Boreal Hardwood Transition

Transcription

1 Ontario Landbird Conservation Plan: Boreal Hardwood Transition (North American Bird Conservation Region 12) Priorities, Objectives and Recommended Actions Version 1.1 May 2006 < Add logos > Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan i

2 Acknowledgements This plan is the result of a collaborative planning, writing, consultation and review process that involved numerous individuals, organizations and agencies with an interest in helping to coordinate landbird conservation efforts in southern Ontario. This project was funded and led by Environment Canada Ontario Region (EC) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), under the direction of a Project Steering Committee consisting of Rick Pratt and Eleanor Zurbrigg (EC); and Kevin Loftus, Deb Pella Keen, Eva Kennedy and Sandra Orsatti (all OMNR); and Michael Bradstreet and George Finney (Bird Studies Canada). Bird Studies Canada (BSC), a non-profit bird research organization, was contracted to carry out the technical analysis and plan writing functions. Wildlife Habitat Canada provided in-kind contributions and coordination. The Project Organizing Committee members played a crucial role in guiding and managing the plan development and review process: Brigitte Collins, (EC), Lyle Friesen (EC), Cynthia Pekarik (EC), Julie Simard (OMNR), Peter Blancher (BSC and EC), Audrey Heagy (BSC), and Jon McCracken (BSC). This plan benefited greatly from the contributions of the Technical Advisory Committee members (Appendix A) who shared their knowledge and expertise at the technical workshop held in October 2004 and/or provided comments on the draft document. Valuable input was also received from members of Partners in Flight (PIF) initiatives outside of Ontario. Newly revised PIF assessment scores and prioritization methods were provided by the PIF Science Committee (Canada, U.S., and Mexico). Brian Collins (Environment Canada) provided the BBS trend analysis software that was used to generate BBS trends and indices for Ontario BCR 12. Denis Lepage (BSC) provided data from the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, and Andrew Couturier (BSC) generated habitat land cover data for atlas squares and for atlas point count locations. Range maps in the species accounts (Appendix F) were derived from shape files provided by NatureServe in collaboration with Robert Ridgely, James Zook, The Nature Conservancy - Migratory Bird Program, Conservation International - Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, World Wildlife Fund - US, and Environment Canada WildSpace. PIF Ontario is grateful to all of these individuals and organizations for their assistance. A big thank you to all of the volunteers who collected bird survey data (Breeding Bird Survey, Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, Christmas Bird Counts and other surveys) that made the analyses presented in this plan possible. Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan ii

3 Citation Please cite this document as: Ontario Partners in Flight Ontario Landbird Conservation Plan: Boreal Hardwood Transition (North American Bird Conservation Region 12), Priorities, Objectives and Recommended Actions. Version 1.0. EC/MNR. Copies of this plan are available from: EC/MNR Acronyms BBA Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas projects BBA1 Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, BBA2 Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, BBS -- Breeding Bird Survey BCR -- Bird Conservation Region BMP--Best Monitoring Practice BSC -- Bird Studies Canada CAR - Census of Agricultural Regions CBC -- Christmas Bird Count CBC-Christmas Bird Count CCA -- Canadian Census of Agriculture CMMN -- Canadian Migration Monitoring Network COSARRO -- Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario COSEWIC -- Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada CWS -- Canadian Wildlife Service dbh diameter at breast height EC Environment Canada EHJV -- Eastern Habitat Joint Venture ELC -- Ecological Land Classification FBMP Forest Bird Monitoring Program FRI -- Forest Resource Inventory HMANA Hawk Migration Association of North America IBA -- Important Bird Area MAPS -- Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship NABCI -- North American Bird Conservation Initiative NHIC -- Natural Heritage Information Centre OLC -- Ontario Land Cover mapping OMMAH -- Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housin g OMNR -- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources ONRS -- Ontario Nest Records Scheme PFW Project FeederWatch PIF Partners in Flight PPS -- Provincial Policy Statement on Natural Heritage SARA -- Species at Risk Act SARO -- Species at Risk in Ontario SAR -- Species at Risk Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan iii

