Behold the Birds Protecting Chimney S wifts at NPD 2019 June 26| - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Behold the Birds

Protecting Chimney S wifts at NPD

2019 June 26| Joel Evans & Callie Stirling | NPD Closure Project

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• Chimney Swift Background
• Chimney Swift Counts
• Potential Effects to Chimney Swifts
• Mitigation Efforts
• Species at Risk Permit
• Follow Up Monitoring

Topics

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• Migratory Species
• High Site Fidelity
• Aerial Insectivore
• 90% decrease in

population since 1970

• Threatened since 2009

The Chimney Swift

Background Information

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• Specific Habitat Needed

for Roosting

• Synanthropic species
• Juveniles and unpaired

birds remain

• Maternity Roosts

The Chimney Swift

Background Information

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Chimney Swifts at NPD

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Weekly Counts

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250

Number of Chimney Swifts Julian Days

NPD Chimney Swift Counts: Historical Trend

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Past Monitoring

• Weekly roost counts have been

conducted to collect data since 2010

• Masters Projects through Trent

University with Melanie Farquhar and Joe Nocera

• In May 2014, an infrared,

weatherproof camera was installed to monitor Chimney Swift behaviour within the ventilation stack 24/ 7

• Temperature loggers were also

deployed inside of the chimney at depths of 2m and 5m

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Current monitoring

• Weekly counts and

inclement weather monitoring occur during the migratory season

• Daily counts occur

during breeding season

• New camera installed

June 12th allows monitoring 24/ 7

Automatic cameras

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• 4 nights available to the

public

• Averaged 15 members of the

public per night

• Averaged 958 birds
• Witnessed a Merlin catching

a Chimney Swift

Public Chimney Swift Nights

2019

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Current Configuration Demolition & Grout Fill End State

Chimney Swifts and the NPD Closure Project

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Potential Impacts & Best Practices

Five potential sources of disturbance: 1) Noise 2) Vibration 3) Dust 4) Encroachment 5) Light

Best practices Limit work as much as possible to fair-weather days during

daylight hours

Minimize decommissioning activities within 5 metres of the

roost

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• Activities that will create noise should be undertaken during

daylight hours

• Noise performance should be considered in the selection of

mechanical equipment and vehicles

• Mobile plants (compressors, generators) should be located as

far as possible from roosting stack

• Concrete batching and other noisy apparatuses should be

located as far as possible from roosting stack

• Devices oriented to direct noise emissions away from stack

Mitigating Noise

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• On site structures and terrain will be used to screen the stack

and provide noise suppression

• Noise level of audible warning devices should be kept to the

minimum necessary for employee health and safety

• Dramatic and sudden disturbances limited to daylight hours
• Ensure that noise minimization is incorporated into all

demolition activities

• Soft start approach

Mitigating Noise

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• Ensure vibration minimization is incorporated into all

demolition procedures

• Activities that will create vibration should be undertaken

during daylight hours

• Soft start approach

Mitigating Vibration

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• Insofar as is practical, keep dust from demolition to a

minimum

• Orient all lighting fixtures so the top of the stack is not

illuminated

Mitigating Dust and Light

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• NPD is currently working with Environment and Climate

Change Canada to attain a Species at Risk Permit

• Reasonable alternatives were considered for this project
• Do nothing
• Remove the stack
• Remove the stack and build an alternative habitat
• Retain the current stack

Species at Risk Permit

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• CNL proposes to

conduct weekly evening roost counts for 2 years after post- closure

• After 2 years,

CNL strives to continue counts annually during the National Chimney Swift Evening Roost Count initiative

Post Decommissioning Follow-up Monitoring

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