The Round 2 wind farm Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)1
identified a significant baseline data gap for Round 2 wind farm areas on
the distribution and main flight paths of waterbirds including migratory,
feeding/roosting patterns and their behavioural response to wind farms.
Following a review of the data collected it was clear that there were gaps
in the understanding of the distribution of waterbirds within each of the
three strategic offshore wind farm areas: Thames, East Irish Sea and
Greater Wash. The data is required by developers in order for them
undertake a valid Environmental Impact Assessment and are also
required in order to identify boundaries for potential Special Protection
Areas (SPA) under the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC).
In order to rectify the data gap it was decided to fulfil these inter-related
needs as a single coherent aerial survey project with support from the
offshore wind farm industry, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
(JNCC), English Nature (EN), Countryside Council for Wales (CCW),
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Department of
Trade and Industry.
In July 2004 a panel of experts from JNCC, EN, CCW, DEFRA and DTI
met to identify the areas of priority and to draw up an aerial bird survey
programme for 2004 and 2005 that covered the three strategic areas,
plus adjoining areas identified as potentially important for birds. The
conclusions reached at the meeting were circulated to industry and it
was agreed to proceed with a joint approach.