2004, Environmentally Sustainable Systems Ltd. (ESS), Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms, Ornithological Monitoring

Description

This project relates to the ornithological monitoring that took place at the offshore wind farms of Lynn and Inner Dowsing in the pre-construction phase.  The purpose of the monitoring work at Lynn and Inner Dowsing is to fulfil the objectives provided in Annex 2 of the Schedule to FEPA Licence Nos.31792/03/1.  Boat based and aerial surveys were conducted between November 2002 and April 2004. The goal of the project is threefold:
1. Assess changes in usage of area by feeding birds and birds on passage
2. Assess collision risk prior to construction of the wind farm and investigate techniques/methodologies for collecting data on actual collisions during and post construction. 
3. Survey benthos to inform reasons for possible changes in bird distribution and density on site.
The outcomes of the survey show that it is predicted that the disturbance of feeding divers will not be significantly greater than the level described in the Environmental Statements and Addendum Reports for Inner Dowsing and Lynn wind farms.  It was concluded that there are currently no December of February data on which to make an assessment, only a further boat survey in December 2004 and two boat surveys in February 2004 are recommended.