Proposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project Standwatch Bird ... · PDF fileProposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project . Standwatch Bird Surveys – Spring/Summer 2014 . ... Based on the spring/summer

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Proposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project

Standwatch Bird Surveys – Spring/Summer 2014

Report Date

October 30, 2014

Survey Dates & Times Twenty-three (23) standwatch bird surveys were conducted from April 22, 2014 to

September 10, 2014. The objective of these surveys was to characterize waterbird use

of the proposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project site, with an emphasis on shorebirds.

These surveys focused on peak migration times of Western Sandpiper, as this species

typically comprises the vast majority of shorebirds stopping over in the Fraser River

Estuary during migration. Three phases of shorebird migration were assessed between

April 22, 2014 and September 10, 2014:

1. Northward Migration: Surveys were conducted every three days between

April 22, 2014 and May 16, 2014 (nine surveys total)

2. Southward Adult Migration: Surveys were conducted every three days

between July 5, 2014 and July 26, 2014 (eight surveys total)

3. Southward Juvenile Migration: Surveys were conducted every five days

between August 14, 2014 and September 10, 2014 (six surveys total)

Survey times were scheduled with mudflat1 stations centered on peak daytime low

tides. Survey direction was alternated each survey (east to west vs. west to east) to

reduce potential bias.

Weather & Tidal

Conditions All surveys were conducted during wind speeds less than 25 km/hour. With the

exception of light rain on May 10 and August 29, all surveys were conducted in the

absence of rain. As mudflat surveys were centered on peak daytime low tides, the

first half of each survey was conducted during a falling low tide, with the latter half of

each survey conducted during a rising low tide.

Survey Areas Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV’s) Habitat Enhancement Program – Proposed Point Grey

Tidal Marsh, Vancouver, BC.

The proposed enhancement site is located on the north side of the North Arm of the

Fraser River, south of Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The site was divided into six different

survey areas, including four mudflat standwatch stations (Control West, Control East,

Treatment West, and Treatment East) and two standwatch stations in existing marsh

(Marsh West and Marsh East) (Figure 1).

1 The term ‘mudflat(s)’ henceforth refers to all treatment and control stations as a single entity unless defined

otherwise.

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Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project – Standwatch Bird Surveys October 30, 2014

Survey Team Andrew Venning, Biologist (Hemmera); Toby St. Clair, Biologist (Hemmera); Vanessa

Sadler, Biologist (Hemmera)

Scope of Work As part of Port Metro Vancouver’s Habitat Enhancement Program, the creation of a

brackish tidal marsh is proposed at the Point Grey Booming Grounds site in Vancouver,

B.C. The historic booming grounds where the project will be located consist of mudflats

which have been impacted to some extent by years of log boom storage (e.g.,

woodwaste, sediment compaction and scoured channels from prop wash). The project

will help restore tidal marsh habitats within the North Arm of the Fraser River, where

considerable areas of natural brackish marsh have been lost over the past 70 to 80 years

through land development activities.

The proposed project is located between a natural brackish marsh to the southeast and

extensive mudflats to the northwest. In order to better understand bird use of mudflats

overlapping with the project site, standwatch bird surveys were conducted between

April 22, 2014 and September 10, 2014 during peak times of shorebird migration. The

primary objective of these surveys was to document shorebirds using the mudflats

within the proposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project site and within adjacent mudflat

control sites. Although shorebirds were the focal species group for mudflat standwatch

surveys, use by all bird species was also part of this survey work. The existing adjacent

marsh to the southeast was also surveyed to provide insight into the value of the

proposed new marsh habitat for all bird species present.

Survey Methods A single surveyor conducted 30-minute standwatches within each station illustrated in

Figure 1. All detectable bird species were documented. Binoculars and spotting scope

were used to identify and count birds detected visually; bird vocalizations were also

identified and counted.

To ensure identification and count accuracy on mudflats, the observer was positioned

in the center of the station, halfway between the tideline and the existing marsh to the

northeast (see Photo 1). Large shorebird flocks were approached when necessary.

