Designing avian surveys for wind farm impact assessments involves a delicate balance between available resources, site size and accessibility, and statistical rigor. As draft regulatory guidance increasingly recommends blanket collision risk modelling, there is a growing need to begin targeted species data collection—often before determining which species are at significant risk of collision. Elizabeth and Stephen will share insights from their work on collision risk modelling and discuss current advancements in Australia and New Zealand.

This webinar is the first in our series of webinars focusing on wind farms. Wind farm webinars which will run in 2025 are below. Keep an eye on your inbox for information on these webinars!

February 2025: Bat and Wind Farms
March 2025: Bird Utilisation Surveys
May 2025: Offset site obligation | Separate species
July 2025: Wind Farm and Post approval monitoring requirement

Meet the speakers:

Elizabeth Stark | Co-founder of Symbolix
Elizabeth is a co-founder of Symbolix, a Fellow of EIANZ and a leading environmental practitioner. Her expertise is in mathematical modelling providing evidence-based science for infrastructure projects, including wind and wildlife interactions. When not on the keyboard, you'll find her advocating and communicating about science, maths, and technology (or sneaking pats from the office kelpie).

Elizabeth will demonstrate how survey design influences modelling and provide guidance on key survey requirements for on and offshore projects.

Stephen Fuller | Principal Ecologist and consulting partner with Boffa Miskell Ltd

He has worked as an applied ecologist for 40 years; his work primarily in the area of ecological impact assessment, the determination and design of mitigation requirements, and ecological restoration, for large infrastructure projects.

Since 2003 Stephen has led Boffa Miskell’s wind farm team and carried out investigations and assessments throughout NZ.

He has been involved in design and implementation of level 1, 2 and 3 bird studies at nineteen wind farm sites including the use of radar for monitoring migration events at two of those sites. He has also coordinated or provided advice on post construction monitoring of avifauna at eight consented sites.

This event will run off Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) and will run for 1 hour. The webinar will be recorded therefore attendees and a link to the webinar will be sent to all registered attendees in the days after the webinar.

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