4 Executive Summary The Boreal Hardwood Transition region in central Ontario is home to a great diversity of bird life, with species richness rivalling anywhere else in Canada or the United States during the breeding season. The purpose of this plan is to guide landbird conservation efforts to ensure that the distribution, diversity and abundance of birds across this region are sustained within the bounds of natural variability for this forest ecosystem. The Planning Area The plan covers Ontario's share of the Boreal Hardwood Transition, Bird Conservation Region 12 (ON BCR 12) of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). This BCR encompasses much of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest Region, but also parts of the southern Boreal Forest Region. This is the second of four landbird plans being developed by Ontario Partners in Flight (PIF). Each plan focuses on Ontario's share of a single Bird Conservation Region (BCR), planning regions developed by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). Together these four plans will contribute to continent-wide efforts by PIF and NABCI to sustain the distribution, diversity, and abundance of all North American landbirds. Read Chapter 1 to learn more about the scope and objectives of this Plan, and how it fits into continental conservation initiatives for birds. Chapter 2 provides a detailed look at this region, including an overview of its geography, vegetation, avifauna, current land cover and land use patterns. Most of the plan Chapters 3 through 10 is devoted to three topics: Identifying priority landbird species and habitats; Setting measurable objectives for the conservation of priority species; and Recommending conservation actions to achieve objectives. Landbird Conservation Priorities Fifty-one (31%) of the 167 species of landbirds that regularly breed or winter in ON BCR 12 are identified as priority species (see Table 3, p. 26 for a complete list), on the basis of a detailed species assessment (Chapter 3 outlines the approach, appendices provide details). The high number of priority species is because this region includes many species of high conservation concern, as well as many species of high conservation responsibility. A few species are of high concern and high responsibility (Canada Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, and Veery). Priority species identified as of conservation concern due to a combination of population declines, high vulnerability, and future threats include species of continental concern with important populations in this region (e.g., Bay-breasted Warbler), species with small global range and populations that are considered vulnerable to futur e change (e.g., Golden-winged Warbler), and common widespread species that have experienced population declines and that face ongoing threats on the breeding or wintering grounds (e.g., Wood Thrush). Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan iv

5 Approximately half of the priority species are landbirds for which ON BCR 12 has a high global responsibility for the species' population in combination with other concerns (e.g., Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, and Golden-winged Warblers and Veery). Several landbird Species at Risk occur within in this region, including notable local populations of Cerulean Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Twenty-nine priority species are forest species, associated with one of the following general forest types, each of which is considered a priority habitat for attention: Deciduous Forest Landbirds 15 priority species (see Chapter 5 for details) Coniferous Forest Landbirds 7 priority species (see Chapter 6 for details) Early Successional Forest Landbirds 7 priority species (Chapter 7) Twenty-two priority species are more closely associated with non-forest habitats including: Non-forested Wetland and Riparian Landbirds 11 priority species and a priority habitat category (see Chapter 8 for details) Non-forested Upland Landbirds 11 priority species, some of which are associated with priority rock barrens and rock cliff habitats, and other species using non-priority anthropogenic habitats (agricultural grasslands) (see Chapter 9 for details). An additional group of landbirds identified in this plan as a priority for attention is the aerial-foraging insectivores birds that feed "on the wing" on flying insects (see Chapter 10). This group includes swallows, swifts and nighthawks. All nine aerial insectivores that breed regularly in ON BCR 12 are showing signs of decline, though only three of these species are on the priority list (and are also included in the habitat guilds). Landbird Conservation Objectives Overall objectives are set for each priority species to give general guidance to conservation efforts. For Endangered or Threatened species, the overall objective is recovery, as determined by the SAR Recovery Strategy for that species. For species that are poorly monitored in this region, the immediate objective is to periodically assess status. Objectives for most forest priority landbirds are consistent with current forest management objectives that aim to ensure that the supply of forest habitat types in each forest management unit and ecoregion area maintained within the estimate range of natural variation (ERNV). For most forest species, a habitat-based objective is set as maintain the supply of suitable habitat within the ERNV. A coarse filter approach to measuring habitat supply is considered sufficient for most forest species, but fine filter direction involving spatial habitat suitability models are needed for species with more specialized habitat needs The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas data are used to set and measure population objectives for a few species (e.g., Canada Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Executive Summary ii