Standwatches in existing marsh were conducted from locations illustrated in Figure 1.

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

time, distance from existing northeast marsh (for mudflat stations)/distance from

observer (for existing marsh stations), and behavior.

Results

Mudflats

Cumulative abundance of each species documented on mudflats is presented in Table

1. The five most abundant species accounted for 72% of all birds observed on mudflats:

Western Sandpiper (n=6041), Green-winged Teal (n=2684), Dunlin (n=2243), Mallard

(n=1536), and Ring-billed Gull (n=1276). Shorebirds (n=9198) were the most abundant

species group observed, followed by Dabbling Waterbirds (n=5956) and ‘Gulls and

Terns’ (n=2065), respectively.

At control sites, shorebirds were the most abundant species group, followed by

dabbling waterbirds, and ‘gulls and terns’, respectively (Figure 2). The same relative

trend was observed at treatment sites, with a much larger difference observed

between shorebirds and dabbling waterbirds (Figure 3). Dabbling waterbirds were the

most abundant species group at Treatment West, followed closely by shorebirds, and

‘gulls and terns’, respectively (Figure 4). Shorebirds were the most abundant species

group at Treatment East (adjacent existing marsh), followed by dabbling waterbirds,

and geese, respectively (Figure 5).


Nine shorebird species were observed on the mudflats: Western Sandpiper (n=6041);

Dunlin (n=2243); Unidentified Shorebird (n=523); Killdeer (n=122); Black-bellied Plover

(n=108); Least Sandpiper (n=73); Unidentified Caladris (n=73); Greater Yellowlegs

(n=9); Semipalmated Plover (n=3); Lesser Yellowlegs (n=2); Spotted Sandpiper (n=1).

Shorebirds accounted for 48% of all birds observed on mudflats. Western Sandpipers

were most commonly observed in treatment stations, adjacent the existing marsh;

fewer Western Sandpipers were observed in control stations farther from the existing

marsh (Figure 6). Dunlin showed the opposite relationship, most commonly observed

in control stations, with fewer observations in treatment stations (Figure 6).

Large flocks (i.e., >1000 birds) of shorebirds were observed infrequently at Point Grey

(Table 2). During northward migration, a relatively large flock was observed only on

April 28 (n=3781), and on three survey days none were observed. During southward

adult migration, fewer shorebirds were observed relative to other migration phases;

the highest number recorded was 162 and on three survey days none were observed.

During southward juvenile migration, a relatively large flock was observed only on

August 24 (n=4369) (see Photos 2 and 3); for the remainder of this migration phase

shorebirds were observed in relatively small numbers.

Two Osprey pairs were observed nesting on pilings in Treatment West and Treatment

East (Figure 1, Photos 4 and 5). Based on the spring/summer surveys, it appears that

each nesting pair successfully raised and fledged one young in 2014. Osprey were most

commonly observed in treatment stations; observation frequency increased with

proximity to existing marsh (Table 1).

Existing Marsh

Cumulative abundance of each species documented in existing marsh (both existing

marsh stations pooled) is presented in Table 3. The five most abundant species

accounted for 65% of all birds observed in existing marsh: Marsh Wren (n=167), Red-

winged Blackbird (n=115), Violet-green Swallow (n=70), Barn Swallow (n=65), and

Northwestern Crow (n=49). Songbirds (n=430) were the most abundant species group

observed, followed by Swallows (n=135) and ‘Other Passerines’ (n=51), respectively

(Figure 7).

Visibility in existing marsh stations was limited (see Photo 6) and a large proportion of

observations consisted of vocalizations. Outside of the breeding season (i.e., after July

1st) vocalizations were minimal and thus detectability in existing marsh stations was

relatively low. Numbers presented represent minimum numbers of birds observed.


Tables

Table 1. Cumulative abundance of bird species observed on mudflats at Point Grey during spring/summer 2014 standwatch bird surveys, with

shorebird species shown in bold; Vancouver, BC.

