Boundary Bay Salt Marsh Restoration Project Standwatch ... · data, dabbling waterbirds, raptors,...

Hemmera Envirochem Inc.

18th

Floor, 4730 Kingsway

Burnaby, BC V5H 0C6

T: 604.669.0424

F: 604.669.0430

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Boundary Bay Salt Marsh Restoration Project

Standwatch Bird Surveys – Winter 2014/15

Report Date April 15, 2015

Survey Dates &

Times

The following is a summary of the survey dates and associated times:

• December 19, 2014 – 09:23 to 16:54

• January 3, 2015 – 08:24 to 16:19

• January 16, 2015 – 08:17 to 16:08

• January 30, 2015 – 09:15 to 16:28

• February 11, 2015 – 09:16 to 16:40

• March 2, 2015 – 09:12 to 16:30

• March 12, 2015 – 10:11 to 17:12

• March 27, 2015 – 10:10 to 16:49

Weather & Tidal

Conditions

The following is a detailed summary of the weather conditions (general conditions and

temperature) and tides on each of the survey dates, for the associated times:

• December 19, 2014 – mostly cloudy, light rain at times, average temperature:

6.9 °C; low tide of 3.4 m at 09:08 and high tide of 4.1 m 14:04

• January 3, 2015 – overcast skies, average temperature: 1.2 °C; low tide of 3.4 m

at 10:25 and high tide of 4.0 m at 14:59

• January 16, 2015 – partly cloudy, average temperature: 8.6 °C; low tide of 3.5 m

at 07:23 and high tide of 4.1 m at 12:32

• January 30, 2015 – partly cloudy, average temperature: 4.2 °C; low tide of 3.4 m

at 08:21 and high tide of 3.9 m 12:59

• February 11, 2015 – overcast skies, average temperature: 8.8 °C; high tide of 4.1

m at 09:31 and low tide of 1.8 m at 16:57

• March 2, 2015 – clear skies, average temperature: 5.0 °C; low tide of 2.9 m at

10:08 and high tide of 3.6 m at 14:55

• March 12, 2015 – partly cloudy, average temperature: 6.4 °C; high tide of 3.9 m

at 09:37 and low tide of 1.5 m at 16:59

• March 27, 2015 – mostly cloudy, average temperature: 9.6 °C; high tide of 3.5

m at 10:56 and low tide of 1.5 m at 18:17

Weather data from Government of Canada hourly climate data for Delta Burns Bog:

32TUhttp://climate.weather.gc.ca/climateData/dailydata_e.html?timeframe=2&Prov=BC&Sta

tionID=49088&dlyRange=2011-01-25%7C2014-06-

29&cmdB1=Go&Year=2014&Month=3&cmdB1=Go#U32T

Tide data from Government of Canada 7 days tidal predictions for Tsawwassen:

32TUhttp://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/eng/station?type=0&date=2014%2F03%2F28&sid=7590&

tz=PDT&pres=1U32T

http://www.hemmera.com/

http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climateData/dailydata_e.html?timeframe=2&Prov=BC&StationID=49088&dlyRange=2011-01-25%7C2014-06-29&cmdB1=Go&Year=2014&Month=3&cmdB1=Go



http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/eng/station?type=0&date=2014%2F03%2F28&sid=7590&tz=PDT&pres=1

http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/eng/station?type=0&date=2014%2F03%2F28&sid=7590&tz=PDT&pres=1

Boundary Bay Salt Marsh Restoration Project – Winter 2014/15 Standwatch Bird Surveys April 2015

Survey Area Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV’s) Habitat Enhancement Program – Boundary Bay Salt

Marsh Restoration Project, Delta, BC.

Salt marsh restoration work involved the removal of dense accumulations of woody

debris from three sites along Boundary Bay, referred to as sites 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5. For the

purposes of conducting winter bird surveys, these sites were further divided into six

restoration (or “treatment”) standwatch survey stations (3.3.a, 3.3.b, 3.4, 3.5.a, 3.5.b and

3.5.c). Additional standwatch surveys were conducted at five non-treatment (“control”)

stations (Ref.a, Ref.b, Ref.c, Ref.d and Ref.MB) (Figure 1). Survey stations were 200

meters wide (east to west) and extended 300 meters southward into the marsh and 100

meters northward into the upland.

