TABLE
OF CONTENTS
6 Outline
of monitoring programme for the next quarter
List of Tables
Table 5.1
Summary of Monitoring Results from October 2008 to December 2008
Table 6.1 Tentative Monitoring
Programme from January 2009 to March 2009
List of Figures
Figure 3.1 Bridge Alignment for Bridge
Lighting Scheme and Bird Collision Monitoring
1.1 As required under the Environmental Permits (EP) and the approved EM&A Manuals for the Project, monitoring of bridge lighting scheme and bird collision during operational phase have to be conducted monthly for 3 years.
1.2 The EM&A Manuals require the monitoring of the operation of the bridge lighting schemes and their relationship with bird mortality. Monitoring effort should be concentrated in autumn migration, winter, and spring migration seasons. Various combinations of illumination scheme, weather condition, season of year, and time of day should be monitored. Monthly surveys are recommended.
1.3 This is the sixth quarterly report prepared as required by EPs and documents the monitoring methodology and results, including types and schemes of illumination used on the bridge, weather conditions and records of bird mortalities. This report also provides an outline of the monitoring programme in the next quarter.
2.1
A camera and a pair of binoculars
were required during the monitoring process.
3.1
The monitoring of bird collision
took place along the HK-SWC alignment, which is approximately 5.
4.1
Surveys were conducted to
assess potential impacts of different lighting schemes on bird mortality as
caused by collision with the bridge and associated structures. In order to monitor the bird mortality, surveys
were carried out along the HK-SWC at both sides of the carriageway covering
both the
4.2 The four lighting schemes are listed as follows:
Scheme 1 – Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 19.30-22.00. Architectural lighting for the tower.
Scheme 2 – Friday, Saturday and general festival, 19.30-22.00. Architectural lighting for the tower and side faces of the deck.
Scheme 3 – Special festival and events, 19.30-22.00 Architectural lighting for the tower, stay cables and the side faces of the deck.
Scheme 4 – During inclement weather. Turn off the architectural lighting.
5.1 The following Table 5.1 summarizes the results, including the types and schemes of illumination used on the bridge, the weather conditions and records of bird mortalities by species, number, location and estimated cause of death.
Table 5.1 Summary of Monitoring Results from October 2008 to December 2008
Date |
Time |
Lighting Scheme |
Weather Condition |
Records of Bird Mortality |
Remarks |
|||
Species |
No. |
Location |
Estimated Cause of Death |
|||||
6
Oct 08 (Mon) |
7.45pm |
Scheme
3 |
22.3-25.7
oC, 65-87% humidity. |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
Scheme
3 was on from 1st to 7th October 2008 for National Day. No
record of dead bird. |
14
Nov 08 (Fri) |
7.35pm |
Scheme
2 |
19.4-28.1
oC, 58-82% humidity. |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
No
record of dead bird. |
15
Dec 08 (Mon) |
7.30pm |
Scheme
1 |
11.7-19.2
oC, 57-72 % humidity. |
- |
0 |
- |
- |
No
record of dead bird |
6.1
During the next quarter, from January to March 2009,
bridge lighting scheme and bird collision monitoring surveys will be carried
out monthly. Our aim is to allocate
the same amount of opportunities for the monitoring of each of the four
lighting schemes. It is important
to note that Scheme 3 (used during special festivals and events), and Scheme 4
(used during inclement weather) are rarely used, thus opportunities for the
monitoring of these schemes are less.
Effort will be made to monitor combination of various lighting schemes,
weather conditions, time of day (7.30pm - midnight) and seasons. A tentative monitoring programme is
given in Table 6.1.
Table 6.1 Tentative Monitoring Programme from January 2009 to March 2009
Monitoring Month |
Tentative Date |
Target Scheme |
January 2009 |
30 January 2009 (Fri) |
Scheme 3 (on from 25 Jan – 1 Feb 2009 for Lunar New Year) |
February 2009 |
20 February 2009 (Fri) |
Scheme 2 |
March 2009 |
23 March 2009 (Mon) |
Scheme 1 |
7.1
No dead bird was spotted on the
HK-SWC nor floating on sea surface. No bird mortality was recorded during the
operation of HK-SWC during the monitoring surveys from October to December 2008.