6 Warbler, Purple Finch) and one foraging guild (aerial foraging insectivores) that are of high continental concern and/or have experienced regional population declines that do not appear to be linked to the supply of breeding habitat. A monitoring objective only is set for three non-forest upland species (e.g. Bobolink, Brown Thrasher, Willow Flycatcher), that in this region are often associated with anthropogenic habitats (agricultural grasslands and successional old field habitats), and for one wetland species (Sedge Wren) with inadequate quantitative information to set population or habitat objectives. See Chapter 3 for the approach to setting objectives, and Chapters 4 through 10 and the Priority Species Accounts (Appendix F) for the specific objectives set for each priority species. Conservation Actions The plan proposes a range of actions for the conservation of landbirds in ON BCR 12 including actions related to monitoring, research and evaluation, planning and policy, outreach and education, and applied conservation. General actions that apply to many groups of landbirds are found in Chapter 4, actions specific to habitat and foraging guilds are listed in Chapters 5 to 10, and actions specific to each priority species are contained in the Priority Species Accounts (Appendix F), which also contain details of species status, reasons for concern, ecology and objectives. It is expected that the proposed actions will be implemented by a range of conservation partners, in coordination with other bird conservation initiatives under the NABCI umbrella. Conservation actions outside of Ontario may also be necessary to contribute to these objectives, as almost all of the priority landbird species in ON BCR 12 are migratory. Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Executive Summary iii

7 Table of Contents 1 Introduction Purpose Plan Objectives The Importance of Landbird Conservation The PIF North American Landbird Conservation Plan PIF in Ontario Overview of the Boreal Hardwood Transition Region (BCR 12) in Ontario Description Sub-regions of Ontario BCR Physiography Vegetation Land Cover Avifauna Human Population Land Ownership and Management Landbird Conservation Planning in ON BCR The PIF Ontario Planning Approach Plan Development Sources of Information Assessing Species Vulnerability Identifying Priority Species Identifying Priority Habitats and Ecological Guilds Setting Objectives Identifying Landbird Conservation Issues and Recommended Actions Landbird Conservation Priorities in ON BCR Priority Species Priority Habitats Aerial Insectivore Guild Monitoring and Evaluation Landbird Conservation Issues Conservation Actions Conservation of Deciduous Forest Landbirds Deciduous Forest Landbirds Deciduous Forest Priority Species Deciduous Forest Habitats in ON BCR Conservation Objectives Recommended Conservation Actions Conservation of Coniferous Forest Landbirds...46 Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan i

8 6.1 Coniferous Forest Landbirds Coniferous Forest Priority Species Coniferous Forest Habitats in ON BCR Conservation Objectives for Priority Coniferous Forest Landbirds Recommended Conservation Actions Conservation of Early Successional Forest Landbirds Landbirds in Early Successional Forest Habitats Early Successional Forest Habitats Conservation Objectives for Priority Early Successional Forest Landbirds Conservation Focus Conservation Action Needs of Early Successional Forest Landbirds Conservation of Landbirds in Wetland and Riparian Habitats Landbirds Associated with Wetland and Riparian Habitats Wetland and Riparian Habitats in ON BCR Conservation Objectives for Priority Wetland/Riparian Landbirds Conservation Focus Conservation Actions Conserva tion of Landbirds in Non-forest Upland Habitats Landbirds Breeding in Non-forest Upland Habitats Non-forest Landbird Habitats in ON BCR Conservation Objectives for Priority Landbirds in the Non-forest Upland Habitat Suite Conservation Actions for Priority Species in the Non-forest Upland Habitat Suite Conservation of Aerial-foraging Insectivorous Landbirds Aerial Insectivores Threats Conservation Objectives for Aerial Insectivores Conservation Focus Recommended Conservation Actions for Aerial Insectivores Implementation Philosophy Implementation Philosophy Implementation Strategy Evaluating Progress Next Steps References Glossary...99 Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan ii

