ROBERTS BANK TERMINAL 2 TECHNICAL DATA REPORT

Transcription

1 ROBERTS BANK TERMINAL 2 TECHNICAL DATA REPORT Terrestrial Wildlife and Vegetation Wintering Raptor Study Prepared for: Port Metro Vancouver 100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place Vancouver, BC V6C 3T4 Prepared by: Hemmera Envirochem Inc. 18 th Floor, 4730 Kingsway Burnaby, BC V5H 0C6 File: April 2014

2 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Technical Report/Technical Data Report Disclaimer The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency determined the scope of the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (RBT2 or the Project) and the scope of the assessment in the Final Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines (EISG) issued January 7, The scope of the Project includes the project components and physical activities to be considered in the environmental assessment. The scope of the assessment includes the factors to be considered and the scope of those factors. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared in accordance with the scope of the Project and the scope of the assessment specified in the EISG. For each component of the natural or human environment considered in the EIS, the geographic scope of the assessment depends on the extent of potential effects. At the time supporting technical studies were initiated in 2011, with the objective of ensuring adequate information would be available to inform the environmental assessment of the Project, neither the scope of the Project nor the scope of the assessment had been determined. Therefore, the scope of supporting studies may include physical activities that are not included in the scope of the Project as determined by the Agency. Similarly, the scope of supporting studies may also include spatial areas that are not expected to be affected by the Project. This out-of-scope information is included in the Technical Report (TR)/Technical Data Report (TDR) for each study, but may not be considered in the assessment of potential effects of the Project unless relevant for understanding the context of those effects or to assessing potential cumulative effects.

3 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors - i - April 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) is assessing the potential to develop the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (RBT2 or the Project), a new three-berth marine terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C. The Project is part of PMV s Container Capacity Improvement Program (CCIP), a long-term strategy to deliver projects to meet anticipated growth in demand for container capacity to The Wintering Raptor Study was conducted as part of an environmental program for the proposed Project, and focused on collecting information to develop an understanding of existing conditions in the study area. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence, abundance, and distribution of diurnal (i.e., active in daytime) wintering raptors within a terrestrial area at Roberts Bank within the Fraser River delta. The study was planned and completed prior to the Project scope being finalised, and the overall objective of this study was to ensure that adequate information is available to inform a future effects assessment for the Project. Although the Project scope includes less than 1 ha of area above the highwater mark on British Columbia Railway Company (BCR) owned lands, the spatial scope for the study included Westham Island and the BCR right-of-way from the east end of the Roberts Bank causeway to the junction of Ladner Trunk Road and Highway 91. The study area included the main road and rail transportation routes connecting to the existing Roberts Bank terminals plus a buffer area dependent on the other studies (e.g., Upland Waterfowl Study) from which raptor data were gathered. Data for this report were extracted from observations that were made during the Upland Waterbird Study, Coastal Waterbird Distribution and Abundance Study, and the Abundance and Distribution of Overwintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study, all of which were conducted between November 2012 and March Eleven raptor species were detected across all survey months. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was the most abundant species, followed by northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), and rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus). Four at-risk species, as identified by the BC Ministry of Environment s Conservation Data Centre, were observed: the Red-listed peregrine falcon, anatum subspecies (Falco peregrinus ssp. anatum), and the Blue-listed snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), and rough-legged hawk. The peregrine falcon, anatum subspecies and short-eared owl are also listed as species of Special Concern by the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) Schedule 1.

4 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors - ii - April 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION PROJECT BACKGROUND WINTERING RAPTOR OVERVIEW REVIEW OF AVAILABLE LITERATURE AND DATA METHODS STUDY AREA TEMPORAL SCOPE STUDY METHODS DATA ANALYSIS RESULTS PRESENCE AND ABUNDANCE DISTRIBUTION SPECIES AT-RISK DISCUSSION DISCUSSION OF KEY FINDINGS DATA GAPS AND LIMITATIONS CLOSURE REFERENCES STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS List of Tables (within text) Table 1 Wintering Raptor Study Components and Major Objectives... 2 Table 2 Summary Statistics of Diurnal Wintering Raptor Abundance for 40 Surveys Conducted in Delta, British Columbia between November 2012 and March List of Figures (within text) Figure 1 Monthly Mean Abundance of Eight Winter Raptor Species in Delta, British Columbia, between November 2012 and March List of Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Figures Tables

