The document summarizes bird and bat monitoring results from the Prince Wind Farm project in Timmins, Ontario between 2006-2008. It describes the monitoring program conducted by Natural Resource Solutions Inc. including pre and post-construction surveys of birds, bats and other wildlife. Post-construction monitoring found low levels of bird and bat mortality at the wind farm, below averages seen at other forested wind projects. Bird behavior monitoring showed some avoidance during construction but no significant changes in bird populations or behavior post-construction.

1. Prince Wind Farm
Bird and Bat Monitoring
David Stephenson
Lisa Keable
March 3, 2009
Timmins, Ontario

2. Overview
• Who we are
• Prince study area
• Monitoring program
• Monitoring results
• Recommendations
• Questions

3. Natural Resource Solutions Inc.
– 30 full-time terrestrial, wetland and aquatic
biologists
– Head Office – Waterloo, ON
– Local Office – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
– Senior staff over 20 years experience
– >60 wind power projects
across Canada
Who We Are

4. Prince Study Area

5. Pre-Construction
Monitoring Program
• Vegetation inventories & mapping
• Wildlife surveys, herpetofauna, birds,
mammals
• Fisheries surveys
• Study area changed
with the layout

6. Post-Construction
Monitoring Program
Phase I (southwestern half) operational in early September 2006
Phase II (northeastern half) operational November 2006
Fall 2006:
-Phase I post construction/operation year 1
-Phase II during construction
Spring 2007
-Phase I and II post construction/operation year 1
Fall 2007
-Phase I post construction/operation year 2
-Phase II post construction/operation year 1
Spring 2008
-Phase I and II post construction/operation year 2
Fall 2008
-Phase II post construction/operation year 2

7. Post-Construction
Monitoring Program
Birds
– Spring and fall bird behaviour monitoring
• Migration and soaring
• Changes in number of birds in the area (utilization rates)
• Changes in composition of bird community
• Changes in behaviour (flight height & direction)
– All birds versus loons, waterfowl & raptors
– Breeding bird monitoring
• 100 vs 250m from edge
– Helicopter waterfowl surveys
– Mortality monitoring

8. Monitoring Program
Bats
– Spring and fall migration and summer
swarming periods
– Radar monitoring
– Acoustic surveys
– Mortality monitoring

9. Bird Monitoring
During Construction Results
– Some changes observed at Phase II:
• landbird avoidance
• increased soaring birds & heights

10. Bird Monitoring
Post-Construction Results
– No evidence of change in:
• Utilization rates
• Bird populations or behaviour
• Species composition or abundance
• Flight direction or height
(some avoidance observed)
• Extent of edge effects

11. Mortality Monitoring
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February March April May July August September October November December Overall
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AverageSearcherEfficiency......
Birds 2007
Bats 2007
Birds 2006
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Days
CarcassesRemaining(%)
Birds - February
Birds - March
Birds - April
Birds - May
Birds - September
Birds - October
Bats - July
Bats - August
Bats - September
Bats - October
Searcher Efficiency &
Scavenger Removal Trials

12. Mortality Monitoring
Month Bird Mortalities Adjusted Bird Mortalities
Phase I Phase II Total Phase I Phase II Total
April 1 1 2 1.41 1.41 2.82
May 4 2 6 6.24 3.12 9.36
June 1 0 1 2 0 2
July 1-8 0 0 0 0 0 0
July 9-31 5 0 5 6.90 0 6.95
August 6 9 15 9.36 14.04 23.4
September 5 3 8 7.6 4.2 11.8
October 5 2 7 8.24 3.12 9.02
Total 27 17 44 41.8 25.89 67.69
Avg/turbine*
Apr – July 8
.30 .16 0.23 0.48 0.25 0.37
Avg/turbine*
Jul 9 – Oct 31
.32 .23 0.28 0.48 0.36 0.42
Overall
Average
.31 0.19 0.25 0.48 0.30 0.39
Avg/turbine**
Fall 2006
1.25 2.02

13. Mortality Monitoring
Month Bat Mortalities Adjusted Bat Mortalities
Phase I Phase II Total Phase I Phase II Total
April 0 0 0 0 0 0
May 6 6 12 9.36 9.36 18.72
June 4 5 9 8 10 18
July 1-8 4 0 4 8 0 8
July 9-31 64 20 84 93.42 28.22 121.64
August 30 24 54 46.8 38.32 85.12
September 18 9 27 26.48 12.96 39.44
October 1 1 2 1.17 1.17 2.34
Total 127 65 192 193.23 100.03 293.26
Avg/turbine*
Apr – July 8
.70 .61 0.66 1.27 1.08 1.18
Avg/turbine*
Jul 9 – Oct 31
1.71 0.9 1.31 2.54 1.34 1.94
Overall
Average
1.21 0.76 0.99 1.91 1.21 1.54
Avg/turbine**
Fall 2006
1.55 1.91

14. Mortality Monitoring
Bats Birds
Phase I Phase I
2007 2008 2007 2008
April 0 1 April 3 1
May 18 3 May 12 9
June 12 23 June 3 8
July 68 71 July 5 3
August 30 45 August 6 7
Total 98 98 Total 23 21
Phase II Phase II
April 0 0 April 3 1
May 18 0 May 6 7
June 15 13 June 0 3
July 20 33 July 0 2
August 24 33 August 9 3
Total 77 79 Total 18 16

15. Overall Results –
Post Construction Monitoring
The results of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 bird and bat
mortality monitoring at the Prince Wind project, were
not higher than the averages presented in many
current studies. In fact the Prince results are
substantially lower (less than one-tenth) than the
examples provided of other wind facilities in forested
ridge landscapes
No evidence to suggest that the operation of the Prince
Wind Power Project is causing a significant decline in
bird utilization rates
Flight height monitoring showed evidence of avoidance
during construction and limited evidence that some
species fly higher during operation

16. Questions
Thank you
for inviting us to speak today