Species Group Common Name Latin Name

Station Grand

Total Control

West

Control

East

Treatment

West

Treatment

East

Shorebirds Western

Sandpiper Calidris mauri 248 1090 1520 3183 6041

Dabbling

waterbirds Green-winged Teal Anas crecca 838 806 971 69 2684

Shorebirds Dunlin Calidris alpina 900 1200 43 100 2243

Dabbling

waterbirds Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 376 491 269 400 1536

Gulls and

Terns Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis 557 314 284 121 1276

Dabbling

waterbirds Northern Pintail Anas acuta 151 567 358 135 1211

Geese Canada Goose Branta canadensis 152 130 158 327 767

Shorebirds Unidentified

Shorebird - 0 451 42 30 523

Dabbling

waterbirds American Wigeon Anas americana 80 194 59 155 488

Unidentified

Duck Unidentified Duck - 115 37 217 114 483

Gulls and

Terns Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 124 93 12 8 237

Gulls and

Terns Unidentified Gull Larus sp. 95 21 37 43 196

Gulls and

Terns Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus

philadelphia 150 0 0 0 150

Gulls and

Terns

Glaucous-winged

Gull Larus glaucescens 53 19 46 18 136

Diving

waterbirds Bufflehead Bucephala albeola 72 15 33 3 123

Shorebirds Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 0 3 1 118 122

Other

Passerines

Northwestern

Crow Corvus caurinus 16 22 30 50 118

Shorebirds Black-bellied

Plover Pluvialis squatarola 63 37 8 0 108

Swallows Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 23 14 12 50 99

Herons Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 29 18 30 21 98

Raptors Osprey Pandion haliaetus 3 25 27 42 97

Diving

waterbirds

Red-breasted

Merganser Mergus serrator 2 0 77 2 81

Shorebirds Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla 10 21 0 42 73

Shorebirds Unidentified

Caladris - 15 1 55 2 73

Gulls and

Terns California Gull Larus californicus 2 0 55 0 57

Dabbling

waterbirds Gadwall Anas strepera 0 0 29 4 33


Species Group Common Name Latin Name

Station Grand

Total Control

West

Control

East

Treatment

West

Treatment

East

Raptors Bald Eagle Haliaeetus

leucocephalus 18 6 5 3 32

Raptors Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 2 2 5 6 15

Gulls and

Terns Mew Gull Larus canus 2 6 0 4 12

Cormorants Unidentified

Cormorant - 3 2 5 0 10

Shorebirds Greater

Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 5 2 0 2 9

Songbirds Savannah Sparrow Passerculus

sandwichensis 0 0 0 7 7

Cormorants Double-crested

Cormorant

Phalacrocorax

auritus 0 1 4 1 6

Songbirds Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris 3 3 0 0 6

Songbirds Red-winged

Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 4 0 0 1 5

Songbirds Unidentified

Swallow - 0 3 1 1 5

Songbirds American

Goldfinch Spinus tristis 1 1 2 0 4

Shorebirds Semipalmated

Plover

Charadrius

semipalmatus 0 0 0 3 3

Shorebirds Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes 0 0 0 2 2

Dabbling

waterbirds Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 0 0 2 0 2

Songbirds Pacific-slope

Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis 1 1 0 0 2

Songbirds Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 1 1 0 0 2

Songbirds Violet-green

Swallow

Tachycineta

thalassina 0 1 0 1 2

Songbirds Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 1 0 0 0 1

Dabbling

waterbirds Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 1 0 0 0 1

Songbirds Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus

cyanocephalus 0 0 0 1 1

Songbirds Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla

cedrorum 0 0 1 0 1

Dabbling

waterbirds Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera 0 0 0 1 1

Songbirds European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 0 0 0 1 1

Gulls and

Terns Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus

pipixcan 0 0 1 0 1

Shorebirds Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 0 0 1 0 1

Songbirds Unidentified

Hummingbird - 0 0 1 0 1

Grand Total 4116 5598 4401 5071 19186


Table 2. Daily abundance of shorebirds observed on mudflats at Point Grey during spring/summer 2014 standwatch bird surveys; Vancouver,

BC.