9 Appendices Appendix A: Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Technical Advisory Committee Appendix B: Avian Datasets and Data Analyses Appendix C: Identifying Priority Species at a Regional Scale the PIF Approach Appendix D: Landbirds Occurring Regularly in Ontario BCR 12 during the Breeding and/or Wintering Seasons Appendix E: PIF Species Assessment Scores for Landbirds in Ontario BCR 12 Appendix F: Priority Species Accounts Appendix G: Accuracy and Precision of Population Abundance Objectives and Estimated Population Size for Priority Species Breeding in Ontario BCR 12 Appendix H: An Evaluation of BBS Monitoring Coverage of Landbirds Breeding in Ontario BCR 12 List of Boxes Box 1: Partners in Flight... 2 Box 2: The North American Bird Conservation Initiative ( 3 Box 3: North American Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)... 4 Box 4: Additional Information on PIF Activities in Ontario... 4 Box 5: Categories used for including Species in PIF Regional Priority Species Lists Box 6: Explanation of Key Forest Wildlife Management Concepts used in this plan Box 7: Landbird Monitoring Objectives for Ontario BCR Box 8: Conservation Objectives for Priority Species and Guilds in Ontario BCR Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan iii

10 List of Figures Figure 1: Boreal Hardwood Transition Bird Conservation Region (BCR 12)... 1 Figure 2: Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) that fall within Ontario Figure 3: Map of Species Richness of Breeding Landbirds in Canada and United States... 3 Figure 4: North American Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)... 4 Figure 5: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ecoregions within Ontario BCR Figure 6: Location Map of Ontario portion of BCR 12 showing BCR boundaries, Ecoregion boundaries, and general land cover Figure 7: Sub-regions of Ontario BCR 12 used in this plan... 8 Figure 8: Distribution of General Land Cover in ON BCR 12 and by sub-region.. 12 Figure 9: Average Species Richness from Breeding Bird Surveys, Figure 10: Land Ownership in ON BCR 12, by ecoregion Figure 11: Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Development Process Figure 12: Distribution of Priority Species by Reasons for Priority Status for ON BCR Figure 13: Distribution of Priority Species by Conservation Objective Figure 14: Deciduous Forest Cover in ON BCR 12 by Ecore gion Figure 15: Area of Deciduous Forest by Provincial Forest Type, by Ecoregion Figure 16: Coniferous Forest Cover in ON BCR 12 by Ecoregion Figure 17: Area of Coniferous Forest by Provincial Forest Type, by Ecoregion Figure 18: Proportion of Forest in 0-20 year age class in ON BCR 12, by Ecoregion Figure 19: Distribution of Wetland Habitats in ON BCR 12, by ecoregion Figure 20: Non-forest Habitats in ON BCR 12, by ecoregion Figure 21: Population Abundance Objective for Aerial-foraging Insectivore Guild in ON BCR List of Tables Table 1: Relationship of the Ontario Land Cover Classes with the General Land Cover Categories and Landbird Habitat Categories used in the ON BCR 12 plan Table 2: Current General Land Cover (ca. early 1990s) in Ontario BCR 12 and Subregions Table 3: Priority Landbird Species in ON BCR 12 showing Reasons for Priority Status, Overall Objective, and Habitat Guild Designation Table 4: Priority Species Suites used in Ontario BCR 12 Plan Table 5: Conservation Issues facing Landbirds in ON BCR Table 6: Deciduous Forest Landbirds with >= 10% of global population and/or occurring at very high relative density in BCR Table 7: Deciduous Forest Priority Landbirds in ON BCR 12 showing Reasons for Priority Status Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan iv