5 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April INTRODUCTION This section provides an overview of the study, including project background and rationale for the study being conducted, and study components and major objectives. 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (RBT2 or Project) is a proposed new three-berth marine terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C. that could provide 2.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) of additional container capacity annually. The Project is part of Port Metro Vancouver s Container Capacity Improvement Program, a long-term strategy to deliver projects to meet anticipated growth in demand for container capacity to Port Metro Vancouver has retained Hemmera to undertake environmental studies to inform a future effects assessment for the Project. This technical data report describes the results of the Wintering Raptor Study. 1.2 WINTERING RAPTOR OVERVIEW The Wintering Raptor Study was planned and completed prior to the Project scope being finalised, and the overall objective of the study was to ensure that adequate information is available to inform a future effects assessment for the Project. The proposed Project footprint includes less than 1 ha of area above the high-water mark on British Columbia Railway Company (BCR) owned lands currently designated as railway right-of-way. The area will accommodate the tie-in of the terminal lead track into the existing BCR rail network (Appendix A: Figure A-1). The spatial scope of this study includes terrestrial areas at Roberts Bank, focusing on the main road and rail transportation routes connecting to the existing Roberts Bank terminals. A review of available information and state of knowledge concerning wintering raptors was completed to identify key data gaps and areas of uncertainty within the terrestrial area at Roberts Bank. This technical data report describes the study findings for key components identified from this gap analysis. Study components, major objectives and a brief overview are provided in Table 1. Raptor observations were made during the Upland Waterbird Study (Hemmera 2014a), Coastal Waterbird Distribution and Abundance Study (Hemmera 2014b), and Abundance and Distribution of Over-wintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study (Hemmera 2014c). Terrestrial data on diurnal (i.e., active during the daytime) raptors was extracted for the purposes of assessing presence, abundance, and distribution within the study area between November 2012 and March Because only incidental raptor information was collected from other studies, a trend in the distribution of raptor species relative to habitat availability and transportation infrastructure was not determined.

6 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Table 1 Wintering Raptor Study Components and Major Objectives Component Major Objective Brief Overview 1) Literature review 2) Upland Waterbird Study 3) Coastal Waterbird Distribution and Abundance Study 4) Abundance and Distribution of Over-wintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study Establish current state of knowledge through background literature review. Document presence, abundance, and distribution of non-breeding waterfowl and shorebirds; incidental raptor observations were also recorded. Document abundance and distribution of coastal seabird, shorebird, and waterfowl populations; incidental raptor observations were also recorded. Document abundance and distribution of overwintering shorebirds; incidental raptor observations were also recorded. Review available literature on wintering diurnal raptors to determine current state of knowledge in a regional and local context. Assess the presence, abundance, and distribution of wintering raptors in southwest Delta from surveys conducted between November 2012 and March Assess the presence, abundance, and distribution of wintering raptors from surveys conducted in southwest Delta between November 2012 and March Assess the presence, abundance, and distribution of wintering raptors in southwest Delta from studies conducted between November 2012 and March 2013.

