avoiding impacts on nesting birds - cdn.ymaws.com · • migratory bird treaty act (mbta) covers...

Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds

Best Management Practices

David HelzerBureau of Environmental Services

October 2017

Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 2

AVIAN SPECIES IN THE PORTLAND REGION

Jim Cruce

• 223 species occur annually

• 216 native, 7 non-native

• 38 “At-Risk” species

– Federal Status, ODFW T&E or Sensitive status, ORBIC ranked 1 – 3

• 44 “Special Status” species

– ODFW Strategy, PIF Focal Species, Audubon/ABC Watchlist, OWEB priority, NWPCC Focal Species

• 135 species breed in the region

• Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) covers all native birds in region

– Including year round resident species that do not migrate


BIRD NESTING SEASON AND AVOIDANCE APPROACH

Start date End Date Season Approach

August 1 January 31 Non-breeding o best time for disturbance

February 1 April 14 Early Nesting

o be aware of impacts

o consider early species

o survey

April 15 July 31 Primary Nestingo avoid disturbance

o survey if unavoidable


Greg Gillson

Bewick’s Wren Annual Cycle

Source:Kennedy, E. Dale and Douglas W. White. 1997. Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/315

http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/315


AltricialPrecocial

Verbeek, N. A. and C. Caffrey. 2002. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online.

Jim Cruce

Jim Cruce

Jim Cruce

Randy Moore

NESTLING DEVELOPMENT


IncubationConstruction

Nestling

Fledging

Jim Cruce

Jim Cruce Jim Cruce

Greg Gillson


Belted Kingfisher White-crowned SparrowDowny Woodpecker

Yellow Warbler Song Sparrow American Robin

Killdeer House Wren Western Scrub-Jay

Art Wolf Greg Gillson

Michael Ahr

A.BazGreg Gillson


Pacific Wren Nest Forest Park April 2017

Credit: Peter Pearsall/USFWS/WikiCommons


Pacific Wren Nest Forest Park April 2017 (# 2)


• Mowing, especially non-turf sites

• Controlled burns in natural habitat

• Mechanical removal of invasive or native vegetation

→ all trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species

• Herbicide applications

• Snag removal

• Clearing and grading project sites

• Removal/modification of built structures

→ buildings, bridges, culverts

• Water level management

ACTIVIVITES THAT POSE A RISK TO NESTS


HERBICIDE RISKS TO OCCUPIED BIRD NESTS

1. Loss of support structure for nest

2. Loss of vegetative concealment for nest, exposure to predation

3. Chemical Impacts

o Surfactants: egg’s gas exchange,

nestling thermoregulation

o Triclopyr – nestlings’ eyesight

o Glyphosate – minimal to no direct risk


Oregon Junco nest with eggs/young

May 10, 2011

Mt Tabor Park


IN-STREAM & WETLAND WORK


INVASIVE REMOVAL AND NATIVE REPLANTINGS


Invasive Plant Species Documented Nesters

English Hawthorne Cedar Waxing, American Robin

English & Irish Ivy Spotted Towhee

Himalayan Blackberry

Willow Flycatcher*, Song Sparrow,

American Robin, Spotted Towhee,

Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow Warbler,

Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple LoosestrifeBushtit, Common Yellowthroat,

Song Sparrow, Western Scrub-Jay

Reed Canary Grass

Virginia Rail, Sora, Red-winged Blackbird, Common

Yellowthroat, Cinnamon Teal,

Song Sparrow, Mallard

*47 willow flycatcher nests found in Himalayan Blackberry in Willamette Valley Study – B. Altman/BOGR

NATIVE NESTERS IN INVASIVE PLANTS

Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 18Photos: Jim Cruce

Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 19Photo: Michael Ahr

Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 20Photo: Michael Ahr


FOREST PARK BLACKBERRY & CLEMATIS – PRE CUT


FOREST PARK BLACKBERRY & CLEMATIS – POST CUT


1. plan disturbance fornon-nesting Seasonno risk of impact or delay

2. remove vegetation inearly seasonsurvey for and avoid nestsless risk of impact or delay

3. remove vegetation inprimary nesting seasonsurvey for and avoid nests(assume you will miss some)highest risk of impact or delay

