Bonanza Landscape Unit Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Low-level Helicopter Assessment

Transcription

1 Bonanza Landscape Unit Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Low-level Helicopter Assessment Bonanza LU November 26, 2008 Submitted by: Sally Leigh-Spencer, R.P.Bio. Ecologic Consulting 5632 Menzies Road Duncan, BC V9L Submitted to: Dave Lindsay Timberwest Forest Corp. Suite 2300, 1055 West Georgia Vancouver, BC, V6E 3P3 (FIA Subcontract a) January 2009

2 Executive Summary Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) are federally listed as Threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and are provincially Red-listed in British Columbia (legally designated or being considered for designation as Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened) (BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer 2008). Marbled Murrelets are also listed as one of the 85 identified wildlife species, subspecies and populations in Schedule 1: Category of Species at Risk (Order under Government Action Regulations (GAR), May 3 rd, 2004 and amended orders of May 30 th, 2005, June 5 th, 2006) of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) as those that may be affected by forest or range management on Crown Land and require protection as outlined in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (IWMS) in addition to that provided by other mechanisms. Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat was modelled within the Bonanza Landscape Unit (LU) using an algorithm based on forest cover attributes developed by the Canadian Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team (CMMRT) (2003). Low-level aerial helicopter surveys were conducted to rank suitable nesting habitat as outlined in the provincial low-level aerial survey standards (Burger 2003). The nesting suitability was ranked with 493 waypoints over 4,011 ha of habitat. When the areas of rated habitat from the aerial assessment were mapped, rankings were applied to the previously model-generated polygons and the necessary boundary lines were delineated depending on the habitat-ranking boundary. In summary, of the 4,011 ha of model-generated Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat within the Bonanza Landscape Unit, 58.6 ha were ranked as Class1 (high), 92.3 ha were ranked as Class 2 (moderately high), 1,040.1 ha were ranked as Class 3 (moderate), 1,947.1 ha were ranked as Class 4 (low), ha were ranked as Class 5 (very low) and ha were ranked as Class 6 (nil) by low-level habitat assessments (Table 3).

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary Table of Contents List of Tables List of Figures List of Appendices i ii ii ii 1.0 Intoduction Study Area Methodology Results Literature Cited 8 i Ecologic Consulting March 2009

4 List of Tables Table 1: Key microhabitat characteristics for Marbled Murrelets nest sites in British Columbia (Burger 2004, IWMS 2004) 1 Table 2: Ranking system used in the protocols for air photo interpretation and aerial surveys of Marbled Murrelet habitat (Burger et al 2004) 4 Table 3: Area (ha) Summary of Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Rankings within the Bonanza Landscape Unit 7 List of Figures Figure 1: Location of the Bonanza Landscape Unit 3 Figure 2: Example of Spot 5 satellite image with track and waypoint locations of ranked polygons from the Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat assessments 5 Figure 3: Ranked and mapped nesting habitat polygons in the Bonanza landscape Unit (dark red=1, red=2, orange=3, green=4, blue=5, mauve=6) from the Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat assessments 6 Figures 4 and 5: Ranked Area of Marbled Murrelet WHA on the west side of Bonanza Lake 6 List of Appendices Appendix I: Rankings of Potential Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Polygons within the Bonanza LU Field data sheet 9 ii Ecologic Consulting March 2009

5 North and West Vancouver Island Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Surveys (MOE/CFPA Transfer Agreement) 1.0 Introduction Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) are federally listed as Threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and are provincially Red-listed in British Columbia (legally designated or being considered for designation as Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened) (BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer 2008). Marbled Murrelets are also listed as one of the 85 identified wildlife species, subspecies and populations in Schedule 1: Category of Species at Risk (Order under Government Action Regulations (GAR), May 3 rd, 2004 and amended orders of May 30 th, 2005, June 5 th, 2006) of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) as those that may be affected by forest or range management on Crown Land and require protection as outlined in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (IWMS) in addition to that provided by other mechanisms. Marbled Murrelets are a North American seabird, found from California to Alaska that can nest up to 80 km inland. Nests in British Columbia have been found primarily in older conifers, a few on mossy cliff-ledges, and in a large alder. The majority of nests have been found on the larger mossy branches in the canopy of older conifers. The general nesting requirements and key microhabitat nesting characteristics of Marbled Murrelets are listed in Table 1. Table 1: Key microhabitat characteristics for Marbled Murrelets nest sites in British Columbia (Burger 2004, IWMS 2004) Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Requirements Sufficient height to allow stall-landings and jump-off departures. Openings in the canopy for unobstructed flight access. Sufficient platform diameter to provide a nest site and landing pad. Sufficient substrate on a branch to provide a nest cup. Overhead cover to provide shelter and reduce detection by predators. Key Habitat Attributes Nest trees are typically >40m tall (range 15-80m), and nest heights are typically > 30m (range 11-54m); nest trees are often larger than the stand average. Small gaps in the canopy are typically found next to nest trees, and vertical complexity of the canopy is higher in stands with nests than in nearby stands. Nest are typically on large branches or branches with deformities, usually with added moss cover; nest limbs range from cm in diameter; nests are typically located within 1m of the vertical tree trunk. Moss and other epiphytes provide thick pads at most nest sites, but duff and leaf litter are used in drier areas. Most nests are overhung by branches 1