7 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April REVIEW OF AVAILABLE LITERATURE AND DATA British Columbia s Lower Mainland, particularly the Fraser River delta (FRD), has long been recognised as an important feeding and resting stop for migratory birds travelling along the Pacific Flyway (FREMP 2003). The Boundary Bay Roberts Bank Sturgeon Bank area, including the terrestrial habitats adjacent to the wetlands and coastal ecosystems, has been designated as Important Bird Area BC017 (BirdLife Canada 2013) and is a nationally significant wintering area for many species of birds, including Canada s highest concentration of wintering raptors (FREMP 2003, BC MoE 2013). Raptors present in the FRD during the non-breeding winter season (i.e., November to March) include resident species, species that overwinter, and some that occur rarely or accidentally. With the inclusion of rare, casual, and accidental species, 16 diurnal raptors, including two owl species, have been observed wintering at Boundary Bay Regional Park (Mol 2002). Winter surveys conducted for the South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) environmental assessment documented seven diurnal raptor species in forested habitats of the SFPR study area (RESL 2006), while 11 species have been reported in the Boundary Bay Roberts Bank Sturgeon Bank Important Bird Area (ebird 2012). Nowhere else in Canada are winter populations of rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), and northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) as numerous or as dense as in the FRD (Butler and Campbell 1987). The B.C. Conservation Data Centre s (CDC s) Red List contains indigenous species, subspecies, or communities (elements) that the CDC considers Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened in B.C. Extirpated elements no longer exist in the wild in B.C. but occur elsewhere. Endangered elements face imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened elements are likely to become Endangered if factors that limit their numbers and/or range are not reversed. Red-listed species documented in the study area include peregrine falcon, anatum subspecies (Falco peregrinus ssp. anatum) and prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus). The CDC s Blue List includes elements of Special Concern, which are sensitive to human activities or natural events, but are not Endangered or Threatened. The following Blue-listed species have been documented in the study area: rough-legged hawk, barn owl (Tyto alba), snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), and gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). Although an element may be placed on the Red or Blue lists by the CDC, protection to the element or its habitat is not automatically conferred; however, the element is identified to provincial regulators as being of potential sensitivity in the context of an environmental assessment.

8 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 In parallel with the CDC s Red and Blue lists, the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) makes recommendations to Environment Canada regarding species that should be formally designated as being Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Schedule 1 of SARA lists at-risk wildlife species. Species designated as being at-risk by COSEWIC before the creation of SARA must be reassessed according to SARA criteria before they can be added to Schedule 1. Under SARA, the habitat of a Threatened, Endangered, or Extirpated species may be legally protected, provided a recovery plan for the species has been developed and recovery deemed feasible. Barn owl and peregrine falcon, anatum subspecies have been designated as being of Special Concern.

9 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April METHODS Descriptions of the study spatial and temporal scopes, and study and data analysis methods are provided below. 3.1 STUDY AREA The study area included the BCR right-of-way that extends from the east end of the Roberts Bank causeway to the junction of Ladner Trunk Road and Highway 91 (Appendix A: Figure A-1). The study incorporated all of the survey stations from the Upland Waterbird Study (Hemmera 2014a), stations PC1 to PC5 on the Brunswick Dyke transect from the Coastal Waterbird Distribution and Abundance Study (Hemmera 2014b), and the terrestrial data from the Boundary Bay East (BB-E), Boundary Bay West (BB-W), Roberts Bank (RB), and Westham Island (WI) survey transects from the Overwintering Shorebirds Study (Hemmera 2014c). 3.2 TEMPORAL SCOPE The wintering raptor studies were intended to capture current-day (baseline) conditions for diurnal raptor use of the study area. The presence, abundance, and distribution of wintering raptors were expected to show appreciable variation seasonally. In consideration of such temporal variability, surveys were conducted at regular intervals between November 2, 2012 and March 27, 2013 for the Coastal Waterbird Distribution and Abundance Study, between November 9, 2012 and March 18, 2013 for the Upland Waterbird Study, and between November 8, 2012 and March 25, 2013 for the Overwintering Shorebirds Study. Across all studies, no surveys were conducted on the same day. 3.3 STUDY METHODS The observation methods employed for the Upland Waterbird Study (Hemmera 2014a), the Coastal Waterbird Abundance and Distribution Study (Hemmera 2014b), and the Abundance and Distribution of Over-wintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study (Hemmera 2014c) are outlined in their respective Technical Data Reports. 3.4 DATA ANALYSIS Observational data was acquired from the Upland Waterbird Study, the Coastal Waterbird Distribution and Abundance Study, and the Abundance and Distribution of Over-wintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study, but only incidental observations made during the Upland Waterbird Study were incorporated into the wintering raptor database. Each respective database was subjected to quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) measures to ensure a robust dataset.

10 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 To understand the current status of wintering raptors in the study area, the following indicators were considered: species presence, abundance, and distribution. Average monthly abundance was calculated for each residential and migratory raptor species. Differences in species-specific abundance estimates across each survey month were investigated using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance as the data were not normally distributed. Alpha was set at 0.05 and all statistical analyses were conducted using SYSTAT 13 Version statistical software.