If you find a nest during work:establish buffer and phase work aroundorcontact USFWS for permit to destroy/remove


PRIMARY SEASON NESTERSApril 15 – July 31

EARLY NESTERSFeb 1 – April 15

Whitaker Ponds 2.22.2010

LATE NESTERS:willow flycatcherstreaked horned larkBarn swallowExtend to Aug 31

G. Gillson

Greg Gillson Randy Moore

EXAMPLE SPECIES FOR NESTING SEASONS

R. Moore S. Finnegan

G. Gillson

G. GillsonG. Gillson


NESTING BIRDS BMP DOCUMENT

✓ Blackberry

✓ Clematis

✓ Garlic Mustard

✓ Hawthorne

✓ Holly and Laurel

✓ Ivy: Ground Ivy

✓ Ivy: Tree Ivy

✓ Knapweed, Tansy and Thistle

✓ Knotweed

✓ Purple Loosestrife

✓ Reed Canarygrass

✓ Yellow Flag Iris

Guidelines for treatment of common invasives in Portland region:

RWBL/Port SPTO/BES


Nesting Use: Not well documented, but heavy clumpslikely used by many birds.

Non-nesting Season (Aug 1 – Jan 31): Air gapping and root grubbing OK.

Early Nesting Season (Feb 1 – April 15): Air gapping and root grubbing OK, leave vines in trees, do not pull down!

Primary Nesting Season (April 15 – July 31): Air gapping OK, Avoid root grubbing and pulling vines down. Watch for ground and shrub nesters.

Jim Cruce

Clematis vitalba


New Appendix D: Bird Nest Survey Protocol

Conducted by qualified biologistIf “active” nests found, phase construction work around nests

SPECIES / GUILD RECOMMENDED BUFFER meters (feet)

Double-crested Cormorant 50 m (160 ft)

Herons/Egrets/Bitterns 100 m (330 ft)

Waterfowl (Ducks/Geese/Swans) 30 m (100 ft)

Diurnal Raptors 100 m (330 ft)

Bald Eagle1 200 m (650 ft)

Peregrine Falcon2 400 m (1310 ft)

American Kestrel 50 m (160 ft)

Killdeer 25 m (80 ft)

Pigeons/Doves 20 m (65 ft)

Band-tailed Pigeon 30 m (100 ft)

Owls 50 m (160 ft)

Hummingbirds 10 m (30 ft)

Woodpeckers 15 m (50 ft)

Songbirds 10 m (30 ft)

Corvids (Crows, Jays) 20 m (65 ft)

Cliff Swallow Colonies 25 m (80 ft)

American Robin 20 m (65 ft)

Swainson’s Thrush 20 m (65 ft)

Western Meadowlark 30 m (100 ft)

Streaked Horned Lark2 100 m (330 ft)


MAY 2014 BUFFERS FOR ACTIVE NESTS


MAY 2014 MAINTENANCE CUT: NESTS FOUND

Photos: Adam Baz


Bald Eagle Nests in PortlandBald and Golden Eagle Projection Act (BGEPA)


BIRD NESTING SEASONS FOR PORTLAND REGION

Start date End Date Season Approach

August 1 January 31 Non-breeding o best time for disturbance

February 1 April 14 Early Nesting

o be aware of impacts

o consider early species

o survey

April 15 July 31 Primary Nestingo avoid disturbance

o survey if unavoidable


Supporting Native Birds in Parks

✓ Consider timing to avoid impacts to unseen nests

✓ Dense plantings of native plants, especially herbs and shrubs

✓ Promote flowering, fruiting and seed-bearing native plant species

✓ Retain snags

✓ Create snags, even small/short ones

✓ Create brush piles

✓ Protect/create downed logs

✓ Allow leaves, tree branches to decompose on site

✓ Leave patches of bare ground (especially in open sites)

✓ Project and expand riparian areas and wetlands

✓ Provide nest boxes; plan long-term for natural tree cavities

Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 35Photo: Port of Portland Wildlife

QUESTIONS?

avoiding impacts on nesting birds - cdn.ymaws.com · • migratory bird treaty act (mbta) covers...

Documents