6 The scope of this project was to assess and rank the nesting habitat attributes of Marbled Murrelets within the Bonanza Landscape Unit (LU) and map habitat rated polygons for future management applications. Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat requirements were modelled primarily using algorithm variables derived from forest cover polygons as recommended from the Canadian Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team s Marbled Murrelet Conservation Assessment Part B: Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team Advisory Document on Conservation and Management (CMMRT 2003). Low-level aerial surveys were used to assess and rank habitat suitability within the model-generated polygons by visually evaluating the presence and abundance of features (such as nest platforms, epiphyte cover and branch diameter) that are not detectable from the GIS database. Nesting habitat suitability was ranked using the provincial low-level aerial survey ranking standards (Burger 2004) (Table 2). 2.0 Study Area Marbled Murrelet low-level aerial nesting habitat surveys were conducted within the Bonanza Landscape Unit that falls within the West and North Vancouver Island Conservation Region, designated by the Canadian Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team (CMMRT 2003). The Bonanza Landscape Unit is approximately 44,000 ha and falls within the Western Vancouver Island Ecoregion and the Northern Island Mountains Ecosection. It is bounded by the Tsitika and Naka Landscape Units to the east and the Lower Nimpkish Landscape Unit to the west. The CWHvm1 and vm2 are the dominant BEC variants. The forests are highly productive with the lower elevations predominately second growth (up to 60 years old) with less than 50% of forest cover in old forest (concentrated in higher elevations (ILMB 2009). 2

7 Figure 1: Location of the Bonanza Landscape Unit 3.0 Methodology Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat was modelled using a nesting habitat suitability algorithm developed by the CMMRT (2003). The model-generated nesting habitat polygons developed by Timberwest GIS (Campbell River) were overlaid as a shape file onto a Spot 5 satellite image and subsequently used for the aerial surveys. On November 26th, 2008, low-level aerial surveys, using a Bell 206 Jet Ranger (Peak Helicopters Ltd.) were conducted as to the provincial low-level aerial nesting habitat survey standards (Burger 2004) to rank the suitability of the model-generated polygons. Our survey data form was modified to include the data fields of critical attributes important for assessing and ranking the habitat: the leading tree species, the % canopy with large trees, the % of canopy with platforms; the overall field ranking and any notes pertinent to the ranking (Appendix 1). The six-class provincial rating standard was used to rank all polygons assessed (Table 2). Oziexplorer f GPS mapping software and a Garmin 76C GPS were used to locate the polygons and mark and record the waypoints. Rankings were marked with waypoints whenever the habitat changed or when rankings were consistent over a large area. If 3

8 areas outside of the modeled polygons appeared to be suitable habitat, waypoints and rankings were taken. Flight paths were also logged during the surveys (Figure 2). The aerial surveys were conducted with a pilot and two observers experienced in assessing nesting habitat and using the computer based mapping system used to find and mark the habitat polygons. The pilot was also experienced and comfortable with low-level aerial surveys and with the techniques and methodology used. All crew were in direct communication with the pilot and each other. Digital mapping of the re-delineated nesting habitat polygons based on the aerial suitability rankings and field notes was completed using Arcview 9.2 (Figure 3). Table 2: Ranking system used in the protocols for air photo interpretation and aerial surveys of Marbled Murrelet habitat (Burger et al 2003) Rank Habitat value 6 Nil 5 Very Low 4 Low 3 Moderate 2 High 1 Very High General description of habitat quality and availability of key habitat features All key habitat features absent; nesting impossible (e.g., bogs, bare rock). Key habitat features sparse and might not all be present; nesting highly unlikely Key habitat features all evident but patchy and sparse; nesting possible but unlikely or at very low density Key habitat features present but uncommon and patchy; nesting likely but at moderate to low densities. Key habitat features common and widespread; nesting likely Key habitat features present in abundance; nesting highly likely Percentage of polygon area with habitat feature present 0% ~1% 2-5% 6-25% 25-50% % 4

