Part B - Technical instructions 
33 
Baseline study 
Construction Operation phase 
phase 
Method 
(continued) 
• Flight heights can be estimated on the basis of the deck/mast height of the ship or, 
during the construction and operation phase, on the basis of the wind turbine mea 
surements. Height classification is as follows: 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-20 m, 20-50 m, 
50-100 m, 100-200 m and > 200 m. During construction and operation phase, ad 
ditional height classification is as follows: „Below rotor area“, „Lower half of rotor 
blade“, „Upper half of rotor blade“ and „Above tip of rotor blade“. 
• The assignation of flight direction data must be correct to 45° (N, NE, SE, S, SW, W, 
NW). 
• Recording of reactions of flying birds when confronted with wind turbines should 
follow the behaviour and association codes (see p. 54 f.). 
• Once per hour, the number of all ship associated birds should be recorded separa 
tely. 
• Where a stable platform is available, birds have to be additionally registered by me 
ans of a spotting scope with a defined field of view (sea watching, see Dierschke et 
al. 2005). The field of view depends on the spotting scope’s magnification and 
angle of view (all birds up to a distance corresponding with the range of vision). A 
wide-angle spotting scope with 30 x magnification and at least 80 mm objective 
diameter should be used. The observation location must not be more than 80 m 
above sea level. In the event of sea watching, the horizon of the survey area should 
be panned at low speed two to three times per quarter-hour interval. 
• To identify potential evasive behaviour/attraction, 
4 observation areas (sectors) of 90° are defined 
(depending on site conditions, 2 sectors of 180°). 
In the event of 4 possible sectors, at least one 
line of vision is towards the building site/wind 
farm, ideally two. If only 2 lines of vision can be 
surveyed, one must face the wind farm. The lines 
of vision are surveyed in alternating order for 
15 min. each within one hour (in the event of two 
sectors, each twice for 15 min., alternating the 
line of vision) (see Aumuller et al. 2013). 
Recording of flight calls: 
• At night, ship based recording of flight calls per species. In the event of platform 
based recording, automated flight call registration is preferred, in co-ordination with 
the BSH (see p. 64). 
Presenta 
tion of 
results 
Presentation of migration observation results: 
• Relative flight/call intensities per observation day/night, in tables (e. g. birds/h or 
calls/h). 
• Mean relative flight/call intensities in the course of the day (compiled by months). 
• Relative distribution of flight altitudes (using above levels) and flight directions for 
each observation day, in tables or as graphs averaged on a monthly basis (time-of- 
day distribution). 
• Same procedure for sea watching, broken down by the most frequent species/ 
species groups (see p. 27). 
• List of observed bird species broken down by day, night and months. 
• Comparison of species-related migration rates in 
all surveyed sectors, depending on “line of vision 
facing wind farm” and “line of vision turned away 
from wind farm”. 
• Table showing all reactions and non-reactions, in 
particular changes in flight direction and height.