Survey Team Andrew Venning, Biologist (Hemmera)

Scope of Work As part of PMV’s Habitat Enhancement Program, a salt marsh restoration project was

undertaken in September of 2013 in Boundary Bay. Restoration works involved the

removal of woody debris directly adjacent to the dike. Accumulations of woody debris

can smother vegetation and compact soils, impeding the growth and production of salt

marsh vegetation. Treated wood, such as creosote-treated poles and timbers, can also

introduce toxic or harmful substances into the environment. In order to provide some

enhanced wildlife habitat features, short snags were installed at all three restoration

sites to function as raptor perches and “plucking posts” (raised structures used regularly

by birds of prey to dismember prey before eating them).

In order to better understand the use of these salt marsh habitats by raptor and other

bird groups during the overwintering period, two consecutive years of winter standwatch

bird surveys were conducted:

1. Winter 2013/14 (“Year 1”) – eight surveys were conducted on a bi-weekly basis

from December 19, 2013 to March 28, 2014 (see “Boundary Bay Salt Marsh

Restoration Project Stand Watch Bird Surveys – Winter 2013/14” – available

online at PMV’s PortTalk: 32TUhttp://porttalk.ca/HabitatEnhancement/documents/1369/downloadU32T)

2. Winter 2014/15 (“Year 2”) – eight surveys were conducted on a bi-weekly basis

from December 19, 2014 to March, 27, 2015 (current report).

Raptors were the focal species group for these standwatch surveys; however surveys also

recorded use of the survey areas by all bird species.

Survey Methods Consistent with the survey methodology applied during year 1, one surveyor conducted

30 minute standwatches from the Boundary Bay dike at each of eleven different stations

during each survey (Figure 1, Photo 1). Survey stations were 200 meters wide (east to

west) and extended 300 meters southward into the marsh and 100 meters northward

into the upland (Figure 1). The surveyor documented all raptors and other birds present

within each survey station and grouped them into one of four strata within each station:

1. Back stratum – behind surveyor and within the upland, up to 100 meters from

dike;

2. Woody debris stratum – within the woody debris removal area (for treatment

stations) or woody debris area (for control stations);

3. Buffer stratum – seaward of the woody debris removal/woody debris area,

extending to a distance matching the width of the woody debris removal/woody

debris area; and

4. Far stratum – seaward of buffer stratum, extending up to 300 meters from dike.

http://porttalk.ca/HabitatEnhancement/documents/1369/download


The focus of the surveys was to document birds within or near woody debris stratum and

thus survey efforts were focused in front of the observer. Back stratum data collection

was not as rigorous as the three front strata.

Binoculars and a spotting scope were used to identify birds within the survey areas. For

each bird documented, the following information was recorded: species, number, time,

stratum, distance from the dike, behavior, and flyover direction.

During these standwatch surveys, it is possible that some birds may have been counted

more than once due to the movement of birds between survey areas (e.g., a bird was

counted in one station before it moved to another station, coinciding with movement of

the surveyor). In such instances, the bird may have been counted in each of the two

survey areas. These surveys, therefore, may not provide an exact representation of the

actual abundance of birds present throughout all the survey areas. However, it is

expected that the data provides a relatively accurate indication of bird use at each survey

area.

Results Results from treatment and control stations are presented in Table 1 and Table 2,

respectively. A summary of all species observed is presented in Table 3. Total abundance

of species groups is presented in Figure 2 and Figure 3. Figure 2 represents a broad data

set and reflects the habitat mosaic both on the upland and seaward sides of the

standwatch locations, while Figure 3 is focused strictly on the salt marsh habitats.

Average numbers of birds observed per station (excluding back stratum) during year 1

and year 2 are presented in Figure 4. Average numbers of birds observed per station in

woody debris stratum during year 1 and year 2 are presented in Figure 5.

