2004-2005, RHDHV, Thanet, Aerial and Boat Based Bird Surveys

Aerial and boat based bird survey data for Thanet Wind Farm, 2004 - 2006. This project details the aerial and boat based surveys undertaken at the site of the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm. Between November 2004 and September 2005, a total of eleven boat surveys of birds were undertaken around the planned Thanet Offshore Wind Farm site, a surrounding buffer zone, and a control area. Additionally four aerial surveys were carried out over a wider area extending beyond the wind farm site within DTI survey block TH2. A total of 15 transects were used in the boat surveys (9 survey block transects traversing the wind farm and buffer zone, and 6 control transects) though due to changes in the study area, two of the surveys sampled only 14 transects, one survey sampled 13 and another only 12 transects. Bird density estimates with means and standard errors for the wind farm site, buffer zone, and control site have been calculated from data from each of the 11 boat surveys. Separate estimates and standard errors are provided for the wind farm site and buffer zone (the study area), and for the control area.