Avian collision threat assessment at ‘Bhambarwadi Wind Farm Plateau’ in northern Western Ghats, India.

Abstract

Abstract:To address the shortage of power in India, wind energy is increasingly harnessed as an alternate and renewable energy source. There is a rapid increase in the number of wind farms at suitable sites all over the country. Some of the key sites with optimal wind velocities are the plateaus on the Western Ghats -a global hotspot of biological diversity. The rocky plateaus on the Western Ghats are terrestrial habitat islands facing extreme micro-environmental conditions; however, scanty information is available on the ecology of these plateaus. We undertook a two-year study to assess the impact of wind farms on birds. We also documented the avian diversity at Bhambarwadi Plateau, northern Western Ghats, India. To the best of our knowledge this is the first such study in India. We recorded 89 avian species on the plateau, 27 of which flew in the risk area swept by the rotor blades, and hence are potentially at risk of collision. The collision index (the number of bird collisions with wind turbines over a period of one year assuming that the birds do not take any avoidance measure) for these species were estimated. We also identified species at risk from collision with transformers and wind-masts, and at risk from electrocution. Reduction in avian activity in the study area was evident with progress of wind farm erection. Despite the small footprint of an individual wind turbine, the associated infrastructure development causes wider habitat modification and destruction resulting in a displacement effect. Therefore, wind farm erections in strategic locations such as biodiversity hotspots should be subject to prior site based strategic environmental assessments (SEA) as well as environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies.Keywords: Bird collision index, bird collision probability, electrocution, plateaus, raptors, risk species, Western Ghats, wind farm.

Avian Electrocutions in Western Rajasthan, India

“…India's government is working to provide electric power to all households and, although this goal has not yet been achieved, power is currently being provided to many rural centers (Modi 2005) and new power-generation facilities are being developed (Pande et al 2013). The poles used to deliver this power typically operate at 11 or 33 kilovolts (kV) of alternating current and the power lines cross undeveloped landscapes occupied by numerous avian species.…”

Bat mortality due to collision with wind turbines in Kutch District, Gujarat, India

“…Several authors from various parts of the world have discussed the wind farm mortality of bats (Barclay et al 2007;Miller 2008;Cryan & Barclay 2009;Graham & Hudak 2011;Jameson & Wills 2012). However, despite the large number of wind farms found in India, their impact on birds and bats has been sporadically reported, except for the very recent report of Pande et al (2013). In this paper we report mortality of bats due to collision with the wind turbines in Kutch District, Gujarat.…”

Raorchestes ghatei, a new species of shrub frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

“…There is a large wind farm near the type locality at Chalkewadi and the other localities are also potential wind farm sites. Pande et al (2013) have discussed threat of wind farms to avifauna wherein they discuss the windmill erection activity to be a measured threat to general diversity as well. Recently, Dahanukar et al (2013) reported the presence of chytrid fungal infection in morphologically identified R. bombayensis from Taleghar, which should be attributed to the R. ghatei sp.…”