Work package 3d: Eagle survey
Background
White-tailed eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) has been compromised (VU), protected, species of Annex I to the Birds Directive. Studies have shown that the eagle avoids humans and does not nest in the immediate vicinity of human activities. The increase in the volume of wind power projects and the focus on the hinterland has led to the fact that the eagle and wind power will compete for the same areas in the future.
The risk exposure of the eagle to the effects of wind power production is due to the high proportion of areas exposed to wind power and the ecological characteristics of the species. Fstakeholders affecting the sensitivity of the eagle include the extent of predatory territory, the species' sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbances, the known risk of birds of prey colliding in cooperation with wind turbines, low annual fry yield and the dependence of the population's viability on the longevity of adult specimens. Even low additional mortality reduces the viability of the stock.
Methodology
The background data included Metsähallitus' monitoring data on nesting sites and offspring production (e.g. Ollila 2008, 2018, 2021) and literature data. Peer-reviewed habitat and flight sum modelling for nesting birds (Tikkanen et al. 2018, model update Tikkanen et al. 2022). The analysis tool in this study was logistic regression analysis. The collision risk analyses have been carried out on a site-specific basis using Band's so-called space model (Band et al. 2007), which is widely used in EIA projects in Finland. Population modelling was done using a matrix model. The methods are consistent in cooperation with the implemented EIA projects and the publication of Metsähallitus (2022) "Good practices for the assessment of the impacts on the eagle - exemplary report on the Nimettökangas wind power project" https://julkaisut.metsa.fi/assets/pdf/lp/Asarja/a241.pdf.
All the areas selected as potential wind power areas for the 251 TUULI projects (yes, potential and non-yes) and the wind farms built and licensed were examined. Theoretical power plant locations were created for the wind power areas according to the location control model in cooperation with a grid model (theoretical maximum number, 800 m between the power plants). Plant sites in accordance in cooperation with the plans have been used in the built-up and licensed areas (4/2022).
In this study, the regional wind power areas were examined. overall impacts The eagle population in Northern Ostrobothnia and recommendations for land use planning were made so that eagles could be taken into account both when planning wind power projects and when drawing up the regional plan.
The report was prepared by a biologist. Hannu Tikkanen. You can download the completed report this.
Results
Northern Ostrobothnia has 89 eagle reefs, of which 82 are located in a built, planned, ongoing project or a potential wind power area in accordance in cooperation with the TUULI project's location management model. The combined risk of power plant sites for already built, planned and ongoing projects (as of April 2022) is below the regional risk threshold, but the risk threshold is exceeded in several parcels in a region-by-region analysis.
The report states that if: all potential wind power areas built, licensed/zoned and in accordance in cooperation with the location control model are taken into account, so that the computational critical limit for the risk of a collision (0.08) is exceeded in most of the tracks. The cumulative combined effects of all wind power sites on the eagle population of the settlement area become significant when the calculated additional mortality exceeds more than twice the critical amount.
In practice, the regionally significant wind power areas presented in the regional plan may partly be located on the land eagle territory, but more detailed planning and impact assessment in the EIA and zoning process can mitigate the effects on the land eagle.
Srecommendations for planning wind power construction
It is recommended that regional planning be directed in such a way that projects are directed more efficiently outside the eagles' core areas and that future projects are not likely to be planned in areas in cooperation with significant impacts. This is important both for the smooth progress of projects and for the conservation of the species..
Principle of prudence In line in cooperation with this, it is important that the demarcation and planning regulations of the wind turbine areas in the regional plans take into account the results of the assessment, both regionally and regionally, ensuring that the planning solutions do not cause significant interactions in cooperation with the eagle at either regional level.
Steering effect from the point of view of the study, it is recommended that, in more detailed planning, plan boundaries are designed in such a way that risky power plant sites according to the study are not included in the boundaries as a matter of principle.
