CORMORANT S AT T OMMY T HOMPSON PARK Thursday, April 3, 2008 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mennonite New Life Centre, 1774 Queen Street East www.trca.on.ca/cormorants
HOMPSON PARK CORMORANT S AT T OMMY T T hur sday, Apr il 3, 2008 , 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. onto Me nnonite Ne w L ife Ce ntr e , 1774 Que e n Str e e t E ast, T or Register and view displays 6:30 pm 7:00 pm Welcome Councillor Fletcher Adele Freeman, Director, Watershed Management, TRCA Agenda review 7:10 pm Suzanne Barrett, Facilitator Overview of process 7:20 pm Tommy Thompson Park overview Gord MacPherson, Manager, Restoration & Environmental Monitoring Projects, TRCA 7.35 pm Colonial waterbirds in the Great Lakes Chip Weseloh, Wildlife Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service Cormorants at TTP 7:50 pm Ralph Toninger, Senior Project Manager, TRCA Round-table discussions All 8:10 pm • Goal and objectives • Potential methods • Application of methods 8:50 pm Summary and next steps Suzanne Barrett 9:00 pm Adjourn
PROPOSE D GOAL AND OBJE CT IVE S F OR CORMORANT ST RAT E GY GOAL Achieve a balance between the continued existence of a healthy, thriving cormorant colony and the other ecological, educational, scientific and recreational values of Tommy Thompson Park OBJECTIVES a. Increase public knowledge and awareness of colonial waterbirds b. Prevent cormorant expansion to Peninsula D c. Limit further loss of tree canopy on Peninsulas A, B and C d. Continue research on colonial waterbirds in an urban wilderness context
CORMORANT ADVISORY GROUP TRCA Interest Groups Restoration Services Aquatic Park Sailing Club Cormorant Defenders International: Federal/Provincial Animal Alliance of Canada Canadian Wildlife Service Zoocheck Canada Inc. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Canadians for Snow Geese Toronto Port Authority Earthroots Transport Canada Friends of the Spit Local Enhancement and Appreciation of City of Toronto Forests (LEAF) Parks, Forestry and Recreation Ontario Nature Public Health Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Academia Outer Harbour Sailing Federation University of Toronto Toronto Island Residents York University Toronto Ornithological Club
PROCESS FOR CORMORANT STRATEGY TIMELINE Advisory Group January 24, 2008 • Identify values and interests associated Meeting #1 with TTP • Discuss existing conditions and concerns • Review proposed list of management options (including “do nothing”) • Evaluate management options Advisory Group February 19, 2008 • Discuss alternative management Meeting #2 approaches • Present existing conditions, concerns and Public Meeting April 3, 2008 alternative management approaches • Provide feedback • Review public response Advisory Group April 23, 2008 • Formulate management plan Meeting #3 TRCA Authority Board April 25,2008 • Present report for Authority action May 23, 2008 • Tour of Waterbird Colonies Spring Bird Festival May 10, 2008 • Review implementation workplan Advisory Group tbd Meeting #4 All reports and meeting notes will be posted on the TRCA website at www.trca.on.ca/cormorants
Tommy Thompson Park Public Urban Wilderness
WILD IN THE CITY CITY ENVIRONMENT • • Wildness in Urban Setting ******** Safe environment for planes • • Urban Natural Park**** Symbol of hope and regeneration • • A wild place that developed despite obstacles Demonstrates re-use of waste material • • Place that won’t be developed Humans are part of biodiversity • • Hidden gem Identity for city • Out of city experience in the city ECOLOGICAL VALUES RECREATION & TOURISM • • Opportunity for North American biodiversity**** Recreation opportunity** • • Space for natural processes** Views of City* • • Sanctuary for all wildlife** Protection for Outer Harbour recreation activities* • • Ecological center of organization* Share the love of wilderness • • Intrinsic value of nature Green • • Nature preservation Open • • Corridor Solutions to creating a green space model • • Rich ecosystem taken over by nature Exploration of evolving nature • • Important Bird Area (IBA) Part of chain of waterfront parks • • Place where DCCO are not harassed One of the largest natural parks in Toronto • • Provincial biodiversity Exercise and health • We should be ‘lake people’ • RESEARCH A place to meet neighbors • • Laboratory for ecological studies* Public accessibility • • Colonization laboratory Solitude and quiet • • Ecological research Tourism opportunity • Train next generation of biologists • Intellectual challenge EDUCATION • • Education**** Data on DCCO colony • Experience natural processes • Turn on kids to career interests • International case study
• Construction of the Leslie Street Spit began in 1959 • Dispose of rubble and fill from the construction industry • Expand port related facilities • Create opportunities for dredged material disposal
Master Plan (1989) and Addendum (1992) The goals of the Master Plan are to: •To conserve and manage the natural resources and environmentally significant areas; •To provide a unique, water-oriented open space which will assist in meeting regional needs; •To develop public awareness regarding the significance of the Lake Ontario waterfront and Tommy Thompson Park.