11 Table 8: Summary of Habitat Needs of Priority Deciduous Forest Landbirds in ON BCR Table 9: Summary of Conservation Objectives and Conservation Focus for Priority Deciduous Forest Landbirds in ON BCR Table 10: Coniferous Forest Landbirds with >= 10% of global population breeding or wintering in BCR 12 and/or occurring at very high relative density in BCR Table 11: Coniferous Forest Priority Landbirds in ON BCR 12 showing Reasons for Priority Status Table 12: Summary of Habitat Needs of Priority Coniferous Forest Landbirds in ON BCR Table 13: Summary of Conservation Objectives and Conservation Focus for Priority Coniferous Forest Landbirds in ON BCR Table 14: Early Successional Forest Landbirds with >= 10% of global population breeding or wintering in BCR 12 and/or occurring at very high relative density in BCR Table 15: Early Successional Forest Priority Landbirds in ON BCR 12, with Reasons for Priority Status Table 16: Summary of Habitat Needs of Priority Early Successional Forest Landbirds in ON BCR Table 17: Summary of Conservation Objectives and Conservation Focus for Priority Early Successional Forest Landbirds in ON BCR Table 18: Wetland and Riparian Landbirds with >= 10% of global population breeding or wintering in BCR 12 and/or occurring at very high relative density in BCR Table 19: Priority Landbirds in Wetland and Riparian Habitats in ON BCR 12, with Reasons for Priority Status Table 20: Summary of Habitat Needs Of Priority Wetland Landbirds in ON BCR Table 21: Summary of Conservation Objectives and Conservation Focus for Priority Landbirds in Wetland and Riparian Habitats in ON BCR Table 22: Priority Landbirds in Non-forested Upland Habitats in ON BCR 12, sorted by Reasons for Priority Status Table 23: Summary of Habitat Needs of Priority Landbirds in Upland Non-forest Habitats ON BCR Table 24: Summary of Conservation Objectives and Conservation Focus for Priority Landbirds in Other Habitats in ON BCR Table 25: Changes in the Abundance and Distribution of Aerial-foraging Insectivorous Landbirds Breeding in ON BCR Table 26: Population Distribution Objective for Aerial Foraging Insectivores in ON BCR Table 27: Summary of Conservation Objectives and Conservation Focus for Aerialforaging Insectivorous Priority Species in ON BCR Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan v

12 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this plan is to guide landbird conservation efforts in those parts of Ontario that lie within the Boreal Hardwood Transition region, also known as Bird Conservation Region (BCR) 12 (Figure 1). This is the second of four such plans being developed, to cover the four BCRs within Ontario ( Figure 2). These partners are the primary audience for this plan, as their actions will influence the fate of Ontario s landbirds. Many of these partners have been directly or indirectly involved in the development of this Plan. Figure 1: Boreal Hardwood Transition Bird Conservation Region (BCR 12). The conservation goals of this plan are twofold: To sustain the distribution, diversity and abundance of native landbirds and their habitats in Ontario portions of BCR 12 (ON BCR 12); and To contribute to continent-wide efforts to sustain the distribution, diversity and abundance of all North American landbirds. This is a biological plan, aimed chiefly at: Identifying priority landbird species and habitats; Setting measurable and attainable objectives for the conservation of these priority species; and Recommending conservation actions to help achieve those objectives. The plan is complementary to, and does not duplicate or replace, current recovery strategies and actions for those landbird species that have been officially designated as Endangered or Threatened, according to federal or provincial species at risk legislation. To be successful, this plan should be used to guide the actions of a diversity of partners including: Conservation planners at federal, provincial and municipal levels; Public and private land owners and managers; Project proponents, consultants and environmental assessment practitioners, Scientists and volunteers involved in wildlife research and monitoring, and Individuals and organizations interested in making a difference for landbirds in their communities. Source: Figure 2: Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) that fall within Ontario. Landbirds include a broad variety of species that rely primarily on terrestrial habitats throughout the year including: vultures, eagles, hawks, falcons, grouse, quail, doves, cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, hummingbirds, kingfishers, woodpeckers, and passerines (songbirds). Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Introduction 1