11 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April RESULTS Presence, absence, and distribution results are provided below for wintering raptor observations, including species of conservation concern. 4.1 PRESENCE AND ABUNDANCE Forty terrestrial bird surveys were conducted between November 02, 2012 and March 27, 2013 (Appendix B: Table B-1): 20 surveys from the Coastal Waterbird Abundance and Distribution Study, 13 from the Upland Waterbird Study, and 7 from the Abundance and Distribution of Over-wintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study. The majority (72%) of diurnal raptor observations was made during the Upland Waterbird Study, which included 734 records of eight species (Hemmera 2014a). An additional 221 records of seven species were made during the Abundance and Distribution of Over-wintering Shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary Study (Hemmera 2014c) and 61 records of seven species were made during the Coastal Waterbird Abundance and Distribution Study (Hemmera 2014b) (Appendix B: Table B-2). A total of 1,016 observations of 11 species were made (Table 2). Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was the most abundant diurnal raptor observed during the 2012 and 2013 winter surveys, comprising 72% of all sightings. Northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, and roughlegged hawk were the next most abundant, together comprising 25% of all observations. A mean monthly count (i.e., number of individuals per count) for November 2012 to March 2013 was calculated for each species with a cumulative abundance greater than one (Figure 1). Golden eagle, osprey, and northern goshawk were only observed once over the five-month survey period, and were excluded from statistical comparisons pertaining to abundance. For the remaining species, there was no statistical difference in abundance between survey months a. In general, the mean monthly observations provide some indication of species trends, although not significant, over time. Red-tailed hawk and peregrine falcon observations increased from November to December and showed a decline from January to March, while merlin and rough-legged hawk detections increased in February and March (Figure 1). Bald eagle, northern harrier, and short-eared owl showed inconsistent abundance trends over time. a Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance results: bald eagle (H=2.655, p=0.617), merlin (H=4.021, p=0.403), northern harrier (H=2.100, p=0.717), peregrine falcon (H=1.315, p=0.859), rough-legged hawk (H=6.860, p=0.143), red-tailed hawk (H=2.385, p=0.665), short-eared owl (H=6.185, p=0.186), and snowy owl (H=2.238, p=0.692).

12 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Table 2 Summary Statistics of Diurnal Wintering Raptor Abundance for 40 Surveys Conducted in Delta, British Columbia between November 2012 and March 2013 Common Name Scientific Name Count Mean SD Max Min Percent Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern harrier Circus cyaneus Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis Rough-legged hawk Buteo lagopus Short-eared owl Asio flammeus Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus anatum Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus Merlin Falco columbarius <1 Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis <1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus <1 Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos <1 Note: Total Cumulative count (count), mean count (mean), standard deviation (SD), maximum count (max), minimum count (min), and proportion of all observations (prop.) are based on total counts from 40 terrestrial surveys. 4.2 DISTRIBUTION Cumulative abundance counts of diurnal raptor species indicate presence throughout the study area (Appendix A: Figure A-2, Figure A-3). Bald eagles were widely distributed, with a large proportion of observations documented in the vicinity of the Boundary Bay Airport. Northern harrier, rough-legged hawk, and red-tailed hawk were observed throughout the study area, while short-eared owl and peregrine falcon were predominantly detected west of the Boundary Bay Airport. Snowy owl was observed at two locations at Boundary Bay and one at Roberts Bank, while merlin was observed at two sites on Brunswick Dyke. 4.3 SPECIES AT-RISK Across all surveys, four provincially-listed species were identified: the Red-listed peregrine falcon, anatum subspecies and the Blue-listed snowy owl, short-eared owl, and rough-legged hawk (Appendix B: Table 2). The peregrine falcon, anatum subspecies and short-eared owl are also listed as species of Special Concern under SARA (CDC 2013).

13 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Figure 1 Monthly Mean Abundance of Eight Winter Raptor Species in Delta, British Columbia, between November 2012 and March 2013 Note: Standard deviation is shown above mean abundance. Species are: bald eagle (BAEA), northern harrier (NOHA), red-tailed hawk (RTHA), short-eared owl (SEOW), peregrine falcon (PEFA), merlin (MERL), rough-legged hawk (RLHA), and snowy owl (SNOW).