9 Figure 2: Example of Spot 5 satellite image with track and waypoint locations of ranked polygons from the Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat assessments 4.0 Results Within the Bonanza LU approximately 4,011.1 ha were surveyed and assessed for Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat suitability. 493 waypoints were recorded at the locations of the ranked sites within the model generated habitat polygons. Potential habitat was ranked strictly based on habitat suitability; the effectiveness of the polygons was not taken into consideration but will be considered when planning for areas of habitat retention. Digital mapping of the delineated nesting habitat polygons, based on the aerial suitability rankings has been completed. In summary, of the 4,011.1 ha ranked as potential Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat within the Bonanza LU, 58.6 ha (1.5%) were ranked as Class 1, 92.3 ha (2.3%) were ranked as Class 2, 1,040.1 ha (25.9%) were ranked as Class 3, 1,947.1 ha (48.5%) were ranked as Class 4, ha (18%) ranked as Class 5, and ha (3.8%) were ranked as Class 6 (Figure 3 and Table 3). Figure 4 illustrates the habitat rankings within the area of the Marbled Murrelet Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) (Figure 5) that is located on the west side of Bonanza Lake. 5

10 Figure 3: Ranked and mapped nesting habitat polygons in the Bonanza landscape Unit (dark red=1, red=2, orange=3, green=4, blue=5, mauve=6) from the Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat assessments Figures 4 and 5: Ranked Area of Marbled Murrelet WHA on the west side of Bonanza Lake (dark red=1, red=2, orange=3, green=4, blue=5, mauve=6) 6

11 Table 3: Area (ha) Summary of Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Rankings within the Bonanza Landscape Unit Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Ranking Bonanza LU (ha) % of Total , , Total Area (ha) of Ranked Habitat 4,

12 5.0 Literature Cited BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Burger, Alan E Standard Methods for Identifying and Ranking Nesting Habitat of Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in British Columbia using Air Photo Interpretation and Low-level Aerial Surveys. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Biodiversity Branch, Victoria, BC. Available at: CMMRT (Marbled Murrelet Recover Team) Marbled Murrelet Conservation Assessment 2003, Part B Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team advisory document on conservation and management. Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta, BC. Available at: ILMB (Integrated land Management Bureau) Vancouver Island Land Use Plan; IWMS (Identified Wildlife Management Strategy) Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife-Accounts V.2004 Marbled Murrelet. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Biodiversity Branch, Victoria, BC. Available at: pdf 8

13 Appendix I: Rankings of Potential Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Polygons within the Bonanza LU Field data sheet Bonanza Landscape Unit - Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat Aerial Survey Date: November 26th, 2008 Pilot: Derek Flug (Peak Helicopters) Weather: clear, light overcast, no snow in trees Surveyors: Sally Leigh-Spencer, Shane Way Point # Habitat Rating Leading Tree Species % Canopy with Large Trees % Canopy with Platforms Notes 1 test 2 4 Hw 4 4 younger stand 3 4 Hw 4 4 younger stand 4 4 Hw 4 4 younger stand 5 3 Hw HwBa 3 3 more platforms in Hw 7 4 HwBa HwBa HwBaYc HwBa HwBa HwBa HwYc 4 3 creek draw, to the left and right HwYc 4 3 less moss 15 4 HwBaYc 4 4 smaller trees 16 5 HwCw CwHw HwCw 6 6 too young 19 5 HwCw HwCwBa HwCw 6 6 no large trees 22 5 HwCw 5 5 age class HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw above; 4 below 28 5 HwCw HwBa HwBa HwCw HwCw 4 4 9

14 33 4 HwCw above 34 4 HwCw HwCw Hw 3 5 smaller branches 37 4 HwCw HwCw HwYc HwYc 3 3 creek gully 41 4 Hw Hw above 43 5 Hw 5 5 younger 44 5 HwYc 5 5 above HwYc Hw YcHw YcHw YcHw CwHw CwHw CwHw Hw Hw HwYc Hw Hw HwYc 3 3 in creek gully only 59 3 HwYc 3 3 in creek gully only 60 4 HwYc 3 4 less moss further up the gully 61 5 Hw 4 5 no moss smaller branches 62 5 Hw 4 5 sparse 63 4 Hw Hw HwBa HwBa HwBa 3 3 only in creek draw 69 4 HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa 4 4 smaller branches 75 5 Hw YcCw Cw

