An ecological monitoring programme starts in Fryslân Wind Farm and the newly constructed work/nature island near Kornwerderzand. During 5 years, consultancy firms Bureau Waardenburg and Altenburg & Wymenga will monitore birds, bats, fish, aquatic plants and shellfish on the island and near the wind farm.
Fryslân Wind Farm is currently being constructed south of the Afsluitdijk, in the Frysian part of the IJsselmeer. As part of the project, a work and nature island was built. This island, the construction of which was completed in October 2020, is used as a work and nature island throughout the construction of the project. Once the first wind turbine is commissioned, its sole purpose will be that of a nature island, including an attractive foraging and resting area for birds and an artificial reef for fish and shellfish next to it.
The nature of both the nature island and the wind farm will be monitored. The purpose of the monotoring of the area is to visualize the effects of the wind farm on birds and bats and to follow the development of nature near the island and the wind farm. The monitoring focuses in particular on the animal species for which the IJsselmeer has been designated a Natura 2000 area, such as grebes, toppers and black terns.
Nature development is being monitored through systematic counts, sampling and automated detection systems, including a bird radar on Breezanddijk and bat detectors at hub height in the wind turbines, Camiel Heunks, project leader at Bureau Waardenburg said.
