Pre-Construction Bird and Bat Monitoring at the Turitea Wind Farm

PRE-CONSTRUCTION BIRD AND BAT
MONITORING AT THE TURITEA WIND FARM

R1950s-xvi

PRE-CONSTRUCTION BIRD AND BAT MONITORING AT THE TURITEA WIND FARM

Spectral bat detector (ABM) deployed in a pine tree along South Range Road, Turitea.

Contract Report No. 1950s-xvi

June 2019

Project Team:

Keely Paler - Report author, field work Astrid van Meeuwen-Dijkgraaf - Report author Rachel McClellan - Report author Kerry Borkin - Report author William Shaw - Report author Chris Bycroft - Field work

Prepared for:

Mercury Energy Hamilton

WELLINGTON OFFICE: 22 RAIHA STREET, ELSDON, P.O. BOX 50-539, PORIRUA
Ph 04-237-7341; Fax 04-237-7496

HEAD OFFICE: 99 SALA STREET, P.O. BOX 7137, TE NGAE, ROTORUA
Ph 07-343-9017; Fax 07-343-9018, email [email protected], www.wildlands.co.nz

CONTENTS

1. 2. 3.
INTRODUCTION SITE OVERVIEW METHODS
112234779
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
General Birds Bats Data analysis 3.4.1 Wildlands data 3.4.2 Groundtruth data

4.

BIRDS

4.1
9

9

Overview

4.2

Five-minute bird counts

4.2.1 Kōmako/bellbird 4.2.2 Pīwakawaka/fantail

4.2.3 Riroriro/grey warbler 4.2.4 Tauhou/silvereye

4.2.5 Pōpokotea/whitehead

4.2.6 Tūī
13 13 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 24 24 26 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32

4.2.7 Kererū

4.2.8 Miromiro/pied tomtit

4.2.9 Pūtangitangi/paradise shelduck 4.2.10 Kāhu/swamp harrier

Flight path monitoring Incidental observations At Risk species Comparison with Groundtruth data

4.6.1 Kōmako/bellbird

4.6.2 Karearea/bush falcon 4.6.3 Popokatea/whitehead

4.6.4 Pūtangitangi/paradise shelduck 4.6.5 Kāhu/swamp harrier

4.6.6 Tūī 4.6.7 Miromiro/pied tomtit 4.6.8 Titipounamu/rifleman

4.6.9 Kererū

4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6

5. 6.

BATS

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DISCUSSION OF BIRD SURVEY FINDINGS

33

33 34 35 36 37
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5
Key findings for particular species General bird population patterns Flight paths Groundtruth counts Risk assessment for bird species present at the Turitea wind farm

Contract Report No. 1950s- xvi

6.6

Potential mitigation for avifauna losses

6.6.1 Other options investigated
40 41

7.

THREATENED OR AT RISK SPECIES

41

41 41 41 43 44 44 45
7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7
Overview Bats

Kārearea/bush falcon

Koekoeā/long-tailed cuckoo

Pīhoihoi/New Zealand pipit Pōpokotea/whitehead

Titipounamu/North Island rifleman
8. 9.
POST CONSTRUCTION MONITORING CONCLUSION
45 46 47 47
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS REFERENCES APPENDICES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Relevant consent conditions

49

51 52 62 63 68
Bird species recorded during the pre-construction monitoring At Risk bird species recorded during pre-construction monitoring R output from GLM models used to analyse bird data Summary of bat monitoring records at Turitea Selected photographs

Reviewed and approved for release by:

_______________________ W.B. Shaw Director/Principal Ecologist Wildland Consultants Ltd

This report has been produced by Wildland Consultants Ltd for Mercury Energy. All copyright in this report is the property of Wildland Consultants Ltd and any unauthorised publication, reproduction, or adaptation of this report is a breach of that copyright.

Contract Report No. 1950s- xvi

1.

INTRODUCTION

Mercury NZ Ltd was granted resource consents in 2011 for a modified layout of the proposed Turitea Wind Farm, on the northern end of the Tararua Range. Sixty turbine sites are consented: 33 in the Northern Zone and 27 in the Southern Zone. At this stage, only the northern section is being constructed, however bird and bat monitoring was carried out across the entirety of the consented wind turbine site.

