28 
Part B - Technical instructions 
Baseline study Construction Operation phase 
phase 
Method 
Ship transect survey: 
After Garthe et al. (2002), unless otherwise specified below. 
• Transect spacing: 3 km or up to 4 km, if required (no smaller spacing to minimise 
disturbance). 
• Transect width: Observation of 300 m to either side of the vessel, each side covered 
by a team of two observers (port/starboard). If dazzling sunlight (glare) renders 
observations impossible on one side of the ship, observation on that side is 
suspended. Zoning of transect bands should follow suitable methods (see p. 53). 
• Transect direction: Cross shore if possible, in order to record gradients; e. g. in the 
German Bight off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein preferably east-to-west, off the 
coast of Lower Saxony preferably north-to-south. 
• Cruising speed: Between 7 and 16 kn, optimally 10 kn. 
• Counting intervals: Survey in one-minute intervals. For geographical positioning the 
ship’s position is recorded by GPS in the same interval. 
• All birds within the transect as well as their primary behaviour (unaffected by the 
survey vessel) and associated behaviour (e. g. influenced by the wind turbine) 
should be recorded according to the behaviour and association codes (see p. 54 f.). 
In addition, all birds outside the transect should be recorded including data regar 
ding behaviour/associate behaviour. For birds in flight, the additional indication of 
flight direction (correct to 45°) and flight altitude should be recorded. 
• To avoid double counts in determining bird densities of birds in flight, application of 
the snapshot method is indispensable, during which, at 1-minute intervals (digital 
clock), all birds in the transect section at the full minute are recorded as “in 
transect” (of. fig. 9, p. 56). The length of the transect section is determined by the 
ship’s speed (see table 3, p. 56). The bird survey follows the SAS bird (of. p. 59 f.). 
• Observer position: Top deck or wing of the navigating bridge, eye level of the obser 
ver at least 5 m (better: 7 m) above water level. The survey must not be carried out 
from the bridge. 
• Survey conditions: The survey has to be interrupted at sea state > 4. Visibility 
should not be less than 5 km. Surveys must take place only from dawn to sunset. 
The following additional information should be recorded: 
• Meteorological data. 
• Shipping traffic on both sides of the transect line (in as far as possible). 
• Operating status (on/off) of the wind turbines on both sides of the transect line (in 
as far as possible). 
Aircraft transect survey: 
Digital video or photo survey is carried out with suitable methods in co-ordination 
with the BSH (see Groom et al. 2013, Buckland et al. 2012). The aerial survey results 
are used also for the assessment of marine mammals in the assessment area (see 
table 4.1). 
Presenta 
tion of 
results 
Presentation of occurrence for relevant species: 
• Presentation of seasonal mean values (see table 4, p. 62) and maximum value. 
• Table showing seasonal cycle on the basis of monthly (mean) values of density. 
• Table showing abundance of relevant species in the project area and within a radius 
of 1,000 m, 2,000 m and 4,000 m around the project area. 
• Total species list indicating individuals observed (incl. animals observed outside the 
transect bands).