Habitat characteristics will not change significantly as a result of the proposed wind plant, as the physical footprint of the project is relatively small. However, no information is available regarding the potential for disturbance effects arising from the operational turbines on raptor species (Kingsley and Whittam, 2007) or in raptor wintering areas. Disturbance effects during operation may include behavioural modification such as avoidance during flight or displacement from foraging areas as a result of noise or aversion to the turbine blade movement. The extent of disturbance effects has the potential to be more significant during winter than other times of the year, because an individual’s energy losses are more difficult to recoup in cold weather and when food sources are difficult to access (A. Sandilands, pers. comm., 2007).

[emphasis added]