Key concerns associated with potential effects of the wind farm on fauna include the potential for mortality or injury resulting from birds and bats colliding with the turbines and other structures (bird strike), the potential for turbine barrier effects to force birds to alter their flight lines or avoid habitat (habitat avoidance), and the potential for the displacement of birds (habitat loss). There is therefore is a need for a well-considered bird and bat monitoring programme (Board of Inquiry 2011). The resource consent includes conditions requiring monitoring for birds and bats (Appendix 1) and the methodology to address this is described in full in Wildland Consultants (2018).

This report addresses the reporting requirements of this monitoring, as set out in the following conditions:

49. 50.
The results of the Pre-construction Avian and Bat Utilisation Surveys shall be provided in writing to the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council's Environmental Compliance Manager and the Department of Conservation within 20 working days of the completion of the surveys. [Summary report

provided on 14 May 2019]

Final reports detailing the outcomes of the Pre-construction Avian and Bat Utilisation Surveys shall also be provided to the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council's Environmental Compliance Manager and the Department of Conservation within 2 months of completion of the surveys. These final reports shall identify methods to avoid, remedy, or mitigate any adverse effects of the wind farm on threatened avifauna species and/or threatened bat species.

2.

SITE OVERVIEW

The consented layout comprises 33 turbines at the northern end of South Range Road and 27 turbines at the southern end and on Browns Flat. At this stage, only the northern turbine cluster and the transmission lines will be constructed. This report addresses monitoring undertaken across both turbine zones, to enable it to also be applicable should the southern turbine zone also be constructed at a later date. Some of the monitoring was modified in consultation with the Department of Conservation, to reduce effort within the southern zone and increase the survey effort in the northern zone.

The turbine size consented for this project was recently increased via a consent variation, to allow for changes in the turbine sizes currently on the market. Turbines in the northern cluster are likely to comprise Vestas V112 machines, which have the following maximum dimensions:

1

• Turbine rotor diameter 112 metres. • Hub height 69 metres. • Maximum turbine blade tip height 125 metres. • Blade tip ground clearance 13 metres. • Wind swept area 9,852 metres squared.

The main access to the site will be via a new permanent road access from Pahiatua Track, with limited truck movements along Kahuterawa Road and Greens Road to enable to construction of the internal transmission line and the Browns Flat substation. All other truck movements to transport turbine components and construction plant, labour and materials will be along South Range Road and the Water Catchment Road¹.

In addition, construction of the wind farm (for both the Northern and Southern Zones) will include:

••

Alterations to existing access tracks and private roads within the wind farm site. Construction of a number of new tracks within the site to provide access to individual turbines and some transmission tower sites.

•

Vegetation clearance for the creation of these access tracks, road widening, the creation of turbine platforms and lay down areas, substations and other ancillary activities.

•••

Disposal of excess excavation material at identified areas within the site. Site reinstatement, revegetation and new areas of planting within the site. Construction of up to three permanent wind monitoring masts of up to 80 metres in height within the site.

•

An internal transmission network to take electricity generated from each turbine to two on-site substations.

•••

An external transmission line to connect the site with the national grid at Linton. Minor upgrading of some of the public roads providing external access to the site. Ongoing maintenance activities including the monitoring, repair and replacement of turbine components; substation equipment; reticulation network; transmission lines and structures and monitoring masts and roading.

3.

METHODS

3.1

General

1

The width of the Water Catchment Road has been reduced from 10 metres to 7.5 metres, with regular passing bays to reduce the vegetation clearance required for road widening.

2

Methods used in the pre-construction avian survey and pre-construction bat utilisation survey, were developed in consultation with the department of Conservation and are described in full in Wildland Consultants (2018).

3.2

Birds

Birds were monitored across four seasons, as specified in the Consent Condition 47. This has been interpreted to mean that surveys should take place during summer, autumn, winter, and spring, with one of those survey periods being late February-early March (as per Consent Condition 47). The monitoring periods for birds were:

• Season 1: 26/2/18 - 27/3/18. • Season 2: 28/5/18 - 7/6/18. • Season 3: 27/8/18 - 7/9/18. • Season 4: 12/11/18 - 22/11/18.

Five-Minute Bird Counts A network of five-minute bird count stations was established to monitor bird populations pre- and post-construction in the Turitea wind farm area, and in a control site, at Gordon Kear Forest, that will not be affected by construction of the wind farm. Five-minute bird counts were carried out according to the five-minute bird count protocol described by Dawson and Bull (1975), including the modification suggested by Hartley and Greene (2012). This approach was used to address:

• Condition 47.1 Document seasonal species presence and relative abundance. • Condition 47.2 Record seasonal habitat use (part).