Date Number Migration Phase

April-22-14 14

Northward

April-25-14 188

April-28-14 3781

May-01-14 230

May-05-14 30

May-07-14 0

May-10-14 95

May-14-14 0

May-16-14 0

July-05-14 0

Southward Adult

July-08-14 15

July-11-14 0

July-14-14 2

July-17-14 4

July-20-14 0

July-23-14 58

July-26-14 162

August-14-14 46

Southward Juvenile

August-19-14 105

August-24-14 4369

August-29-14 66

September-05-14 19

September-10-14 14

Table 3. Cumulative abundance of species observed in existing marsh (both stations pooled) at Point Grey during spring/summer 2014

standwatch bird surveys; Vancouver, BC.

Species Group Common Name Latin Name Number

Songbirds Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris 167

Songbirds Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 115

Swallows Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 70

Swallows Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 65

Other Passerines Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus 49

Songbirds Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 37

Songbirds Unidentified Swallow - 31

Songbirds American Goldfinch Spinus tristis 22

Raptors Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 20

Dabbling waterbirds Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 15

Geese Canada Goose Branta canadensis 13


Species Group Common Name Latin Name Number

Songbirds Unidentified Hummingbird - 12

Songbirds Unidentified Swift - 10

Unidentified Duck Unidentified Duck - 10

Hummingbirds Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna 8

Gulls and Terns Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens 8

Songbirds Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 7

Songbirds American Robin Turdus migratorius 6

Other Virginia Rail Rallus limicola 6

Songbirds Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus 6

Herons Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 4

Songbirds Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 4

Raptors Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 3

Songbirds Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens 3

Gulls and Terns Unidentified Gull Larus sp. 3

Songbirds Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus 2

Diving waterbirds Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 2

Raptors Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2

Songbirds Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 2

Raptors Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 1

Gulls and Terns Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis 1

Songbirds Unidentified Passerine - 1

Songbirds Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii 1

Shorebirds Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 1

Raptors Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1

Songbirds Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis 1

Other Passerines Common Raven Corvus corax 1

Songbirds Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 1

Songbirds Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 1

Other Passerines European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1

Songbirds Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus 1

Grand Total 714


Figures

Figure 1. Point Grey Proposed Tidal Marsh Project – Standwatch bird monitoring stations assessed during spring/summer 2014 surveys; Vancouver, BC.


Figure 2. Abundance of species groups observed at Point Grey control (mudflat) sites during spring/summer 2014; Vancouver, BC.

Figure 3. Abundance of species groups observed at Point Grey treatment (mudflat) sites during spring/summer 2014; Vancouver, BC.

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Figure 4. Abundance of species groups observed at Point Grey treatment west (mudflat) during spring/summer 2014; Vancouver, BC.

Figure 5. Abundance of species groups observed at Point Grey treatment east (mudflat), adjacent existing marsh, during spring/summer 2014;

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Figure 6. Abundance of Western Sandpiper and Dunlin observed on mudflats at Point Grey during spring/summer 2014; Vancouver, BC.

Figure 7. Abundance of species groups observed at Point Grey existing marsh stations during spring/summer 2014; Vancouver, BC.

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Photos

Photo 1. Observer’s view of mudflats at Point Grey, facing northwest, treatment stations are in foreground and control stations in background;

Vancouver, BC (May 16, 2014).

Photo 2. Western Sandpiper feeding on mudflats in treatment stations at Point Grey; Vancouver, BC (August 24, 2014).


Photo 3. Peregrine Falcon (right) hunting Western Sandpipers (left) in treatment stations; view facing southward to river; Vancouver, BC

(August 24, 2014).

Photo 4. Osprey nesting at Point Grey; Vancouver, BC (May 16, 2014).


Photo 5. Osprey adult (left) and young (right) on nest at Point Grey; Vancouver, BC (August 19, 2014).

Photo 6. Observer’s view of existing marsh at Point Grey, facing southwest; Vancouver, BC (May 16, 2014).

Documents

Proposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project Standwatch Bird ... · PDF fileProposed Point Grey Tidal Marsh Project . Standwatch Bird Surveys – Spring/Summer 2014 . ... Based on the spring/summer