13 1.2 Plan Objectives The specific objectives of this plan are to use existing data, information and expert knowledge to: Identify priority landbird species by following a comprehensive, objective, sciencebased assessment process; Provide concise summaries of relevant information on the status, ecology, management, and conservation needs of priority landbird species; Describe the various habitats of importance to different suites of priority species, and summarize key issues affecting these priority habitats and the associated landbird guild; Establish realistic measurable objectives for the conservation of priority landbirds in this region; Recommend conservation actions that will assist in achieving these objectives including: o Monitoring, o Research and evaluation, o Planning and policy, o Outreach initiatives; and o Applied conservation actions. Suggest an implementation strategy to foster integration of this plan with other existing regional and international conservation initiatives. The information in this plan is designed to guide the conservation of landbirds in ON BCR 12 and will be used to integrate and coordinate implementation of recommended actions with similar conservation efforts directed at waterfowl, waterbird and shorebird populations in ON BCR 12, international all bird conservation efforts across BCR 12, and with the continental-scale Partners in Flight (PIF, Box 1) and North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI, Box 2) programs. 1.3 The Importance of Landbird Conservation Birds are the most familiar and widely enjoyed elements of nature in North America, with more people watching and feeding birds than ever before. Birds bring beauty, song and joy into the lives of many people. Birds fill critical roles in ecological systems: seed dispersal, pollination, control of pest species, and prey for other wildlife. They also serve as a valuable early warning system for the health of the environment, as demonstrated by declines in populations of Peregrine Falcon, Osprey and Box 1: Partners in Flight In 1990, Partners In Flight (PIF) was launched in the U.S. in response to growing concerns about declines in the populations of neotropical migrant landbirds ( Later, PIF expanded to include all landbirds, and PIF initiatives began in Canada and Latin America. At its broadest level, Partners In Flight (PIF) is a coalition of countries, government agencies, conservation groups, academic institutions, industry and concerned citizens who share a common vision: to maintain the health of landbird populations and their habitats. In Canada, PIF activities are coordinated by a National Working Group, composed of representatives from several national organizations and regional PIF groups. Activities and products of this group include the Framework for Landbird Conservation in Canada (PIF Canada 1996) and the Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy (Downes et al. 2000). (See PIF activities are one of the four pillars in the NABCI framework. As part of NABCI, Partners in Flight supports the conservation of migratory and resident landbirds throughout their yearly ranges. PIF Mission To sustain the distribution, diversity and abundance of landbirds in their natural numbers and natural habitats, throughout their natural geographic ranges. 1) Keeping common birds common. Native birds, both resident and migratory, must be retained in healthy numbers throughout their natural ranges. 2) Helping species at risk. Species must be conserved before they become imperiled: allowing species to become threatened or endangered results in long-term and costly recovery efforts whose success is far from guaranteed. 3) Working in partnerships for birds, habitats and people. Conservation of landbirds and their habitats cannot be undertaken alone. Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Introduction 2

14 other birds in the DDT era. Landbirds are also used as indicators of the health and biodiversity of forest ecosystems. BCR 12 lies along the ecotone between the eastern deciduous and northern boreal forests of North America and supports a rich assemblage of breeding birds, including some 150 species of landbirds (Figure 3). Over the past several decades, populations of some common landbirds have undergone longterm declines, in this region and elsewhere. The reasons for these declines are complex and not always well understood. In addition, this region supports a substantial proportion of the global population of several landbird species, and therefore has a high stewardship responsibility for ensuring the long-term conservation of these species. As a first step in addressing concerns regarding declining landbird populations and ensuring the long-term stewardship of all landbirds, PIF promoted the development of regional landbird conservation plans. PIF also produced a major North American landbird conservation plan, establishing continental-scale priorities (Rich et al. 2004). Figure 3: Map of Species Richness of Breeding Landbirds in Canada and United States. Box 2: The North American Bird Conservation Initiative ( The North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) is a tri-national initiative involving Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It was launched in 1999 by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (an international organization created by Canada, Mexico and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation) to address the need for coordinated bird conservation efforts that benefit all birds in all habitats. In 2005, the governments of Canada, United States and Mexico signed a NABCI Declaration of Intent to cooperate to conserve North American birds throughout their ranges and habitats ( NABCI advocates an approach to bird conservation that is regionally based, biologically driven, and landscape oriented. It draws together the major bird conservation plans already in existence for waterbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and landbirds (i.e., Partners in Flight plans such as this one), fills in knowledge gaps, and builds a coalition of groups and agencies to execute the plans. In Ontario, NABCI activities are coordinated through the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV). It is anticipated that conservation plans for landbirds and other birds will be implemented through the Joint Venture and other partnerships initiatives. Source: Rich et al Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Introduction 3