Seventy-five five-minute bird count stations were established, including 40 across the entire extent of the consented Tūīrtea wind farm and 35 in the control site at Gordon Kear (Figure 1). All five-minute bird count stations were at least 200 metres apart. The five-minute bird count stations at the Turitea site were located adjacent to areas which are likely to be affected by the wind farm infrastructure in both the northern and southern turbine zones, whilst the five-minute bird count stations at Gordon Kear were located in habitat types which were as similar as possible to those at the Turitea wind farm site.

Two observers visited each five-minute bird count station twice each season (resulting in 150 five-minute bird counts undertaken during each season, for four seasons).

Total effort for five-minute bird counts comprised 100 hours of observations, with 53.3 hours in the Turitea wind farm, and 46.7 hours in the control site. Data was recorded using standard field sheets and then transcribed for analysis.

Flight Path Monitoring Flight path monitoring was used to observe and map bird movements around locations where future wind farm infrastructure is to be situated. A network of flight path stations was established on vantage points and all bird activity and flight paths were recorded (Figure 1). Flight path stations were located near habitats that indigenous birds are

3

likely to move between (e.g. scrub and forest), on high points or in view shafts, enabling observations to be made around key wind farm infrastructure. This was used to address:

••

Condition 47.2 Condition 47.3
Record seasonal habitat use patterns and flight pathways (part). Record seasonal variation for indigenous species that the avian and bat experts determine are at particular risk from wind turbines.

•

Condition 47.4

Analyse relative risk for bird species.

Each flight path station was monitored for 30 minutes by two observers and during this time all birds observed or heard were recorded. Any observed flight paths were drawn onto aerial photographs, and records were made of flight heights, bird species, number of individuals, and the types of habitats or vegetation types the birds move to and from. Where possible, fixed features were measured for height (e.g. the height of a tree or power pole) and this was used as a reference to estimate height.

In the first season, flight path stations were monitored once per observer at 20 stations located across the extent of the consented Turitea wind farm (two observations per station in season 1). In Seasons 2, 3, and 4, the number of flight path stations was reduced to 14, located in the northern turbine zone, and along South Range Road, with views towards the Transmission Corridor. These changes were made in consultation with Department of Conservation staff. These sites were monitored twice per observer (four observations at each flight path station per season).

Overall, 104 hours of flight path monitoring was undertaken. Incidental Observations Additional bird observations were made as observers moved around the wind farm and the control site, with a particular focus on Threatened and At Risk species.

3.3

Bats

The focus of the bat surveys at Turitea was to confirm whether bats use the site. To do this, 30 spectral bat detectors (ABM) were used, rotated between 60 bat monitoring sites. The ABMs enable detection of bats as well as allow for distinction between bat passes and feeding buzzes.

ABMs were generally placed along linear features, near a turbine location (e.g. forestpasture edge), or within the forest, including an area of former pine forest that was felled during 2018. Some stations were located near the Turitea water catchment

4

© 2019
5

lakes, to increase the possibility of detecting any possible bats as they often hunt for insects over water. The stations were located away from any known electronic structures (including electronically-operated dam sluices and electric fences) as these may trigger spurious records.

Bats hibernate during colder weather and only data for valid bat monitoring nights should be included. Conditions required for bats to be active are:

• Temperatures higher than 10^oC. • >70% humidity at dusk. • No more than light rain (2.0 mm per hour; https://weather.niwa.co.nz/about.).

These parameters are most important for the first four hours after dusk. These were determined using weather data from the Ngahere Park Climate Station (Horizons Regional Council) and the Mercury monitoring towers within the wind farm.

Climate data from the Ngahere Park Climate Station was adjusted to account for daylight saving.

In order to comply with Consent Condition 47, bat monitoring was undertaken in all four seasons. Bat boxes were deployed as follows:

• Season 1: 30 bat boxes deployed from 26/2/18-21/3/18. • Season 2: 12 bat boxes deployed from 28/5/18-29/6/18. • Season 3: 12 bat boxes deployed from 27/8/18-23/9/18. • Season 4: All 301 bat boxes from 12/11/18 - 30/4/19.

In the first season, the ABMs were deployed across half of the site, collected and serviced, and then redeployed across the other half of the site.