The most common species observed at Boundary Bay during year 2 were American

wigeons (n=1280), northern pintails (n=1,007) and mallards (n=414) (Table 3). Dabbling

waterbirds, other passerines, and songbirds were the most commonly observed species

groups in year 2 (Figure 2), as was also the case for year 1. When excluding back stratum

data, dabbling waterbirds, raptors, and songbirds were the most commonly observed

species groups in year 1; in year 2, dabbling waterbirds, other passerines, and shorebirds

were the most commonly observed species groups (Figure 3).

During the year 2 surveys, two raptor species [bald eagle (n=1) (Photo 2), northern

harrier (n=1) (Photo 3)], four songbird species [northern flicker (n=1), yellow-rumped

warbler (n=1), European starling (n=1), savannah sparrow (n=1)], and one other

passerine species [northwestern crow (n=1)] were observed perching at various

occasions on installed short snags. This is similar to observations made in year 1.

Eight raptor/owl species were observed during the year 2 overwintering surveys:

northern harrier (n=113); bald eagle (n=102); peregrine falcon (n=7); short-eared owl

(n=7); red-tailed hawk (n=3); Cooper’s hawk (n=1); merlin (n=1); and rough-legged hawk

(n=1). Raptors (excluding owls) were most commonly observed flapping (42% of raptor

observations), perching (23% of raptor observations) and gliding (23% of raptor

observations). Owls (exclusively short-eared owls) were most commonly observed

flapping (23% of owl observations) and hunting (23% of owl observations).

While the number of surveys and amount of time surveying remained equal between

year 1 and year 2 surveys, the total number of birds observed in year 1 was relatively low

compared to year 2 (2,469 birds documented during year 1 and 4,271 were documented

during year 2). However, the proportion of observations between treatment and control


sites remained similar between year 1 and year 2: in both years; more birds were

observed in control sites and the majority of observations occurred in the far stratum

(Figure 4). The greater number of birds in year 2 may be attributed to natural variability

in environmental conditions (e.g., year-to-year differences in winter conditions, such as

temperature or rainfall), resulting in variable bird abundances between years.

In contrast to the aforementioned trend in overall bird numbers, the number of raptor

observations was higher in year 1 than in year 2 (352 raptors observations recorded in

year 1 and 236 raptor observations in year 2). This trend may also be a result of natural

variability in environmental conditions between years. In woody debris stratum, the

proportion of raptor observations between treatment and control sites remained similar

between year 1 and year 2: in both years, more raptors were observed in treatment sites

relative to control sites (Figure 5).

In woody debris stratum, more birds were observed in control stations relative to

treatment stations in both years (Figure 5). The majority of birds observed in the woody

debris stratum consisted of songbirds/passerines during both years (Figure 5). More

songbirds/passerines were observed in control stations, relative to treatment stations,

during both years; this difference is likely due to a higher density of upland vegetation at

control stations: upland vegetation at Ref.a and Ref.b, in particular, is comprised of

dense deciduous trees and shrubs several meters high. Upland vegetation at the

remaining stations is primarily agricultural land or turf (golf course). The large number of

shorebird observations in the woody debris stratum in year 2 (Figure 5) is a result of

three dunlin flock overflights (flocks of 50-80 birds) on December 19, 2014. The presence

of these flocks may be attributed to tidal effects as they were all observed on the same

day and shorebird flocks were otherwise observed infrequently.

References Hemmera. 2014. Boundary Bay Salt Marsh Restoration Project Standwatch Bird Surveys –

Winter 2013/14 (available online at PMV’s PortTalk: 32TUhttp://porttalk.ca/HabitatEnhancement/documents/1369/downloadU32T)

http://porttalk.ca/HabitatEnhancement/documents/1369/download


Tables

Table 1. Species observed at Boundary Bay treatment sites during winter 2014/15 standwatch surveys; Delta, BC.

