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

MANAGE ME NT OF COL ONIAL WAT E RBIRDS AT T OMMY T HOMPSON PARK CORMORANT ADVISORY GROUP ME E T ING #2 Thursday, February 19 Mennonite New Life Centre, 1774 Queen Street East

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 Suzanne Barrett 5:30 pm Welcome and Introductions 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 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 • • Humans are part of biodiversity Place that won’t be developed • • 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’ • A place to meet neighbors • Public accessibility • Solitude and quiet • Tourism opportunity RESEARCH EDUCATION • • Laboratory for ecological studies* Education**** • • Colonization laboratory Experience natural processes • • Ecological research Turn on kids to career interests • • Train next generation of biologists International case study • Intellectual challenge • Data on DCCO colony

L ake Ontar io and T ommy T hompson Par k Cor mor ant Colonie s

Ne sts Numbe r s by Pe ninsula 8000 7000 C D B 6000 A 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 DCCO Pe n A Pe n B Pe n C Gr ound

Popula tion Pre dic tions 12000 R 2 = 0.9449 10000 8000 7900 6000 4000 2000 0 2010 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 - 2000 DCCO Pe n A Pe n B Pe n C Gr ound

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 or e st Cove r

Forest Cover Lost or in Decline 9.0 Ha Assuming current rate of growth an additional 1 Ha of forest is required

Point Count Data 2005-2007 B C D Base 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 2007 Average Average birds species birds species birds species Location Number of Number of Birds 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

T T P Bir d Re se ar c h Station Data Mean % Mass Number of Gain 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”

Increase public awareness and knowledge of colonial waterbirds •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 o urs a nd Sc ho o l Gro ups

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 ote 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 ovide 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 • Since 2003 over 30,000 birds have been banded • 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

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

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

Continued Leading Research Ca na dia n Wildlife Se r vic e (E nvir onme 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 onme 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 o 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 o 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

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”

Possible Management Options • 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 gg oiling • E • Protection and enhancement of other species

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 olle d • Automatic de vic e s

E nc our age Gr ound Ne sting Create artificial structures that: Are attractive for nesting pairs decoys recordings Provide protection from the environment and predators

Ne st Re moval Inac tive and Ac tive Ne sts r e move d pr ior to br e e ding se ason • Pr ofe ssional tr e e c limbe r s r e move d old ne sts fr om pe ninsula C in 2001- 2003 • In 2004 ne st r e moval was done with for e str y pole s Ne sts Ne sts Ye a r Re move d Built 2001 31 281 2002 281 647 2003 647 612 2004 400* 2459 *E stimate • 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