15 Box 3: North American Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) A shared concept of geography and landscapes is critical to effective planning. To that end, participants in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) have adopted a map of North America (Figure 4) that delineates a set of 66 geographic areas called Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs ) (U.S. NABCI Committee 2000). Each BCR encompasses landscapes having similar bird communities, habitats, and resource issues. The BCR framework is now widely used for PIF planning and by other initiatives under the NABCI umbrella. Twelve BCRs are entirely or partly in Canada. The province of Ontario encompasses parts of four BCRs (Figure 2). Like birds, BCRs cross over political borders: the success of current North American all-birds conservation efforts will ultimately depend on cooperation among jurisdictions. Regional plans, such as this one, are intended to facilitate multi-jurisdictional and multispecies conservation efforts. Figure 4: North American Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) Source: Box 4: Additional Information on PIF Activities in Ontario The PIF Ontario web site has current information on PIF activities in this region and elsewhere. Newsletters, technical workshop notes, and other background information are available at: PIF/ PIFOntario.html 1.4 The PIF North American Landbird Conservation Plan The first iteration of the PIF North American Landbird Conservation Plan was completed in 2004 (Rich et al. 2004). This landmark document established a vision and planning framework for the conservation of all North American landbirds. A total of 195 Species of Continental Importance are identified in the continental plan including: PIF Watch List species: characterized by a high level of vulnerability and concern; and PIF Stewardship species: species for which a region has high responsibility because a high percentage of its global population occurs in a single biome. Key links between the North American PIF Plan and this ON BCR 12 plan include: Priority species list Ontario's BCR 12 list includes Species of Continental Importance identified in the PIF North American Plan (Rich et al. 2004), as well as species of regional importance or interest; Population objectives This plan highlights opportunities for this region to contribute directly to achieving North America-wide population objectives for Species of Continental Importance that occur in significant numbers in ON BCR PIF in Ontario In 1995, a partnership of government and nongovernmental agencies produced a bird conservation plan for Ontario that was published in 1997 as the Ontario Flight Plan (Cheskey 1995, Lounds et al. 1997). The current plan builds on these earlier efforts and puts them within the NABCI BCR planning framework. The priority species list, objectives, and recommended actions in this plan will be used to facilitate and evaluate the implementation of landbird conservation efforts in ON BCR 12. The current Ontario Partners in Flight planning initiative is being led by Environment Canada Ontario Region and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, in partnership with Bird Studies Canada. This regional partnership is in keeping with PIF s grassroots approach, where regions develop their own goals and strategies towards achieving the overall goal of keeping common birds common. Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Introduction 4

16 2 Overview of the Boreal Hardwood Transition Region (BCR 12) in Ontario 2.1 Description The Boreal Hardwood Transition Bird Conservation Region, BCR 12, encompasses 611,300 square kilometres of mostly forested lands along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, extending from the St. Lawrence River in Quebec west across the center of the Great Lakes Basin to Minnesota (Figure 1). The Ontario portion is the largest, comprising 33% of the total BCR. Smaller portions are within Quebec (28%), Michigan (14%), Minnesota (14%), Wisconsin (8%), and Manitoba 2%). The Ontario portion of BCR 12 (ON BCR 12) encompasses 202,900 square kilometres, in two disjunct areas (Figure 5, Figure 6). The larger eastern section extends from the eastern shorelines of Lake Superior and Georgian Bay to the Ottawa River. The western section forms a 100-km-wide strip along the Ontario -Minnesota border. ON BCR 12 encompasses about one-fifth (21%) of the total area of Ontario. The Boreal Hardwood Transition BCR corresponds generally to the southern portion of Environment Canada s Boreal Plain Ecozone (Wiken 1986, Marshall and Schut 1999), and the southern portion of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) Ontario Shield Ecozone (Crins 2002) (which also encompasses the Canadian portions of BCR 8). At a finer scale, there are several areas of overlap between the boundaries of ON BCR 12 and the OMNR Ecoregions (Hills 1959, Crins 2002) (Figure 5). ON BCR 12 encompasses all or most of four ecoregions: 4W (Pigeon River), 5S (Agassiz Clay Plain), 4E (Lake Temagami), and 5E (Georgian Bay). It also includes the southern half Figure 5: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ecoregions within Ontario BCR 12. Lake Wabigoon Agassiz Clay Plain Lake Nipigon Lake Abitibi Lake Temagami Georgian Bay Source: Ecoregion boundaries from Crins Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 5

17 of Ecoregion 4S (Lake Wabigoon), the southern third of Ecoregion 3E (Lake Abitibi), Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 6

