Tree Swallows as a Sentinel Species in Hamilton Harbour Pamela - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Tree Swallows as a Sentinel Species in Hamilton Harbour Pamela Martin, Glenn Barrett, Kim Hughes, Kyna Intini, Kimberly O’Hare

Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division What we do: • Research and monitoring of effects of toxicological and ecological stressors on wildlife • Measurement of contaminants (PCBs, metals, pesticides, etc) in body burdens • Assessment of wildlife health Page 2 – November-17-15 2

Wildlife Species We Study Northern Leopard Frog Double-crested Cormorant Page 3 – November-17-15 Snapping Turtle Herring Gull 3

And…Tree Swallows Photos: http://digitalmedia.fws.gov/ Page 4 – November-17-15 4

Great Lakes Areas of Concern: Hamilton Harbour  Hamilton Harbour is an embayment located in the western end of Lake Ontario and is connected to the lake only by a ship canal.  Historically, the economy of the region was based on the iron and steel industries; today, Hamilton Harbour remains a major shipping centre supporting one the largest concentrations of heavy industry in Canada.  In 1985, Hamilton Harbour was identified as a Great Lakes Area of Concern as a result of historical industrial and municipal activities (among others) that degraded water and sediment quality.  Currently, industrial and municipal point sources meet provincial standards.  However, due to the long retention time of water in the Harbour, impacts on the aquatic ecosystem, fish and wildlife continue to occur. Page 5 – November-17-15

Hamilton Harbour-Contaminants  Historical sources of contaminants from industries and municipal activities, urban and rural run-off, spills & leachate from landfills  Water and sediment contaminated by pesticides, metals, PCBs & PAHs  There are “hotspot” locations where these contaminants are notably high. Page 6 – November-17-15

One Hotspot = Randle Reef  Randle Reef is located along the southern industrial shore of Hamilton Harbour  Known for coal-tar deposits and high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment  Acutely toxic to fish and wildlife  Contain carcinogens that lead to developmental and reproductive deformities in fish and wildlife Page 7 – November-17-15

Planning for the Future-Randle Reef  Remediation of Randle Reef sediments has been planned for many years.  After a few false starts, it seems set that remediation will be initiated in 2016.  One key action of the Remedial Action Plan process is the ongoing monitoring of the Harbour after remediation has occurred to ensure environmental challenges have been addressed successfully.  One component of this program is to monitor aquatic invertebrates living in the sediments.  In 2012, it was decided to incorporate monitoring at a higher trophic level and tree swallows were chosen as the sentinel wildlife species. Page 8 – November-17-15

Why study tree swallows? - Close ties to sediment contamination - Can detect changes in sediment contamination - Linkage between sediment and birds via aquatic insects is short, so more easily interpreted - Nest boxes at areas of interest - Achieve adequate sample size - Localized feeding - Data available for comparison

Great Lakes Tree Swallow Studies  In Canada, similar tree swallow studies are underway at Thunder Bay and will be initiated on the Detroit River in 2016.  In the U.S., over 40 nesting sites are currently being monitored as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Project 80 http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/wildlife_toxicology/glri_project80.html_ 10

Tree Swallow Breeding Biology  Arrive on breeding grounds in late-March to mid-April when courtship begins  Cavity nesters  Females lay 4-7 white eggs which are incubated for 16 days  Diet of insects caught on the wing  Birds fledge at 18-22 days  Leave breeding grounds in late July - August Page 11 – November-17-15

Tree Swallows Study - Purpose  Study wildlife to measure effectiveness of remediation of Randle Reef (data collected before and after remediation activities)  Assess reproductive and physiological endpoints.  Measure exposure to legacy contaminants (eg, PCBs, heavy metals and PAHs) and other newer compounds (eg, flame retardants).  Provide assessment of wildlife reproduction and health in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.  Allows comparison to other studies of tree swallows on the Great Lakes including other remediation sites.