After discussion with Department of Conservation staff it was agreed to reduce bat survey effort during seasons when temperatures are often too cool (Seasons 2 and 3) to meet the parameters which define a valid monitoring night. Bat monitoring would still be undertaken during these cooler seasons in order to meet the consent conditions. Thus, 12 ABMs was deployed in Seasons 2 and 3, at Game Ridge and at the water catchment lakes. These locations are at lower altitudes and/or in warmer or more sheltered microhabitats that had a greater potential for ongoing bat activity.

To compensate for the reduced monitoring undertaken in the winter months, ABMs were deployed continuously from November 2018 until April 2019, as also decided in consultation with Department of Conservation staff. By monitoring throughout these warmer months, there is a higher possibility of detecting bats, should they be in the area. The 30 ABMs were rotated approximately every two weeks between the 60 identified bat locations, at which time batteries and SD cards were replaced, to ensure successful ongoing data collection.

1

The number of bat boxes decreased over the course of this season, as some bat boxes began to fail due to the prolonged period of time in the field.

6

ABMs in the water treatment plant were removed in the beginning of 2019 to avoid pine felling activities, and an additional six ABMs were relocated prior to the summer monitoring period, to avoid areas directly affected by recent pine harvesting activities.

As the ABMs were deployed continuously for relatively long periods of time, a few of the bat boxes began to fail, particularly towards the end of the summer. These boxes were retrieved and sent to the Department of Conservation for repairs; resulting in reduced monitoring effort in the late part of Season 4.

Table 1: Summary of bat monitoring effort at the Turitea Wind Farm, February 2018 to April 2019.

Number of Valid Monitoring Nights

Season

Number of ABMs

Dates Deployed

Effort¹

1

30 ABMs moved around

60 locations 12 ABMs moved around12 locations 12 ABMs moved around 12 locations

26/2/18-21/3/18

20

413

2

234
28/5/18-29/6/18 27/8/18-23/9/18 12/11/18-30/4/19
106 135
11 18

30 ABMs moved around

159

2,676

3

60 locations
1. Valid bat nights × deployed bat boxes. 2. Climatic data monitoring equipment failure for 15 days during this monitoring period. 3. Reducing during the sampling period due to gradual equipment failure (i.e. some ABMs stopped working due to long deployment) and having to remove ABMs from logging areas near the Turitea water lakes.

A skilled field technician reviewed all files, and any audio files with potential bat recordings were also reviewed by a bat expert.

3.4

Data analysis

3.4.1

Wildlands data

Data analysis was carried out using Excel and R. Five-Minute Counts The statistical design for this study was established to create a layout which is roughly balanced between the consented wind farm (40 five-minute bird count stations) and the control site (35 five-minute bird count stations). Data was collected for the northern and southern turbine clusters. For the purpose of statistical analysis, the data set for both the northern and southern clusters were used, as otherwise the design would have been too unbalanced and there would have been insufficient data points for most species.

Some overview calculations were made to determine overall bird abundances, the most common species, and the ratio of indigenous to introduced species. All of the At Risk bird species observed as part of this study were recorded at low or very low numbers. All recorded observations of At Risk species are presented in tabular form in Appendix 3.

7

Separate analysis were then undertaken for each bird species to determine if there are any significant seasonal or habitat differences in the conspicuousness of birds and whether this was the same between the wind farm and the control site. Candidate species were selected based on whether there was sufficient data to run an analysis, and were further narrowed down to the more common indigenous species and ones which are likely to be negatively impacted by the wind farm. Introduced and Naturalised species were not analysed separately, because it is of less concern if the future wind farm was to result in any potential adverse impacts on these species.

The candidate species selected were kōmako/bellbird, fantail, riroriro/grey warbler, tauhou/silvereye, pōpokotea/whitehead, tūī, kererū, miromiro/pied tomtit,

pūtangitangi/paradise shelduck, and kāhu/swamp harrier. These species were analysed

using Generalised Linear Models. During the exploratory phase of statistical analysis, models included site (Turitea vs. Gordon Kear) and five-minute bird count station as randomised blocking variables. Whilst this is theoretically the best approach, these models produced error warnings, which indicated insufficient data at this stage to analyse the data using this model without overfitting the data. Instead simple GLM models using combinations of vegetation type, site, and season, with a Poisson distribution were used to analyse the results. The covariate models tested for each species are:

• Species ~ Season, family = poisson() • Species ~ Site, family = poisson() • Species ~ Vegetation, family = poisson() • Species ~ Season + site*season, family = poisson() • Species ~ Vegetation + site* vegetation, family = poisson() • Species ~ Season + Vegetation*Season, family = poisson() • Species ~ Season * site* vegetation, family = poisson()