Capabilities of the WEBBIRDS system in the process of assessing the impact of wind farms on seasonal bird complexes on the example of spring migrants at the Botiieve wind farm in 2013-2021

Abstract

Abstract This paper contains the analyzed results of field observations of the spring migration of birds on the territory of the Botiieve wind farm in 2013-2021. The work was carried out as part of the planned monitoring of the ornithological situation in the area of the Botiieve wind farm (Pryazovskyi district, Zaporizhzhia region) and also covered the Tubal Estuary formed by the confluence of the Velyka and Mala Domuzla and Akchokrak Rivers and in the mouth of the Korsak River. During each trip, up to 70% of the wind farm area was covered. There were given characteristics of the taxonomic composition of the ornithocomplex, flight phenology, height and direction of migration by seasons and months. In the spring period of 2013-2021, 156,910 individuals of 125 species were recorded in the project area. 52,575 individuals of 92 species of these birds (33.5%) were observed directly within the Botiieve wind farm and buffer zones and there were recorded 104,335 individuals of 99 species (66.5%) at the adjacent wetlands - the Botiieve Ponds and the Tubal Estuary. New methods for collecting, storing and processing information, including mapping, server storage and data processing using two web applications, have been proposed. In order to describe in detail the migration processes in the local area, methods of vector mathematics, as well as computer vision algorithms, were used. The result of the analysis was a gradient map of seasonal bird migration concentration, which allows a differentiated approach to assessing the threats to birds from operating wind turbines. The impact of the Botiieve wind farm on birds during the period of seasonal migrations is estimated to be low.