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Birds of prey, or raptors, are regularly encountered in the UK, with many species present all year round. As predators and scavengers, these species are vital to balanced and healthy ecosystems, and it’s crucial to consider any impacts on both bird populations and habitats when planning a renewable energy development.
Like all other wild birds, raptors are protected by law in the UK, as are their nests, eggs and young. Some species (known as ‘Schedule 1 birds’) are also afforded extra protection during their breeding season; such as goshawks, peregrine falcons, barn owls and golden eagles.
The legislation
It is a legal requirement for developers to carry out bird surveys that assess the potential impacts of the proposed development on birds and their environment. Although the exact wording changes between the constituent countries, the main pieces of legislation to be aware of regarding birds of prey in the UK are:
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended: Part 1 of this Act protects all wild birds, eggs and nests.
- Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: This provides additional protection to certain species (‘Schedule 1 birds’) during their breeding season, as well as to their nests, eggs and dependent young. This protection extends to nests outside of the breeding season that might be reused by some species.
It’s therefore important to engage an ornithology specialist who can advise you on survey requirements, and develop mitigation strategies to reduce negative impacts on bird species and their habitats.
Survey season and methodology
Raptors are often elusive and can be quite difficult to spot. However, many species can be more visible during courtship displays early in the breeding period. For this reason, this is the most effective time to identify whether some species, for example goshawk, are present around the site of your development.
Generally, the breeding bird period in the UK is considered to be mid-March to mid-July (inclusive), although this can change depending on species and where you are in the UK. The season tends to start later further north, however, eagle courtship displays can begin much earlier, nest refurbishment might occur as early as November, and barn owls have been recorded with eggs in January and dependent young in December.
To adequately understand how a development will affect raptor populations, some sites might need multiple survey types. The specific methodology will depend on the site’s habitat – for example, we would use a different methodology on a moorland site than on a lowland arable site. However, a combination of vantage point surveys and walkovers could be expected:
- Walkovers surveys help to understand the abundance and distribution of populations over a certain area
- Vantage Point surveys are used to assess flight activity and its distribution, identifying potential risks of birds colliding with overhead objects, such as wind turbines or cables.
Equally, if protected species aren’t present, and you can commit to working outside of key bird activity periods – such as the breeding season – you might not need to carry out survey work. This is where an experienced ornithologist can provide insight and advice on your survey requirements and mitigations.
Key takeaways
Raptors are important species, often afforded extra protection, so it is important to assess any potential impacts of a development, and to ensure compliance with wildlife protection laws. Not doing so can lead to serious consequences for developers, from project delays to having planning refused, which can be costly. There can also be legal ramifications in certain situations, which can be particularly severe if a Schedule 1 bird species is affected.
Engaging an experienced ornithologist early on in your project planning helps to reduce negative effects, on both wildlife and your development. The earlier you seek advice, the earlier we can support you to navigate legal requirements and develop survey and mitigation strategies that will keep your development moving in a compliant manner.
Contact our in-house ecology specialists today for support with your onshore renewable energy development.
