0.004 0 0.000 59 0.037 131 0.083 Wind farm 1 180 1 0.006 1 0.006 4 0.022 0 0.000 13 0.072 19 0.11 Wind farm 2 204 1 0.005 7 0.034 1 0.005 1 0.005 14 0.068 24 0.12 * included in overall bird carcasses and featherspots Page 25
4.2. Result of scavenger and observer efficiency trials The scavenger and observer efficiency trials were undertaken in response to the Project Approval conditions that outlines the scope of the BBAMP. However, the sampling design for the carcass searches in the approved BBAMP did not enable an estimate of total bird and bat mortality at the GRWF to be derived. Therefore, the correction factors that could be derived from these trials cannot be used. They are reported here for completeness. This situation has been remedied in the amended BBAMP currently under review by OEH. 4.2.1. Searcher efficiency Khalid Al Dabbagh and Curtis Doughty, Zoologists from BL&A, completed the majority of the searches and undertook the searcher efficiency trials. Khalid Al Dabbagh identified 85% of the carcasses after the initial placement of carcasses (Table 8). One bird and two bat carcasses were missed by the observer. Curtis Doughty identified 87% of the carcasses (Table 8). Carcasses at the POM section of the wind farm were quickly scavenged after the initial placement of carcasses. Five carcasses including three birds and two bats were scavenged before the observer could search the area. Two bat carcasses were missed by the observer. The ground cover at the time of the survey was short grass. Sites were generally grazed pasture, some with scattered trees or woodland areas within the search area. 4.2.1. Scavenger trials The results of the scavenger trials are presented in Table 9. Day 0 indicates the beginning of the survey when the carcasses were laid out. Over half of the carcasses had disappeared by Day 2, with 82.5% of carcasses gone by day 13. Five carcasses remained by day 30 including White-striped Freetail Bat (x2), Wedge-tailed Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and a forest bat species. The average carcass duration in the field is the average number of days a carcass remains at the site before it is removed. The total duration was 308 days (i.e. the number of carcasses by the total number of days they remained). The average duration of a carcass in the field was therefore 5.158 days with small bats and large birds (such as Wedge-tailed Eagle and Peregrine Falcon) showing the longest durations. Page 26
Table 8: Searcher efficiency trial results Turbine Carcass Distance from base Detected Searcher BAN 03 Gould's Wattled Bat 13 Khalid Al Dabbagh Galah 13 Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 04 Gould's Wattled Bat 7 Khalid Al Dabbagh Common Starling 20 X Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 06 Common Starling 22 Khalid Al Dabbagh Gould's Wattled Bat 24 Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 07 Gould's Wattled Bat 23 Khalid Al Dabbagh Common Mynah 32 Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 11 Common Mynah 38 Khalid Al Dabbagh Gould's Wattled Bat 32 X Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 12 Gould's Wattled Bat 9 Khalid Al Dabbagh Common Mynah 13 Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 13 White-striped Freetail Bat 34 Khalid Al Dabbagh Laughing Kookaburra 45 Khalid Al Dabbagh BAN 15 Large Forest Bat 12 X Khalid Al Dabbagh Wedge-tailed Eagle 30 Khalid Al Dabbagh White-striped BAN 16 Freetail Bat 15 Khalid Al Dabbagh Magpie-lark 25 Khalid Al Dabbagh White-striped BAN 19 Freetail Bat 10 Khalid Al Dabbagh Crimson Rosella 18 Khalid Al Dabbagh POM 01 Laughing Kookaburra 31 Curtis Doughty White-striped Freetail Bat 19 Curtis Doughty POM 02 Common Mynah 8 Scavenged Curtis Doughty Forest Bat 7 Curtis Doughty Crimson Rosella 24 Curtis Doughty POM 03 White-striped Freetail Bat 9 Scavenged Curtis Doughty Sulphur-crested POM 04 Cockatoo 45 Curtis Doughty Gould's Wattled Bat 7 Curtis Doughty Australian Magpie 33 Curtis Doughty POM 05 White-striped Freetail Bat 25 Scavenged Curtis Doughty Common Mynah 22 Curtis Doughty POM 09 White-striped Freetail Bat 18 X Curtis Doughty White-striped POM 12 Freetail Bat 4 Curtis Doughty Common Mynah 16 Curtis Doughty Page 27
Turbine POM 13 POM 14 POM 15 Carcass Distance from base Detected Searcher Forest Bat 8 X Curtis Doughty Red-rumped Parrot 26 Scavenged Curtis Doughty Forest Bat 12 Curtis Doughty Peregrine Falcon 45 Curtis Doughty Forest Bat 14 Curtis Doughty Common Starling 25 Scavenged Curtis Doughty Page 28
Table 9: Scavenger disappearance rate for Gullen Range Wind Farm Site BAN 03 BAN 04 BAN 06 BAN 07 BAN 11 BAN 12 BAN 13 BAN 15 BAN 16 BAN 19 POM 01 POM 02 POM 03 POM 04 POM 05 POM 09 POM 12 POM 13 POM 14 POM 15 Date 17/06/15 18/06/15 19/06/15 20/06/15 21/06/15 22/06/15 24/06/15 26/06/15 30/06/15 4/07/15 8/07/15 13/07/15 17/07/15 Total days in Species/Day Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 7 Day 9 Day 13 Day 17 Day 21 Day 25 Day 30 field Gould's Wattled Bat X 1 Galah X 1 Gould's Wattled Bat X 13 Common Starling X 1 Common Starling X 3 Gould's Wattled Bat X 25 Gould's Wattled Bat X 1 Common Mynah X 1 Common Mynah X 3 Gould's Wattled Bat X 1 Gould's Wattled Bat X 3 Common Mynah X 1 White-striped Freetail Bat 30 Laughing Kookaburra X 2 Large Forest Bat X 1 Wedge-tailed Eagle 30 White-striped Freetail Bat X 1 Magpie-lark X 2 White-striped Freetail Bat 30 Crimson Rosella X 9 Laughing Kookaburra X 3 White-striped Freetail Bat X 3 Common Mynah X 0 Forest Bat X 2 Crimson Rosella X 1 White-striped Freetail Bat X 0 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo X 4 Gould's Wattled Bat X 1 Australian Magpie X 1 White-striped Freetail Bat X 0 Common Mynah X 9 White-striped Freetail Bat X 13 White-striped Freetail Bat X 13 Common Mynah X 6 Forest Bat 30 Red-rumped Parrot X 1 Forest Bat X 30 Peregrine Falcon 30 Forest Bat X 2 Common Starling X 0 Total 308 = Still present on ground when checked; X=Carcass has been taken by a scavenger. Page 29