14 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April DISCUSSION A discussion of the major results arising from the Wintering Raptor Study and data gaps is provided below. 5.1 DISCUSSION OF KEY FINDINGS The wintering raptor study confirms the use of terrestrial habitat within the study area by diurnal wintering raptors. Of the 16 species identified as having the potential to occur within the study area (Butler and Campbell 1987, Mol 2002, RESL 2006, ebird 2012), 11 species were documented. Species considered rare to uncommon in the study area during the wintering season, including Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), Cooper s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), and prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus), were not observed (Butler and Campbell 1987, Mol 2002, ebird 2012). The most abundant diurnal raptor species detected in the current study were bald eagle, northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, and rough-legged hawk. According to surveys conducted by the Vancouver Natural History Society (VNHS) in 1971 and 1972, the most abundant raptor species in winter (November to February) was northern harrier, followed by red-tailed hawk, short-eared owl, and rough-legged hawk (Butler and Campbell 1987). The prevalence of bald eagles during recent surveys may be attributed to annual variation in wintering populations (Butler and Campbell 1987), and an increased use of the Vancouver Landfill for hunting, scavenging, and resting during inclement weather Although short-eared owl was an abundant raptor encountered during the VNHS surveys (Butler and Campbell 1987), it comprised only 1% of the 2012 to 2013 Wintering Raptor Study detections. Given that prey abundance and accessibility are critical factors for wintering short-eared owls (Cooper and Beauchesne 2004), winter population levels tend to fluctuate greatly with changes in these factors (Butler and Campbell 1987). The availability of suitable winter habitat with a sufficient prey base and adequate roost sites is a limiting factor for wintering populations in B.C. (Butler and Campbell 1987, Campbell et al. 1990), and has been negatively influenced by increasing urbanization and industrial agricultural practices (i.e., greenhouses) (Environment Canada 2013). The Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust has developed a Grassland Set-aside Stewardship Program that mimics the grasslands that were abundant in the lower FRD prior to 1890 (Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust 2011), working to preserved key habitat types on the landscape.

15 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April DATA GAPS AND LIMITATIONS Data for the wintering raptor report were attained from three separate studies. Although a considerable amount of data was collected on diurnal wintering raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl were the predominant focus of these studies. Since the studies were time-constrained and surveyors were instructed to concentrate their efforts on study-specific focal species, diurnal raptors may not have been documented consistently throughout the study period. Furthermore, survey stations and transects were selected to increase the probability of observing waterfowl and shorebirds and not to maximise wintering raptor detections; therefore, abundance estimates may inaccurately reflect actual abundance in some areas. Nevertheless, results from the three studies were able to meet the project objectives of providing an indication of raptor presence and relative abundance in the study area. 6.0 CLOSURE Major authors and reviewers of this technical data report are listed below, along with their signatures. Report prepared by: Hemmera Envirochem Inc. Vanessa Sadler, BIT Biologist Report peer reviewed by: Hemmera Envirochem Inc. Pamela O Hara, M.Sc., R.P.Bio. RBT2 Project Manager

16 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April REFERENCES British Columbia Ministry of Environment (BC MoE) Guidelines for raptor conservation during urban and rural land development in British Columbia: a companion document to Develop with Care BC MoE Best Management Practices, The Province of British Columbia. Available at Accessed 15 Aug BirdLife Canada Important bird areas (IBA) Canada. Available at Accessed 12 Aug Butler, R. W., and R. W. Campbell The birds of the Fraser River delta: populations, ecology, and international significance. Occasional Paper No. 65, Canadian Wildlife Service. Campbell, R. W., N. K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J. M. Cooper, G. W. Kaiser, and C. E. McNeil The birds of British Columbia. Volume II, non-passerines. Diurnal birds of prey through woodpeckers. Volume II. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, B.C. Conservation Data Centre (CDC) BC species and ecosystem explorer. BC Conservation Data Centre (CDC), Ministry of Environment. Available at < Accessed 31 May Cooper, J. M., and S. Beauchesne Short-eared owl. Pages in. Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife Coast Forest Region. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (MWLAP), Victoria, BC. Available at Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust Delta farmland and wildlife trust: annual report. Delta, BC. ebird ebird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. ebird, Ithaca, New York. Available at < Environment Canada Bird conservation strategy for bird conservation region 5: northern pacific rainforest. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Delta, BC. Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP) A living working river - The estuary management plan for the Fraser River. FREMP, Burnaby, BC. Available at Accessed 12 Aug Hemmera. 2014a. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 technical data report: Upland waterbirds study. Prepared for Port Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C. Available at:

17 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Hemmera. 2014b. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 technical data report: Coastal waterbird distribution and abundance study. Prepared for Port Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C. Available at: Hemmera. 2014c. Roberts Bank Terminal 2 technical data report: Abundance and distribution of overwintering shorebirds in the Fraser River estuary. Prepared for Port Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C. Available at: Mol, A. L Boundary Bay regional park bird checklist. Originally compiled in 1995 by Allen Poynter. Available at: Accessed 23 Jan Robertson Environmental Services Ltd. (RESL) Vegetation and wildlife impact assessment, technical volume 12 of the environmental assessment application for South Fraser Perimeter Road.

18 Port Metro Vancouver Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS This report was prepared by Hemmera Envirochem Inc. ( Hemmera ), based on fieldwork conducted by Hemmera, for the sole benefit and exclusive use of Port Metro Vancouver. The material in it reflects Hemmera s best judgment in light of the information available to it at the time of preparing this Report. Any use that a third party makes of this Report, or any reliance on or decision made based on it, is the responsibility of such third parties. Hemmera accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions taken based on this Report. Hemmera has performed the work as described above and made the findings and conclusions set out in this Report in a manner consistent with the level of care and skill normally exercised by members of the environmental science profession practicing under similar conditions at the time the work was performed. This Report represents a reasonable review of the information available to Hemmera within the established Scope, work schedule and budgetary constraints. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon applicable legislation existing at the time the Report was drafted. Any changes in the legislation may alter the conclusions and/or recommendations contained in the Report. Regulatory implications discussed in this Report were based on the applicable legislation existing at the time this Report was written. In preparing this Report, Hemmera has relied in good faith on information provided by others as noted in this Report, and has assumed that the information provided by those individuals is both factual and accurate. Hemmera accepts no responsibility for any deficiency, misstatement or inaccuracy in this Report resulting from the information provided by those individuals.

19 APPENDIX A Figures

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21 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX A Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Figure A-1 Wintering Raptors Study Area and Survey Locations

22 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX A Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Figure A-2 Wintering Raptors Counts by Species, Study Area - West

23 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX A Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Figure A-3 Wintering Raptors Counts by Species, Study Area - East

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25 APPENDIX B Tables

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27 T01 T02 T03 T04 T05 CZA1 CZA2 CZA3 CZA4 CZA5 CZB1 CZB2 CZB3 CZB4 CZB5 CZC1 CZC2 CZC3 CZC4 CZC5 IZA1 IZA2 IZA3 IZA4 IZA5 IZB1 IZB2 IZB3 IZB4 IZB5 BB-E BB-W RB WI Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Table B-1 Survey Dates for Coastal Waterbird Abundance and Distribution, Upland Waterbird, and Overwintering Shorebirds Studies Conducted within the Fraser River Delta, B.C., November 2012 March 2013 Study Data Source and Station Coastal Waterbird Abundance and Distribution Upland Waterbird Overwintering Shorebirds Date 02-Nov-12 x x x x x 07-Nov-12 x x x x x 08-Nov-12 x x x x 09-Nov-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 15-Nov-12 x x x x x 19-Nov-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 23-Nov-12 x x x x x 24-Nov-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 28-Nov-12 x x x x x 05-Dec-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 06-Dec-12 x x x x x 11-Dec-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 12-Dec-12 x x x x x 15-Dec-12 x x 18-Dec-12 x x 19-Dec-12 x x x x x 20-Dec-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x 22-Dec-12 x x x x x x x x x x x x 30-Dec-12 x x x x x

