MANAGE ME NT OF COL ONIAL WAT E RBIRDS AT T OMMY T - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Thursday, February 19 Mennonite New Life Centre, 1774 Queen Street East

MANAGE ME NT OF COL ONIAL WAT E RBIRDS AT T OMMY T HOMPSON PARK

CORMORANT ADVISORY GROUP ME E T ING #2

CORMORANT ADVISORY GROUP MEETING #2 Tuesday February 19, 2008 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mennonite New Life Centre, 1774 Queen Street East, Toronto AGENDA

5:30 pm Welcome and Introductions Suzanne Barrett 5:40 pm Review meeting #1 notes All 6:00 pm Review of concerns Ralph Toninger 6:30 pm Working supper 6:50 pm Potential management approach Gord MacPherson Ralph Toninger 7:10 pm Discussion of management approach All 8:30 pm Public meeting plans All 8:50 pm Wrap-up Suzanne Barrett

WILD IN THE CITY

• Wildness in Urban Setting ********
• Urban Natural Park****
• A wild place that developed despite obstacles
• Humans are part of biodiversity
• Hidden gem
• Out of city experience in the city

CITY ENVIRONMENT

• Safe environment for planes
• Symbol of hope and regeneration
• Demonstrates re-use of waste material
• Place that won’t be developed
• Identity for city

ECOLOGICAL VALUES

• Opportunity for North American biodiversity****
• Space for natural processes**
• Sanctuary for all wildlife**
• Ecological center of organization*
• Intrinsic value of nature
• Nature preservation
• Corridor
• Rich ecosystem taken over by nature
• Important Bird Area (IBA)
• Place where DCCO are not harassed
• Provincial biodiversity

RECREATION & TOURISM

• Recreation opportunity**
• Views of City*
• Protection for Outer Harbour recreation activities*
• Share the love of wilderness
• Green
• Open
• Solutions to creating a green space model
• Exploration of evolving nature
• Part of chain of waterfront parks
• One of the largest natural parks in Toronto
• Exercise and health
• We should be ‘lake people’
• A place to meet neighbors
• Public accessibility
• Solitude and quiet
• Tourism opportunity

RESEARCH

• Laboratory for ecological studies*
• Colonization laboratory
• Ecological research
• Train next generation of biologists
• Intellectual challenge
• Data on DCCO colony

EDUCATION

• Education****
• Experience natural processes
• Turn on kids to career interests
• International case study

L ake Ontar io and T

• mmy T

hompson Par k Cor mor ant Colonie s

Ne sts Numbe r s by Pe ninsula

1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

DCCO Pe n A Pe n B Pe n C Gr

• und

C D B A

R2 = 0.9449

• 2000

2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

DCCO Pe n A Pe n B Pe n C Gr

• und

Popula tion Pre dic tions

2010 7900

T r e e Canopy at T T P Base d on 2006 E c ologic al L and Classific ation Data

Ha TTP land area 151 TTP forest area 37 Future Forest 4

24% F

• r

e st Cove r

Forest Cover Lost

• r in Decline

9.0 Ha

Assuming current rate of growth an additional 1 Ha of forest is required

Location 2005 birds 2005 species 2006 birds 2006 species 2007 birds 2007 species Average Number of Birds Average Number of Species Baselands 67 19 61 15 73 23 67 19 Peninsula D 124 19 101 20 92 19 106 19 Peninsula C 23 6 17 8 26 4 22 6 Peninsula B 39 10 45 12 34 14 39 12 Totals 741 34 608 39 804 38

Point Count Data 2005-2007

Base C D B

T T P Bir d Re se ar c h Station Data

Mean % Mass Gain Number of Birds Spring 3.70 268 Fall 2.96 845 5% needed for a typical 6-8 hour flight (Approximately 270 km) Need for Further Data Collection and Analysis

Pote ntial Obje c tive s

• 1. Increase public awareness and knowledge of

colonial waterbirds

• 2. Limit further forest canopy loss on the

peninsulas

• 3. Prevent cormorant expansion to Peninsula D
• 4. Continue leading research around “urban

wilderness”

• Pub lic Me e ting
• T

RCA We b site

• Annua l Spring Bird F

e stiva l

• I

nte rpre tive Sig na g e

• Vie wing Blinds a nd Pla tfo rms
• T
• urs a nd Sc ho o l Gro ups

Increase public awareness and knowledge of colonial waterbirds

Limit further forest canopy loss on the peninsulas

• Othe r spe c ie s
• City a nd Wa te rfro nt ta rg e ts
• Mig ra to ry sto p o ve r
• Ae sthe tic s
• Dive rsity o f e xpe rie nc e fo r use rs

Prevent Cormorant Expansion to Peninsula D

• Pr
• te c t E

xisting and Planne d Use s

• Maintain and E

nhanc e Re se ar c h and E duc ation Oppor tunitie s

• Pr
• vide Ur

ban Wilde r ne ss E xpe r ie nc e for Ave r age Par k Use r s

Embayment D Park User Experience

Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS)

• 1 of 25 Canadian Migration Monitoring

Network (CMMN-RCSM) Stations

• In 2007 staff and volunteers raised just under $30,000
• Since 2003 over 100 volunteers have contributed

more than 16,000 hours to TTP programs

• Since 2003 over 30,000 birds have been banded

Winged Migration Education Program

“I loved watching the birds and learned the great things about

• nature. I took some pictures

and I will never forget the memory of the beautiful birds.” Grade 6 student

• Winged Migration is a

teaches youth about bird migration and the natural world

• In 2007, 1363 students

visited TTP

• Funding provided by the

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, and Imperial Oil Foundation.

