News

December 2024

Tara Wind Farm has recently completed its third bird and bat survey in the Project area.

The surveys form part of a series of in-depth ecological studies on wildlife and habitat protection.

What is a bird and bat survey?

A bird and bat survey identifies species of bird and bat and their site utilisation and movement patterns within the Project area to assess the potential risk of collision with wind turbines. The surveys also aim to identify bird and bat habitats and threatened species listed under State and Commonwealth legislation.

Why are we conducting bird and bat surveys?

Survey data will inform wind farm design by identifying key areas of bird and bat utilisation or areas of high potential wind turbine collision risk, with the key objective of minimising impacts to bird and bat species through design considerations.  The primary purpose of the Bird and Bat Management Plan (BBMP) is to describe the mitigation and management measures the Project will commit to; and to provide the long-term monitoring program the Project will undertake to assess the effectiveness of these measures on protecting bird and bat species.

How is a bird and bat survey conducted?

Suitably qualified ecologists conduct targeted field surveys within the specified Project area across wet and dry seasons to capture variation in species utilisation across seasons and to maximise the likelihood of detecting key target species. The data is collected from various locations within the Project area during different times of the day using stationary observations, land-based active area searches, and targeted habitat searches.

What happens next?

There is one remaining survey to be completed, and it will be conducted in February 2025. This survey is scheduled to capture the migration season of threatened and migratory birds (fork-tailed swift and white-throated needletail). Along with other ecological survey data conducted for the Project, including a targeted microbat survey, the survey will provide a detailed overview of bird and bat movements within the Project area and contribute to the Tara Wind Farm BBMP.