28 T01 T02 T03 T04 T05 CZA1 CZA2 CZA3 CZA4 CZA5 CZB1 CZB2 CZB3 CZB4 CZB5 CZC1 CZC2 CZC3 CZC4 CZC5 IZA1 IZA2 IZA3 IZA4 IZA5 IZB1 IZB2 IZB3 IZB4 IZB5 BB-E BB-W RB WI Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Study Data Source and Station Coastal Waterbird Abundance and Distribution Upland Waterbird Overwintering Shorebirds Date 05-Jan-13 x x x x x 09-Jan-13 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 10-Jan-13 x x x x x 16-Jan-13 x x x x x 23-Jan-13 x x x x x 28-Jan-13 x x 29-Jan-13 x x 30-Jan-13 x x x x x 04-Feb-13 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 06-Feb-13 x x x x x 12-Feb-13 x x x x x 18-Feb-13 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 26-Feb-13 x x x x x 27-Feb-13 x x x x 05-Mar-13 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 13-Mar-13 x x x x x 17-Mar-13 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 18-Mar-13 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 20-Mar-13 x x x x x 25-Mar-13 x x x x 27-Mar-13 x x x x x

29 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Table B-2 Diurnal Wintering Raptor Sightings by Study and Date for Surveys Conducted in Delta, British Columbia between November 2012 and March 2013 Survey Date Station Species Count Coastal Waterbird 2-Nov-12 T01 T01 short-eared owl 1 7-Nov-12 T03 rough-legged hawk 1 T01 rough-legged hawk 1 28-Nov-12 T02 merlin 1 bald eagle 3 T04 T05 rough-legged hawk 1 6-Dec-12 T02 merlin 1 T04 12-Dec-12 rough-legged hawk 1 T05 merlin 1 19-Dec-12 T01 T02 T01 10-Jan-13 T03 bald eagle 7 T01 short-eared owl 1 T03 30-Jan-13 T04 T05 6-Feb-13 T01 snowy owl 6 T05 northern harrier 2 bald eagle 5 12-Feb-13 T04 T05 26-Feb-13 T01

30 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Coastal Waterbird 26-Feb-13 T01 T05 13-Mar-13 T01 northern harrier 2 20-Mar-13 T01 27-Mar-13 T04 CZA1 CZA2 CZA4 CZB1 CZB3 CZB4 CZC1 CZC2 CZC3 9-Nov-12 CZC4 IZA1 IZA2 IZA3 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA4 short-eared owl 1 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA5 northern harrier 2 IZB1 rough-legged hawk 2 IZB2

31 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Upland Waterbird 9-Nov Nov Nov-12 IZB2 snowy owl 1 IZB3 red-tailed hawk 2 IZB5 CZA1 short-eared owl 1 CZA2 rough-legged hawk 1 rough-legged hawk 1 CZA3 CZA4 short-eared owl 1 CZB1 bald eagle 3 CZB3 CZC1 IZA3 IZA4 IZA5 IZB1 IZB3 IZB4 IZB5 CZA1 CZA2 rough-legged hawk 2 CZA4 CZB1 CZB2 CZB3 CZB5 rough-legged hawk 1 CZC1 rough-legged hawk 1

32 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Upland Waterbird 24-Nov-12 5-Dec-12 CZC3 rough-legged hawk 2 CZC5 IZA1 IZA2 rough-legged hawk 1 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA4 rough-legged hawk 2 short-eared owl 3 northern harrier 4 IZA5 rough-legged hawk 1 IZB1 bald eagle 7 IZB2 IZB3 IZB5 rough-legged hawk 1 golden eagle 1 CZA4 CZB1 0 bald eagle 6 CZB2 northern harrier 3 CZB3 CZC1 CZC5 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA1 IZA2

33 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Upland Waterbird 5-Dec Dec-12 IZA4 northern harrier 3 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA5 rough-legged hawk 1 bald eagle 5 IZB1 rough-legged hawk 1 IZB3 IZB5 CZA2 rough-legged hawk 1 CZA4 CZB1 CZB2 CZB3 CZB5 CZC2 IZA1 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA3 IZA4 IZA5 rough-legged hawk 1 IZB1 IZB2 IZB3 IZB4 IZB4

34 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Upland Waterbird 11-Dec Dec Dec Dec-12 IZB5 IZB5 IZA4 northern harrier 9 IZA5 bald eagle 8 bald eagle 7 CZB1 0 bald eagle 4 0 CZB2 bald eagle 4 CZB4 IZA4 snowy owl 1 IZA5 rough-legged hawk 1 bald eagle 3 IZB1 IZB2 IZB3 IZB4 IZB5 rough-legged hawk 1 rough-legged hawk 1 CZA1 CZA2 CZA3 rough-legged hawk 1 CZA4 CZA5 CZC2 CZC3 bald eagle 3 3