Ecological Research Station

Support partnerships between TRCA and local naturalist groups, universities and government agencies Support the existing Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS) Play a significant role in local and regional research

Ca na dia n Wildlife Se r vic e (E nvir

• nme nt Ca na da ):
• E

mb ryo nic Via b ility – Dr. Cra ig He b e rt. E g g te sting , c o lle c tio n o f d e a d e g g s.

• Stre ss re spo nse s a nd Vite llo g e nin Pro d uc tio n – Dr. L

a ird Shutt. Blo o d sa mpling o f He rring Gull c hic ks (stre ss) a nd a d ults (vite llo g e nin).

Na tiona l Wa te r Re se a r c h Institute (E nvir

• nme nt Ca na da ):
• Mic ro b ia l So urc e T

ra c king to De te rmine F e c a l Po llutio n – Dr. T

• m E

d g e F e c a l sa mple s o f Ring -b ille d Gull, He rring Gull, Do ub le -c re ste d Co rmo ra nt, Co mmo n T e rn.

Wr ig ht Sta te Unive r sity, Ohio

• Immune F

unc tio n – Dr. K e ith Gra sma n Inje c tio ns a nd b lo o d sa mpling o f He rring Gull c hic ks.

Unive r sity of Gue lph:

• We st Nile virus, Avia n Influe nza virus, a nd Ne wc a stle Dise a se – Dr. Sha ro n Ca lvin. Blo o d

sa mpling o f Ring -b ille d Gull a d ults a nd c hic ks.

• Ne uro lo g ic a l Impa irme nt in He rring Gull c hic ks - Do ug Crump.

Unive r sity of Ne w Br unswic k:

• Inse c t b io d ive rsity: pe rspe c tive s fro m the stud y o f g o ld e nro d he rb ivo re s Gra ha m Co x

a nd Ste phe n B. He a rd De pt. o f Bio lo g y, Unive rsity o f Ne w Brunswic k

Ministr y of Na tur a l Re sour c e s

• Co yo te Distrib utio n, F
• ra g ing , a nd Be ha vio r in a n Urb a n Co nte xt. Jo hn Pa sa pio a nd

T RCA

Continued Leading Research

Potential Objectives

• 1. Increase public awareness and knowledge of

colonial waterbirds

• 2. Limit further forest canopy loss on the

peninsulas

• 3. Prevent cormorant expansion to Peninsula D
• 4. Continue leading research around “urban

wilderness”

• Do nothing
• Re ve ge tation and habitat r

e stor ation in impac te d ar e as

• Deterrents
• Pre-nesting
• Post Breeding
• Encourage ground nesting
• Nest removal inactive and active
• E

gg oiling

• Protection and enhancement of other species

Possible Management Options

Do nothing

• No t a de fa ult, b ut a c ho se n ma na g e me nt o ptio n
• Co ntinue mo nito ring , re se a rc h, a nd e duc a tio n

a c tivitie s

• Sc a le

– E ntire a re a – T a rg e te d a re a s

Natural Area Enhancement Plan Achievements 2007

Revegetation and Habitat Restoration in Impacted Areas

Planted nodes in strategic areas Soil amendment and seeding completed in specific areas

Deterrents

• Pre -ne sting a nd Po st Bre e ding
• Human Pr

e se nc e

• Public use
• Staff ac tivitie s
• Ar

tific ial Pr e dator s / te c hnologic al de vic e s

• Noise make r

s

• Staff c ontr
• lle d
• Automatic de vic e s

E nc our age Gr

• und Ne sting

Create artificial structures that: Are attractive for nesting pairs decoys recordings Provide protection from the environment and predators

• Pr
• fe ssional tr

e e c limbe r s r e move d old ne sts fr

• m pe ninsula C in 2001- 2003
• In 2004 ne st r

e moval was done with for e str y pole s

Ye a r Ne sts Re move d Ne sts Built 2001 31 281 2002 281 647 2003 647 612 2004 400* 2459

Ne sts r e move d pr ior to br e e ding se ason

*E stimate

Ne st Re moval Inac tive and Ac tive

• Ac tive ne st r

e moval is not c ur r e ntly be ing c onside r e d

E gg Oiling

Ground Nesting Tree Nesting

Prote c tion a nd E nha nc e me nt of Othe r Spe c ie s

• Undertake additional Raccoon Studies to address potential impact to

Black-crowned Night Herons

Propose d Ma na g e me nt Approa c h Cha rt

Pe ninsula D Pe ninsula A Pe ninsula B Pe ninsula C Pre -ne sting De te rre nts

* *

Po st-Bre e ding De te rre nts

* * * *

E nha nc e d Gro und Ne sting

* *

E g g Oiling

* * *

Re sto ra tio n

* * * *