Station Species Group Common Name Latin Name Behaviour Abundance

of Species

Abundance

of Species

Group

3.3.a

Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

walking,

standing,

hunting (Photo

4)

5 5

Other

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

flapping,

perched in

snag/dead tree

33

44

Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus flapping,

singing/calling 11

Raptors

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus

leucocephalus flapping 2

16 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus

flapping,

gliding, circling,

landing,

perched on

snag/dead tree,

hunting,

singing/calling

10

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

flapping,

gliding, hunting,

circling

4

Shorebirds Dunlin Calidris alpina flapping 80 80

Songbirds

American Tree

Sparrow Spizella arborea walking, feeding 2

17

Black-capped

Chickadee

Poecile

atricapillus singing/calling 3

House Finch Haemorhous

mexicanus

singing/calling,

flapping 6

Marsh Wren Cistothorus

palustris singing/calling 3

Unidentified Sparrow - flapping,

landing 3

Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana

walking,

feeding,

loafing/resting,

flapping,

landing

228

549

Gadwall Anas strepera loafing/resting,

standing 5

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca

flapping,

landing,

standing

16

Mallard Anas

platyrhynchos

loafing/resting,

flapping,

swimming,

feeding, walking

273

Northern Pintail Anas acuta standing 8


Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

loafing/resting,

flapping,

swimming,

feeding

19

3.3.b


hunting,

standing,

singing/calling,

walking,

feeding, taking

off

8 8

Other


perched in live

tree,

singing/calling,

flapping,

walking,

feeding,

landing,

perched on

piling, perched

on

building/man-

made structure

127

130

Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus

perched in live

tree, perched

on piling,

flapping

3

Raptors


leucocephalus

flapping,

perched in live

tree, perched

on pole

21


flapping,

gliding, landing,

perched on

snag/dead tree

8

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

landing,

perched in

snag/dead tree

1


Songbirds

American Robin Turdus

migratorius

perched in live

tree, walking,

feeding

5

55

Black-capped

Chickadee

Poecile

atricapillus

singing/calling,

perched in live

tree

3

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

walking,

feeding,

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

15

Golden-crowned

Kinglet Regulus satrapa singing/calling 1

Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii walking 1


palustris

perched in

shrub/hedge,

singing/calling

2

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus perched in live 2


tree, perched

on piling

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

perched in

shrub/hedge,

flapping

1

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus

sandwichensis landing 1

Song Sparrow Melospiza

melodia

walking,

feeding,

singing/calling

5

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus walking 1

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta

flapping,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

singing/calling

18

Waterfowl Mallard Anas

platyrhynchos flapping 14 14

3.4

Diving waterbirds Hooded Merganser Lophodytes

cucullatus

swimming,

feeding 6 6


standing,

flapping,

walking,

loafing/resting

8 8

Other

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris perched in live

tree 4

17


flapping,

perched in live

tree, perched in

snag/dead tree,

perched on

piling,

singing/calling

13

Raptors


leucocephalus

perched in live

tree, standing,

flapping

22

30 Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii flapping 1

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus flapping,

gliding, circling 7

Shorebirds

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa

melanoleuca walking, feeding 1

4

Killdeer Charadrius

vociferus

flapping,

landing,

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree

3

Songbirds


migratorius

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

1

14 Marsh Wren

Cistothorus

palustris

flapping,

standing 1


sandwichensis flapping 2


melodia

landing,

perched in 8


snag/dead tree,

perched in

shrub/hedge,

walking,

singing/calling

Yellow-rumped

Warbler

Setophaga

coronata

perched on

piling, perched

in snag/dead

tree, flapping

2

Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana

walking,

swimming,

feeding

252

327

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope loafing/resting 2

Gadwall Anas strepera

loafing/resting,

swimming,

feeding

11

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca

loafing/resting,

swimming,

feeding

13

Mallard Anas

platyrhynchos

walking,

loafing/resting,

swimming,

feeding

8

Northern Pintail Anas acuta flapping 1

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata swimming,

feeding 40

3.5.a


walking,

standing,

hunting

3 3

Other European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

perched on

fence/post,

perched in

snag/dead tree

23 23

Raptors


leucocephalus flapping 3

23

Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii flapping 1

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus

perched in

snag/dead tree,

flapping,

gliding, perched

on fence/post

16

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus flapping 1

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

perched on

fence/post,

feeding

1