35 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count CZC3 CZC4 Upland Waterbird 22-Dec-12 9-Jan-13 CZC5 CZC5 CZC5 peregrine falcon 1 IZA3 CZA1 northern harrier 3 CZA2 CZA3 CZA4 CZA5 bald eagle 3 CZB1 CZB3 CZB5 CZC1 peregrine falcon 1 CZC3 CZC4 CZC5 IZA1 IZA3 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA4 IZA5 bald eagle 6

36 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count IZA5 IZB1 IZB2 Upland Waterbird 9-Jan-13 4-Feb-13 IZB4 IZB5 rough-legged hawk 1 CZA1 peregrine falcon 1 CZA2 CZA4 CZA5 CZB1 3 bald eagle 7 CZB2 bald eagle 3 CZB3 CZC2 CZC3 peregrine falcon 1 CZC4 peregrine falcon 1 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA1 IZA2 rough-legged hawk 1 northern harrier 3 IZA4 short-eared owl 2 northern harrier 6 bald eagle 7 IZA5 bald eagle 3 3

37 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count IZA5 bald eagle 3 bald eagle 6 IZB1 bald eagle 7 IZB2 bald eagle 5 4-Feb-13 IZB3 IZB4 IZB4 IZB5 bald eagle 3 CZA1 Upland Waterbird CZA2 CZA3 CZA4 bald eagle 3 bald eagle 5 CZA5 bald eagle 3 bald eagle 5 CZB1 18-Feb-13 bald eagle 4 4 CZB2 CZB3 CZB4 CZB5 bald eagle 3 bald eagle 8 bald eagle 3 bald eagle 3 CZC1

38 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count bald eagle 3 Upland Waterbird 18-Feb-13 5-Mar-13 CZC2 CZC4 CZC5 IZA1 bald eagle 4 IZA2 IZA3 IZA4 IZA5 short-eared owl 1 IZB1 IZB3 IZB4 bald eagle 3 IZB5 CZA1 CZA2 CZA5 bald eagle 9 CZB1 CZB2 CZB3 CZB4 CZB5 bald eagle 4

39 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count CZB5 CZC2 CZC3 Upland Waterbird 5-Mar Mar-13 CZC4 CZC5 peregrine falcon 1 IZA1 bald eagle 3 IZA3 IZA4 red-tailed hawk 2 6 IZA5 IZB1 IZB2 IZB4 bald eagle 7 IZB5 CZA1 CZB1 bald eagle 4 CZC1 CZC2 CZC3 peregrine falcon 1 CZC5 IZA2

40 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Upland Waterbird Overwintering Shorebird 17-Mar Mar-13 8-Nov-12 IZA4 peregrine falcon 1 IZA5 3 IZB1 IZB2 IZB5 CZA1 CZA2 bald eagle 3 CZA4 CZA5 short-eared owl 1 CZB1 CZB3 CZC2 CZC3 IZA2 northern harrier 2 IZA3 rough-legged hawk 1 IZA4 IZA5 bald eagle 6 IZB1 IZB2 IZB4 rough-legged hawk 1 BB-E

41 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count peregrine falcon 2 Overwintering Shorebird 8-Nov Dec Dec Jan-13 RB BB-E BB-W northern harrier 2 RB northern harrier 3 WI peregrine falcon 1 bald eagle 90 BB-E bald eagle 8 bald eagle 8 northern harrier 2 BB-E short-eared owl 1 BB-W bald eagle 4 peregrine falcon 1 short-eared owl 1

42 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count bald eagle 4 Overwintering Shorebird 29-Jan Feb Mar-13 RB WI BB-E BB-W RB WI BB-E RB osprey 1 red-tailed hawk 2 northern goshawk 1 peregrine falcon 1 2 bald eagle 3 northern harrier 2

43 Port Metro Vancouver APPENDIX B Hemmera RBT2 Wintering Raptors April 2014 Survey Date Station Species Count Overwintering Shorebird 25-Mar-13 RB WI bald eagle 3