Protocol

Kent Hills Wind Farm Expansion

Post-Construction Monitoring
January 2010

TransAlta Corporation
110 - 12th Avenue S.W.
Box 1900, Station M
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 2M1

(403) 267-2000
www.transalta.com

Introduction
TransAlta Corp. (TransAlta) is developing the Kent Hills Wind Farm Expansion (the
Project) in Albert County, New Brunswick. This Project was subject to the Clean
Environment Act, and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) registration was
undertaken. TransAlta received a Certificate of Determination for this EIA on December
18, 2009. One of the conditions of approval was the undertaking of post-construction
monitoring of bird and bat populations at the site. This document presents a protocol for
this follow-up program, incorporating comments from Environment Canada, following
their review of an earlier draft.

Background
For the Kent Hills Wind Farm New Brunswick EIA registration, and subsequent
Environmental Assessment (EA) Report to support a Screening under the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), extensive fieldwork, consultation and analysis
was undertaken. This included a thorough characterization of the natural environment at
the site of the original Kent Hills Wind Farm and Expansion, including vegetation, birds
and other vertebrate species. Specifically, for the original application, bird surveys were
carried out onsite for seven seasons (spring, summer and fall of 2006; winter, spring,
summer and fall 2007). For the Expansion Project application, a 2008 fall bird migration
study was completed focusing on the Expansion (G-row and H-Row) part of the Study
Area, to supplement the 2006 and 2007 data.

Habitat
The Kent Hills Wind Farm Expansion is to be located in the Southern New Brunswick
Uplands Ecoregion of the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone, in eastern New Brunswick. Kent
Hills is located 5 km northeast of Fundy National Park. The site is situated on a plateau
and is irregularly shaped, approximately 12 km long and as much as 5.5 km wide. The
land is currently owned by the province (Crown Land), and there are logging roads to
and through the site which are frequently used by ATV drivers. The Study Area is
located between elevation 350 m and 400 m. The habitat within the Project boundaries
is predominately mixed or hardwood forest, with some nursery/plantation areas. Much of
the habitat is young, with numerous clear-cuts at various stages of regeneration.

Birds
As part of the original EIA Report a field program was employed to collect data on birds
in the Primary Study Area, with emphasis on migrating birds. A migration monitoring
program was undertaken in the spring (April/May) and autumn (September/October) of
2006. Additionally, breeding bird surveys were conducted within the Primary Study Area
in June 2006. The results of these surveys were presented in the original EIA report.
Supplemental surveys were also conducted in the breeding and fall migration seasons in
2007. A migration and breeding bird monitoring report for the 2007 surveys was
provided in the response to TRC Comments.
As follow up to the 2006 and 2007 bird monitoring programs, a 2008 fall bird migration
study was completed focusing on the Expansion (G-row and H-Row) part of the Study
Area, to supplement the 2006 and 2007 data.
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Kent Hills Wind Farm Expansion

January 2010

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Scope of Monitoring
TransAlta has committed to undertaking up to two years of focused post-construction
monitoring, with a commitment to assess the results of the first year of monitoring in
cooperation with Environment Canada and New Brunswick Department of Natural
Resources to determine the need for the second year.
Monitoring will be focused on repeating certain aspects of the bird survey program to
compare pre-existing conditions with those during the first year or two years of Project
operation. Specifically, the monitoring program will examine the Projects effect on bird
and bat casualties at 10 wind turbine sites.
The spatial extent of the post-construction monitoring will include the extent of the
Project as constructed. Temporally, bird and casualty surveys will be undertaken during
the spring, summer and fall, as outlined below.

Survey Methodology
The survey methodology outlined below is considered appropriate for this Project, and is
based on standardized and tested methodology of surveys completed at other TransAlta
operational projects and other wind energy facilities. Consideration was given to
Environment Canadas protocol guidance document (Environment Canada 2007) during
the drafting of this protocol.