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus perched in

snag/dead tree 1

Songbirds


migratorius

perched in live

tree 1

27

Black-capped

Chickadee

Poecile

atricapillus

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

3

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca

perched in

shrub/hedge,

flapping

2

Marsh Wren Cistothorus singing/calling 4


palustris

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree

2


sandwichensis singing/calling 3


melodia

flapping,

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

perched in

shrub/hedge

4

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus

perched in

shrub/hedge,

singing/calling

3


perched in

shrub/hedge,

singing/calling

2

Yellow-rumped

Warbler

Setophaga

coronata

flapping,

perched in

shrub/hedge,

perched in live

tree

3

3.5.b

Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias standing,

landing 4 4

Other European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

flapping,

perched in

snag/dead tree

24 24

Raptors


leucocephalus

perched in

snag/dead tree,

flapping,

gliding, standing

8


flapping,

gliding, perched

in snag/dead

tree, standing,

singing/calling

17

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus perched in

snag/dead tree 1

Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus flapping 1

Songbirds

Black-capped

Chickadee

Poecile

atricapillus

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

3

32


palustris singing/calling 1


perched in

snag/dead tree,

singing/calling

2


sandwichensis

singing/calling,

landing,

perched in

snag/dead tree

4


melodia

standing,

walking, feeding 3

Tree Swallow Tachycineta

bicolor flapping 3


Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta standing 2

singing/calling 1

Yellow-rumped

Warbler

Setophaga

coronata

walking,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

flapping,

loafing/resting,

perched in

shrub/hedge

13

Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana swimming 20 20

Mallard Anas

platyrhynchos

swimming,

feeding 2 2

Northern Pintail Anas acuta swimming 90 90

3.5.c


standing,

flapping,

landing,

preening

4 4

Other


flapping,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

perched in live

tree

6

7

Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus perched in live

tree 1

Raptors


leucocephalus

flapping,

circling, landing,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

standing, gliding

9

24


flapping,

gliding,

standing,

singing/calling

14

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus perched in

snag/dead tree 1

Songbirds

American Tree

Sparrow Spizella arborea

perched on

fence/post,

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

3

20

Black-capped

Chickadee

Poecile

atricapillus

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

3




melodia

perched in

shrub/hedge,

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree

6

Tree Swallow Tachycineta

bicolor

circling,

singing/calling 4


perched in

shrub/hedge,

singing/calling

2


Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana swimming 300

550

Brant Branta bernicla swimming 20

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope swimming 6

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca flapping 24

Northern Pintail Anas acuta swimming 200

Table 2. Species observed at Boundary Bay control sites during winter 2014/15 standwatch surveys; Delta, BC.

Station Species Group Common Name Latin Name Behaviour Abundance

of Species

Abundance

of Species

Group

Ref.a


standing,

preening,

flapping,

loafing/resting

11 11

Other

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris flapping, landing 33

38 Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus

flapping, perched

in live tree,

singing/calling

5

Raptors


leucocephalus

flapping, landing,

standing 5


flapping, gliding,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

preening,

singing/calling

6

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus flapping, perched

in snag/dead tree 2

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus flapping, hunting 1

Songbirds (breeding

birds)

American Pipit Anthus rubescens perched in

snag/dead tree 1

20

American Robin Turdus migratorius perched in live

tree 1

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris singing/calling 2



Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

perched in

snag/dead tree,

walking,

singing/calling

13

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor flapping 1

Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana swimming,

feeding 300

579

Brant Branta bernicla swimming,

feeding 20

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope swimming,

feeding 5

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos flapping 4

Northern Pintail Anas acuta swimming,

feeding 250


Ref.b


landing, standing,

flapping,

harrassing

another,

loafing/resting,

preening, gliding

24 24

Other


circling, perched

in snag/dead tree,

walking

54

62 European Starling Sturnus vulgaris flapping 5

Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus flapping, walking 3

Raptors


leucocephalus

soaring, flapping,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

standing

5

16 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus flapping, gliding 8

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus flapping, perched

in snag/dead tree 2

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis gliding 1

Songbirds (breeding

birds)