Study Design 2013-2015  Install 25 nest boxes at each study location.  Check them regularly to determine occupancy and reproductive parameter of nesting pairs; this includes counting the number of eggs laid, number of eggs hatched and number of young fledged per nest.  Collect eggs for analysis of organochlorines (e.g., PCBs), flame retardants & metals.  Weigh & measure fledglings, collect feathers for corticosterone analysis.  Collect blood, liver & lung tissues from chicks for PAH analysis & gene mutation analysis. Page 13 – November-17-15

Tree Swallow Sampling Accessing the nestbox Day 14: Weighing and measuring the chicks Plucking wing feather Blood sampling Page 14 – November-17-15

General Study Locations  Two Hamilton Harbour locations, Randle Reef & Bayfront Park monitored since 2013.  Study expanded to include three Cootes Paradise locations in 2015. Page 15 – November-17-15

Hamilton Harbour Study Locations 2013-2015  25 nest boxes installed in 2013 in a grid on t-posts and fences adjacent to Randle Reef.  In 2014, boxes were moved a few hundred metres away to accommodate future staging of remediation project. Pier 15 West US Steel Page 16 – November-17-15

Hamilton Harbour Study Locations 2013-2015  25 boxes were also installed at Bayfront Park at the west end of Hamilton Harbour.  Located 4 km west and upwind of Randle Reef Page 17 – November-17-15

Cootes Paradise Study Locations 2015  25 nest boxes installed in 2015 at three Cootes Paradise locations: Boathouse, Princess Point & Spencer Creek in collaboration with RBG Page 18 – November-17-15

Reference Site Location 2013-2015  Established population of tree swallows at the tip of Long Point on Lake Erie where nest boxes had been previously installed.  Naturally preserved site with no industry or development. Page 19 – November-17-15

Air Monitoring in 2013-2015  Polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-disk) were set up at each study location to obtain measurements of PAHs in air (Air S&T, Environment Canada).  Samplers were deployed for 6-7 weeks in May & June  Reflects what swallows are exposed to in breeding season. Page 20 – November-17-15 20

RESULTS Page 21 – November-17-15 21

Nest Site Occupancy 2013-2015  First year we broadcast recordings of swallow calls to attract birds to nest boxes in Randle Reef.  Swallows initiated egg laying in early May at Randle Reef, Bayfront Park & Long Point with completion of clutches in early- mid June. Page 22 – November-17-15 22

Hamilton Harbour Nest Site Occupancy 2013-2015 Year # Nest- # Nest Boxes Percent Location boxes Occupied Occupancy Randle Reef 2013 25 8 32% 2014 25 11 44% 2015 25 19 76% Bayfront P. 2013 23* 13 57% 2014 21* 7 33% 2015 24* 17 71% * Some boxes were lost due to theft and vandalism Page 23 – November-17-15 23

Cootes Paradise Nest Site Occupancy 2015 # # Nest Boxes Percent Location Year Nest- Occupied Occupancy boxes Princess 2015 25 11 44% Point Boathouse 2015 21 8 38% Spencer 2015 24 5 21% Creek Page 24 – November-17-15 24

Hamilton Harbour Reproductive Success 2013-2015 Number No. No. Eggs / Fledging Location Year Fledged / Nests Nest Success (%) Nest Randle 2013 8 5.4 3.1 88% Reef 2014 11 4.7 2.6 65% 2015 19 5.5 4.4 84% Bayfront 2013 13 5.4 2.7 72% Park 2014 7 5.7 2.7 83% 2015 17 5.8 3.7 60% Long Pt 2013 5 5.6 2.6 90% 2014 6 6.5 2.5 75% 2015 5 6.0 5.4 100% Page 25 – November-17-15 25

Cootes Paradise Reproductive Success Number No. No. Eggs / Fledging Location Year Fledged / Nests* Nest Success (%) Nest Princess 2015 11 5.6 4.1 89% Point Boathouse 2015 8 5.8 4.3 100% Spencer 2015 5 5.0 3.0 100% Creek Page 26 – November-17-15 26

PCBs in Eggs – 2013 & 2014  Higher concentrations in eggs from two Hamilton locations compared to Long Point.  Concentrations also high compared to many other Great Lakes sites.  But concentrations are below levels for impacts on hatching success for many bird species. Page 27 – November-17-15 27

Relative to PCBs in Eggs from other Great Lakes Sites Randle Reef 2013 & 2014 Page 28 – November-17-15 http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/wildlife_toxicology/glri_project80_results_organic_contaminants.html

PBDEs in Eggs – 2013 & 2014  Also higher concentrations in eggs from Hamilton locations compared to Long Point.  Concentrations also high relative to many other Great Lakes sites.  Effect concentrations not known for PBDEs in birds. Page 29 – November-17-15 29

Relative to PBDEs in Eggs from other Great Lakes Sites Randle Reef 2013 & 2014 Page 30 – November-17-15 http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/wildlife_toxicology/glri_project80_results_organic_contaminants.html