Casualty Surveys
Casualty surveys will be undertaken during spring (mid-April and May), summer (June
and July) and fall (August to mid-October) periods. Frequency of surveys will be weekly,
but this may be increased if carcass removal/scavenging frequency is high at the site
(see below).
A representative sample of 10 of the 18 wind turbines will be selected for surveying, and
will be representative of spatial extent of the wind farm, lit vs. unlit, and habitat found in
the Project area. At each turbine, a circular plot will be searched, with a radius of 50 m
centered on the base of the turbine. All open area within this circular plot will be
searched for casualties, and an assessment completed on a site-by-site basis as to the
efficacy of searching in vegetated areas within the plot. If searcher efficiency is
compromised in certain areas, the approximate area compromised will be mapped and
noted for later use in correcting for searcher efficiency and interpreting data.
Searching will be efficient through the use of two people and a rope 57 m in length. This
methodology has proven very effective for casualty searches at TransAltas
Summerview Wind Farm. One observer is situated at the end of the rope and another is
situated 7 m from the end of the rope (57 m and 50 m from the turbine base,
respectively). As the observers walk together in a circle around the base of the turbine,
keeping the rope taut, the rope wraps around the turbine base, thus creating a spiral
search path, which continues until the observers are at the base of the turbine. This
method allows the observers to focus on searching for bird and bat casualties without
being distracted by following flagged paths or prescribed search areas.
Each carcass detected will be identified to species, aged and sexed in the field if
possible (using Pyle (1997) or other sources), or retained for future identification, ageing
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Kent Hills Wind Farm Expansion

January 2010

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and sexing. (Note: appropriate federal collection permits will be obtained from
Environment Canada if specimens are to be retained.) The location of each carcass will
be recorded using a handheld GPS, and the condition of the carcass (Table 1) and
probable cause of death (with rationale for the determination) will be noted. Carcasses of
bats and birds will be removed from the sampling area to avoid attracting scavengers,
and assuming the appropriate permits are obtained, specimens will be made available to
museum and university staff, Environment Canada or the New Brunswick Department of
Natural Resources for examination and/or necropsy.
Table 1. Carcass condition categories.
Code

Description

M
F
R
D

Injured or moribund.
Freshly dead with little or no decay or scavenging by insects; probably died within 48 hours.
Recently dead but with noticeable decay or scavenging by insects; probably died within 1-7 days.
Decomposed carcass, barely recognizable or not recognizable to species; probably dead more
than 7 days.
Residual remains, such as feathers, bones, blood or other scraps of tissue.

In addition to bird and bat carcasses, any injured or moribund individuals will be
recorded in the same fashion as above for fatalities. These moribund individuals will be
humanely euthanized (the appropriate permit will be obtained from Environment
Canada). Circumstantial evidence of bird or bat casualty (e.g., feathers, blood spots) will
be noted also, geo-referenced and identified to species if possible (in the case of bird
feathers).
To assess the influence of scavenging on carcass removal in each season, a sample of
carcasses (such as chicks, quails and chickens obtained from suppliers) will be placed in
similar habitat at least 500m away from any sample station and checked daily for a
period of a week, or until all of the carcasses have been scavenged. Results of this test
will be used to correct mortality estimates for the effect of carcass removal by
scavengers.
Searcher efficiency will also be tested. Carcasses will be placed by someone other than
searchers within one of the circle plots, and searchers will walk following the searching
method noted above. Each searcher will walk the search path noting the location of
carcasses. This test will provide a measure of variability between searchers and
searching success for the study team, offering an overall estimate of the efficiency of the
searching methodology.
These trials will be repeated in each season of sampling to address inter-seasonal
variability in scavenging and searcher efficiency (due to vegetation cover differences).

Data Analysis and Reporting

A final report will be produced that will provide raw data and results analysis of the postconstruction monitoring program. The report will be shared with Environment Canada
and New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources for review and discussion.

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Kent Hills Wind Farm Expansion

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Literature Cited
Environment Canada. 2007. Recommended Protocols for Monitoring Impacts of Wind
Turbines on Birds. April 2007.
Pyle, P. 1997. Identification guide to North American birds - part 1. Slate Creek Press,
Bolinas, CA.

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