American Robin Turdus migratorius

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

1

29

Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus singing/calling 1

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca singing/calling 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa singing/calling 2

Golden-crowned

Sparrow

Zonotrichia

atricapilla

walking, feeding,

singing/calling 7

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris singing/calling 2


perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

2




singing/calling,

perched in

shrub/hedge,

perched in

snag/dead tree,

walking, perched

in live tree

8

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus singing/calling 2

Waterfowl

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca walking, feeding,

loafing/resting 19

34 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

swimming,

feeding 7

Northern Pintail Anas acuta swimming,

feeding 8

Ref.c Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

flapping, standing,

loafing/resting 46 46

Other European Starling Sturnus vulgaris flapping 1 3



walking, perched

on

telephone/light

pole

2

Raptors


leucocephalus flapping, soaring 5

15 Merlin Falco columbarius

perched in live

tree, hunting 1

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus flapping, gliding,

hunting 9

Songbirds (breeding

birds)

American Robin Turdus migratorius

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling

3

39

Golden-crowned

Sparrow

Zonotrichia

atricapilla

perched in live

tree 2

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus flapping 1

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus perched in

snag/dead tree 23


sandwichensis

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree

4


landing, perched

in shrub/hedge,

perched in live

tree, perched in

snag/dead tree,

singing/calling

5

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta flapping 1

Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana swimming,

feeding 20

360 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos walking, feeding 40

Northern Pintail Anas acuta walking, feeding 300

Ref.d

Gull and Terns Mew Gull Larus canus standing,

loafing/resting 2 2

Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias standing, taking

off, flapping 5 5

Other


perched in

snag/dead tree,

flapping

31

33

Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus flapping,

singing/calling 2

Raptors


leucocephalus

flapping, perched

on

telephone/light

pole, perched on

pole,

singing/calling,

soaring, standing

20

34


flapping, gliding,

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree

14


Songbirds (breeding

birds)

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca

singing/calling,

perched in

shrub/hedge

1

59

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa perched in live

tree, 2


singing/calling

Golden-crowned

Sparrow

Zonotrichia

atricapilla

perched in live

tree 4

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris

singing/calling,

perched in

shrub/hedge

5


perched in

snag/dead tree,

singing/calling

2

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

perched in live

tree, flapping,

singing/calling,

perched on

telephone/light

pole

30


sandwichensis

perched in live

tree 2


perched in live

tree,

singing/calling,

landing, perched

in shrub/hedge,

perched in

snag/dead tree

4

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus singing/calling 2


White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia

leucophrys

perched in live

tree 6

Waterfowl

American Wigeon Anas americana flapping,

swimming 160

376

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope swimming 10

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

swimming,

standing,

preening

56

Northern Pintail Anas acuta swimming 150

Ref.MB

Diving waterbirds Hooded Merganser Lophodytes

cucullatus

swimming,

preening 2 2


standing, landing,

flapping, taking

off

7 7

Other


flapping, walking,

perched in live

tree

24

33


perched in

snag/dead tree,

flapping, perched

in live tree,

singing/calling

9

Raptors


leucocephalus flapping, gliding 2

7


flapping, perched

in snag/dead tree,

gliding

4


Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis flapping 1

Songbirds (breeding

birds)

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus flapping 2

27


sandwichensis

perched in live

tree,

singing/calling,

perched in

snag/dead tree

7


perched in

shrub/hedge,

singing/calling,

perched in live

tree, walking

5

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus walking, feeding 1


Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta walking, flapping,

singing/calling 5

Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata

perched in

shrub/hedge,

flapping, perched

in live tree,

singing/calling

5

Waterfowl

Canada Goose Branta canadensis flapping,

singing/calling 40

52 Gadwall Anas strepera

swimming,

feeding, taking off 2

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos standing, taking

off, flapping 10

Table 3. Summary of all species observed at Boundary Bay (treatment and control data pooled) during winter

2014/15 standwatch surveys. Species are listed in descending order, based on the number observed during

surveys. Raptor observations are highlighted in grey; Delta, BC.

