Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm is set to commence its second bird conservation trial following a successful pilot study last year.
Known as an Observer Led Shut Down on Demand programme (OLSDOD), it is aimed at mitigating loss of priority bird species on the wind farm. It is one of the five Eastern Cape wind farms that is working to conserve natural habitats and protect local wildlife through the establishment and funding of the Greater Kromme Stewardship (GKS).
“We are very proud of the programme and look forward to commencing our second trial very soon. Last year we used naturally raised, higher vantage points, but we’re hoping to have raised platforms built this year for our monitors,” said Marli Schoeman, Environmental Specialist for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, Globeleq South Africa.
The OLSDOD system is implemented through notification by a team of bird monitors to the wind farm’s on-site operations room, where individual wind turbines are switched off when the priority species are in the vicinity and switched on again once the bird has passed by.
The programme includes a team of three permanent monitors and twelve additional monitors. The team has received training from local birders to recognise the identified priority species which include: Black Harriers, the endangered Martial Eagle and African Marsh-Harrier, Lanner Falcon, Secretary Bird, Blue Crane, White Bellied Korhaan, and the Denham’s Bustard.
Since its inception six years ago, the GKS has been widely recognised for securing more priority land for conservation in the Kouga region than any other independent conservation body in the last fifty years. The organisation is a partnership of five local wind farms, who are its funders, and an environmentalist NGO.
Since its inception six years ago, the Greater Kromme Stewardship initiative has been widely recognised for securing more priority land for conservation in the Kouga region than any other independent conservation body in the last fifty years. The organisation is a partnership of five local wind farms, who are its funders, and an environmentalist NGO.
