Evidence for Offshore Wind

“Lot 1 - Evidence for Offshore Wind; Potential changes in seabird foraging range and distribution in response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)", will use tagging data collected by the contractor and existing data collected by others to examine the potential effects of changes in colony size on foraging behaviour and ranges to improve evidence for offshore wind environmental assessments. Data will be collected across as much of the breeding season as is feasible i.e., incubation and chick rearing periods. Data analysis will focus on obtaining information on foraging distributions, ranges, and behaviour and the use of the marine environment. Data on seabird flight heights will also be extracted, analysed, and presented. The project will investigate the relationship between foraging ranges, colony size and prey availability and (where data allow) consider how these may have changed since the HPAI outbreak. Particular attention must be paid to assessing how the results of this study should be reflected in the apportioning approaches used in environmental impact assessments, and any changes to the existing models or parameters used for apportioning. The focus of the project will be the east coast of Scotland, but consideration should be given to other regions of Scotland for inclusion. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

This project, “Evidence for Offshore Wind; Foraging ecology of guillemots and razorbills in the non-breeding season to understand consequences of potential displacement”, will tag guillemots and razorbills with light-based geolocators (GLS) and time depth recorder (TDR) tags to gather data on foraging distribution and behaviour, during the post-breeding dispersal (July-October) and non-breeding (November-March) seasons. Stable isotope analysis of feathers taken during tagging at the breeding colony will be used in combination with foraging behaviour data to improve understanding of guillemot and razorbill diet outside of the breeding season. This improved understanding will be used to better understand the potential effects of displacement from offshore wind farms during these seasons. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.