Common Name Latin Name Number Species Group

American Wigeon Anas americana 1280 Waterfowl

Northern Pintail Anas acuta 1007 Waterfowl

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 414 Waterfowl

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 365 Songbirds

Dunlin Calidris alpina 190 Shorebirds

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 125 Heron

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 113 Raptors

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 102 Raptors

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca 72 Waterfowl

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 61 Songbirds

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 59 Waterfowl

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 55 Songbirds

Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus 49 Songbirds

Brant Branta bernicla 40 Waterfowl

Canada Goose Branta canadensis 40 Waterfowl


Common Name Latin Name Number Species Group

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta 31 Songbirds

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 30 Songbirds

Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata 23 Songbirds

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 23 Waterfowl

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris 20 Songbirds

Gadwall Anas strepera 18 Waterfowl

Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus 16 Songbirds

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 15 Songbirds

Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla 13 Songbirds

American Robin Turdus migratorius 12 Songbirds

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 11 Songbirds

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 11 Songbirds

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 9 Songbirds

Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus 8 Diving waterbirds

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 7 Raptors

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 7 Raptors

House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 6 Songbirds

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys 6 Songbirds

American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea 5 Songbirds

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 5 Songbirds

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca 4 Songbirds

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 3 Shorebirds

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 3 Raptors

Unidentified Sparrow - 3 Songbirds

Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 2 Raptors

Mew Gull Larus canus 2 Gull and Terns

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 1 Shorebirds

American Pipit Anthus rubescens 1 Songbirds

Merlin Falco columbarius 1 Raptors

Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 1 Raptors

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 1 Songbirds

Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii 1 Songbirds


Figures

Figure 1. Boundary Bay standwatch survey study areas surveyed during winter 2013/14 and winter 2014/15; Delta, BC.


Figure 2. Abundance of species groups observed at Boundary Bay (including back stratum) during year 2 (winter 2014/15) standwatch

surveys; Delta, BC.

Figure 3. Abundance of species groups observed at Boundary Bay (excluding back stratum) during year 2 (winter 2014/15) standwatch

surveys; Delta, BC.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Nu

mb

er

of

Bir

ds

Ob

serv

ed

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Nu

mb

er

of

Bir

ds

Ob

serv

ed


Figure 4. Average number of birds observed per station at Boundary Bay during year 1 and year 2 standwatch surveys (back stratum data

removed); ‘Unknown’ data reflects data from first survey, before strata were decided; Delta, BC.

Figure 5. Average number of birds observed per station in woody debris stratum at Boundary Bay during year 1 and year 2 standwatch

surveys; Delta, BC.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Treatment Control Treatment Control

Year 1 Year 2

Av

era

ge

Nu

mb

er

of

Bir

ds

pe

r S

tati

on

UnknownFarBufferWoody Debris

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Treatment Control Treatment Control

Year 1 Year 2

Av

era

ge

NU

mb

er

of

Bir

ds

pe

r S

tati

on

Dabbling waterbirds

Diving waterbirds

Herons

Raptors

Shorebirds

Songbirds/Passerines

Swans


Photos

Photo 1. Surveyor performing standwatch at Boundary Bay; Delta, BC.

Photo 2. Immature bald eagle perched on installed short snag in woody debris (removed) stratum in treatment area at Boundary Bay;

Delta, BC.


Photo 3. Northern harrier perched on installed snag in woody debris (removed) stratum in treatment area at Boundary Bay; Delta, BC.

Photo 4. Great blue heron in woody debris (removed) stratum in treatment area at Boundary Bay; Delta, BC.

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Boundary Bay Salt Marsh Restoration Project Standwatch ... · data, dabbling waterbirds, raptors,...

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