15 78 4 CwHw 5 4 many snags 79 4 HwBa CwHw 5 5 younger, smaller branches 81 5 CwHw CwHw HwYc Hw HwYc Hw 3 3 in creek draw 87 3 Hw 3 3 in creek draw 88 3 Hw 3 3 in creek draw 89 4 Hw Hw HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw Cw Cw HwBa Cw HwFd 3 3 in draw HwFd HwFd YcHw 3 4 in draw YcHw no data check map and waypoints Hw Hw 4 4 in draw Hw HwYc 4 4 Yc has some moss Hw HwYc 4 4 Yc has some moss HwYc 3 4 Yc has some moss HwYc 3 4 Yc has some moss HwYc 3 4 Yc has some moss HwYc below, 5 above HwYc below, 5 above HwBa 3 4 little bit of moss HwBa 3 4 little bit of moss HwBa 3 4 little bit of moss YcHwBa 3 3 in draw, outside of polygon 11

16 121 4 YcHwBa 3 3 in draw, outside of polygon YcHw 3 3 in draw YcHw 4 4 top of draw HwBa 3 4 top of polygon HwBa 3 4 top of polygon HwBa 3 4 top of polygon YcHw 4 5 blowdown patch YcHw 4 5 blowdown patch FdHw 3 4 blowdown patch FdHw 3 4 blowdown patch YcHw 3 2 patch of good Yc YcHw 3 3 moss in Yc YcHw 3 3 moss in Yc FdYcHw 3 4 little bit of moss FdYcHw 3 4 little bit of moss CwFdYc 3 3 creek draw CwFdYc 3 4 creek draw CwFdYc 3 4 creek draw CwFdYc 3 4 thinner towards bottom FdYcBa 4 4 moss in Yc FdYcBa 3 4 some moss in Yc FdYcBa 3 4 some moss in Ba FdYcBa 3 4 some moss in Ba FdYcBa 3 4 some moss in Ba FdYcBa 3 3 creek draw FdYcBa 3 3 creek draw FdYcBa 3 4 3/4 line split HwBa 4 4 some moss HwBa 4 4 some moss near draw HwBa 4 4 some moss near draw HwBa 4 4 new draw, little moss HwBa 3 3 nice draw HwBa 3 3 nice draw HwBa 3 4 top of draw HwBaFd 3 3 draw HwBaFd 3 3 in the draw only HwBaFd 3 3 in the draw only HwBaFd 3 3 in the draw only FdHw 2 4 big fir branches FdHw 2 4 big fir branches FdHw 3 5 no moss, big branches FdHw HwBa 3 4 little bit of moss HwBa 4 4 no moss HwBa 4 4 no moss 12

17 166 4 HwBa 4 4 no moss HwBa 4 5 skinny branches HwBa 4 5 some larger trees HwBa 4 5 no moss HwBa 4 5 skinny branches HwYc 4 5 skinny branches HwYc 4 5 skinny branches YcHwBa 4 5 better branches YcHwBa 4 5 smaller branches YcHwBa 4 5 smaller branches HwYcBa 4 4 weak HwYcBa HwYcBa 5 5 smaller branches HwBa HwYcBa 4 3 some nice moss HwYcBa 4 4 little moss 182 logged logged 183 logged logged 184 logged logged Hw 4 5 buffer along creek HwBa 3 4 big branches, no moss HwBa 3 4 some branches HwBa HwBaYc 4 4 some moss in Yc HwBa 4 4 some moss in Yc HwBa 4 4 some moss in Yc HwBa 4 4 some moss in Yc HwBa 3 3 creek draw HwBa 3 3 nice moss HwBa 3 3 mostly Hw HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa 2 2 nice moss HwBa 2 2 creek/nice moss HwBa 2 2 creek/nice moss HwBa 2 2 creek/nice moss HwBa 2 2 creek/nice moss HwBa 1 1 creek/nice moss HwBa HwBa HwBaSs going to 3 down stream HwBaSs 2 2 little thinner HwBaSs 2 2 on the east HwBa below 4 above 13

18 below 3 above HwBa HwBa above, looged below HwBa HwBa logged HwBa logged HwBa 3 3 riparian strip HwBa above HwBa HwBa HwBa 4 3 logged below HwBa HwBa HwBa 3 3 thin riparian srip between logging HwBa 3 3 thin riparian srip between logging Cw 4 5 leave strip CwHw 3 4 leave strip HwFd 2 4 gulley HwFd 2 4 gulley HwFd HwFd SsHwFd SsHwFd SsHwFd Hw 4 5 smaller trees Hw Ss Ss 3 2 age cls Ss Ss Ss Ss Ss CwHw CwHw HwSs Hw HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCw 4 5 younger trees HwCw 4 5 younger trees 255 logged 14

