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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
Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 3
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
Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 4
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
Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 5
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
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IncubationConstruction
Nestling
Fledging
Jim Cruce
Jim Cruce Jim Cruce
Greg Gillson
Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 9
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
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Pacific Wren Nest Forest Park April 2017
Credit: Peter Pearsall/USFWS/WikiCommons
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Pacific Wren Nest Forest Park April 2017 (# 2)
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• 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
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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
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Oregon Junco nest with eggs/young
May 10, 2011
Mt Tabor Park
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INVASIVE REMOVAL AND NATIVE REPLANTINGS
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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
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FOREST PARK BLACKBERRY & CLEMATIS – PRE CUT
Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 22
FOREST PARK BLACKBERRY & CLEMATIS – POST CUT
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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MAY 2014 MAINTENANCE CUT: NESTS FOUND
Photos: Adam Baz
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Bald Eagle Nests in PortlandBald and Golden Eagle Projection Act (BGEPA)
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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
Environmental Services l Avoiding Impacts on Nesting Birds 34
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