Tom ommy T y Thom homps pson P Park ark City of Toront nto Toron onto o and d Tommy Thompson Park Regi gion on CA 247 ha MNR / TPA 224 ha 471 ha Ont ntario Mini nistry of of Natur ural al Resour ources es
Tommy Thompson Park 2007 Interim Management • Open to the public weekends and holidays • Shuttle Van Service from May to October • Volunteer Naturalist from May to October • Aquatic Park Sailing Club • Habitat and wildlife management
Interim Management Program Appr oximate ly 250,000 pe ople visit T T P annually Rollers Joggers 9% 10% Cyclists Wa l kers 45% 36%
Don River The ecological health of the Watershed shoreline and adjacent watersheds are closely connected and dependant on Tommy Thompson Park Portlands Tommy Thompson Park Toronto Islands
Local and Regional Context ESA E SA 130 E SA 120
• Toronto’s only Important Bird Area –globally significant • 7 Species of Colonial Nesting Waterbirds The largest colony of Double-crested Cormorants in the Great Lakes Largest colony of Black-crowned Night- Herons in Canada! • Concentration area for migratory bird species . • Significant overwintering area for waterfowl .
Ne sting Pa irs of Colonia l Wa te rbirds a t T T P 2007 Common T e r n 376 Double - c r e ste d Cor mor ant 7,241 Gr e at E gr e t 5 Blac k- c r owne d Night- He r on 876 Caspian T e r n Ring- bille d Gulls fe w He r r ing Gulls 56,000 30
Embayment D Park User Experience
Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS) • 1 of 25 Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN-RCSM) Stations • Since 2003 more than 30,000 birds have been banded • In 2007 staff & volunteers raised just under $30,000 • Since 2003 over 100 volunteers have contributed more than 16,000 hours to TTP programs
Winged Migration Education Program • Winged Migration is a teaches youth about bird migration and the natural world • In 2007, 1363 students visited TTP • Funding provided by the “I loved watching the birds and TD Friends of the learned the great things about Environment Foundation, nature. I took some pictures and Imperial Oil and I will never forget the memory of the beautiful birds.” Foundation. Grade 6 student
Wildlife
Summing Up • TTP is ecologically significant at a local, regional, national and global scale • TTP is in the largest city in Canada • Man-made landform • Urban influences compromise natural functions • TTP supports a large number and variety of recreation users
T ommy T hompson Par k Cor mor ant Colonie s
D C B A
Ne st Count Sur ve ys •Detailed nest surveys have been completed since 1990 •All nests are identified (DCCO, BCNH, GREG) and counted •All trees are tagged and surveyed by GPS •Each tagged tree is checked annually
Ne sts Numbe r s of DCCO and BCNH at T ommy T hompson 1993 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 DCCO BCNH 1000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Ne sts Numbe r s of DCCO and BCNH at T ommy T hompson 1993 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 DCCO BCNH 1000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Ne sts Numbe r s of DCCO and BCNH at T ommy T hompson 1999 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 DCCO BCNH 1000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Ne sts Numbe r s of DCCO and BCNH at T ommy T hompson 1999 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 DCCO BCNH 1000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Ne sts Numbe r s of DCCO and BCNH at T ommy T hompson 2002 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 DCCO BCNH 1000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
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