19 256 logged 257 logged HwCw 5 5 younger trees HwCw 3 4 some moss below HwCw HwCw HwCw below 4 above creek HwCw HwCw 5 5 spike top cedar HwCw 5 5 spike top cedar HwCw 5 5 spike top cedar HwCw 5 5 spike top cedar HwCw 5 5 spike top cedar HwCw HwCw HwCw HwBa 4 5 smaller trees HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa 4 5 younger trees HwBa 4 5 younger trees Hw 3 4 younger trees CwHw 2 3 along creek CwHw Hw Hw above road Hw 3 4 no moss CwHw CwHw CwHw CwHw CwHw Hw Hw HwBa HwBa HwBa

20 301 4 Hw Hw Hw HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa CwHw CwHw CwHw CwHw Hw Hw Hw Hw Yc YcHw Hw CwHw CwHw 4 3 good moss, poor trees CwHw CwHw CwHw CwHw CwHw Ss 2 3 sparse SsHw SsHw SsHw SsHw Hw Hw 3 3 in gully Hw HwBa HwBa 4 4 some blowdown HwBa 4 4 half blowdown HwBa HwBa 3 4 no moss, south aspect HwBa HwBa 3 3 in draw HwBa

21 346 4 FdCw CwHw HwCwFd HwCw 3 4 moss on Cw Cw 3 3 moss on Cw Cw HwCw young 6 6 younf regen age class 1 and young 6 6 younf regen age class 1 and young 6 6 younf regen age class 1 and CwHwFd HwCw FdYc FdHwYc HwCw HwCw HwCw HwCwFd Cw Cw Cw Cw 4 4 some moss in Cw HwCwFd 4 4 Fd with moss Hw Hw Hw Hw Hw 3 3 more topography flat Hw Hw Hw HwBaYc HwBaYc HwBaYc HwBaYc HwBa 4 5 smaller branches HwBa Jan HwBa 4 4 moss in draw HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa

22 391 3 HwBa HwBa logged HwBa 3 3 in draw only HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa 4 4 riparian sparse HwFd HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa on sides 3 in gully HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa HwBa 3 3 creek gully HwBa HwBa HwBa 4 4 no moss HwBa HwBa HwBa 2 4 moss patches HwBa 2 4 moss patches HwBa 2 4 creek gully HwBa 2 3 above gully HwBa 2 3 no moss HwBa 3 4 no moss HwBa 2 4 no moss 18

23 436 4 HwBa 2 4 no moss HwBa 2 4 little more moss HwBa 2 4 little more moss HwBa 3 4 little more moss HwBaYc 4 4 little more moss HwBaYc 4 5 small branches on Cw CwBaYc 3 3 in draw only HwBaYc 4 4 moss ran out HwBaYc HwBaYc 4 5 smaller branches HwBaYc HwBaYc HwBaYc 4 4 moss patches HwBaYc 4 4 moss patches HwBa 3 4 little moss YcHw 4 4 small branches HwYcBa 4 4 small branches HwYcBa 4 5 small branches HwYcBa 4 4 slightly bigger branches HwYcBa 4 4 slightly bigger branches HwYcBa 4 4 slightly bigger branches HwYcBa HwYcBa 3 3 gully HwYcBa 3 3 gully HwYcBa 3 3 gully Cw 4 4 skinny Cw HwBa 3 4 big trees no moss HwBa 3 4 big trees no moss HwBa 3 4 big trees no moss CwHw 4 5 no moss CwHw 4 5 no moss CwHw 3 4 more moss HwBa 3 3 gully HwBa 3 3 just enough moss HwBa 3 3 just enough moss HwBa 3 5 open windblown patch HwBa 3 5 open windblown patch Hw 3 4 big trees no moss HwYc 3 4 small strip blowdown patch Hw 3 4 gully HwBa 3 4 moss patch, not HwBa 4 4 moss patch, not HwBa 4 4 moss patch, not Hw 4 4 no moss 19

24 481 4 Hw 4 4 very small moss patches Hw 4 4 very small moss patches Hw 4 5 small branches HwBa 3 4 decent size branches HwBa 3 4 decent size branches HwBa 3 4 decent size branches HwCw 4 3 small branches, good moss HwCw 4 3 small branches, good moss HwSs 3 3 creek gully HwSs 3 3 creek gully HwSs 3 3 creek gully HwSs 3 3 creek gully HwSs 3 3 creek gully 20