18 Figure 6: Location Map of Ontario portion of BCR 12 showing BCR boundaries, Ecoregion boundaries, and general land cover. Source: Ontario Land Cover data 1990s edition, Crins Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 7

19 along with very small parts of ecoregions 3W (Lake Nipigon) and 6E (Lake Simcoe Rideau). 2.2 Sub-regions of Ontario BCR 12 Three sub-regions of ON BCR 12 have been defined for purposes of this plan (Figure 7): West (W), Northeast (NE), and Southeast (SE). The West sub-region is not contiguous with the other sub-regions of ON BCR 12. It includes all of ecoregions 5S (Agassiz Clay Plain) and 4W (Pigeon River), plus the southern half of Ecoregion 4S (Lake Wabigoon). The two eastern sub-regions, SE and NE, are split along the boundary between OMNR ecoregions 4E and 5E (Crins 2002). The SE subregion corresponds closely with OMNR s Ecoregion 5E (Georgian Bay). The NE subregion includes all of ecoregion 4E (Lake Temagami) and the southern third of 3E (Lake Abitibi). The sub-region and ecoregion units are used to highlight regional differences of importance to landbird conservation, such as differences in land ownership, land cover, and forest composition. The three sub-regions are also used to describe landbird distribution patterns and define distribution objectives for some priority species. Figure 7: Sub-regions of Ontario BCR 12 used in this plan 2.3 Physiography The following summary of the physiographic features of the region that affect the distribution and abundance of landbirds and their habitats is based on information presented in Baldwin et al. 2000, and OMNR Topography The overall topography of the Ontario portion of BCR 12 consis ts of a rugged, rocky peneplain incised with numerous small lakes, rivers and streams. Local topography is more varied than in the rest of Ontario, frequently exceeding 100 to 200 m of relief but with some extensive flatlying areas. Minimum elevations range from 111 m above sea level on the Ottawa River at Pembroke, to 176 m along the Georgian Bay shoreline, and 183 m along the Lake Superior shoreline. The highest point in the region (and the province) is Maple Mountain near Temagami. Major highland areas in ON BCR 12 include: the dome-shaped Alqonquin highlands east of Georgian Bay in the SE sub-region with a maximum elevation of 587 m, the Algoma highlands east of Lake Superior in the NE sub-region with elevations of up to 650 m, and the Nor Westers and other mesas located west of Lake Superior, with maximum elevations in excess of 600 m. Bedrock Geology The entire area is underlain by Precambrian bedrock of the southern Canadian Shield. This region includes parts of three major geological regions of the Shield: the Grenville Province in the SE sub-region, bordered by a narrow belt of the Southern Province in the SE and W subregions, and the extensive Superior Province in the NE and W sub-regions. The Grenville Province is dominated by acidic gneis ses and granitic rocks, but includes belts of marble and other metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The Southern Province includes a high proportion of metasedimentary rocks, with intrusions of basic igneous rocks. The Superior Province is dominated by acidic granitic rocks with belts of metavolcanic rocks and diabase intrusions. In the W sub-region, resistent diabase intrusion form distinctive steep-sided, flattopped mesas. These differences in bedrock influence topography, soils and vegetation patterns. Bedrock exposures are common throughout much of the region. Extensive areas of exposed bedrock are present in a band along the eastern Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 8

20 shore of Georgian Bay (including numerous coastal islands), and east along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield. Surficial Features Glacial ice sheets, that covered this entire region as recently as 10,000 years ago, scraped soil from the higher areas and deposited till and sediments in low-lying areas. Extensive postglacial lakes covered large parts of the region following the retreat of the ice sheets. Thin glacial till is the most widespread surficial material in the region. Bedrock, clay plains, and coarse sand and gravel deposits are present locally. Glaciation also resulted in a disrupted drainage pattern. The entire region is dotted with lakes and ponds. Inland waters comprise 17% of the total area of ON BCR 12. The soils in the SE and NE sub-regions are mostly very well drained to excessively well drained podzols. Well drained brunisols are present in the W sub-region. Poorly drained gleysols are present locally, most notably in the Agassiz Clay Plain area (Ecoregion 5S) and the Little Clay Belt near New Liskeard. This region has a humid continental climate that is moderated by the Great Lakes. Winter temperatures show a strong north-south gradient. Summer temperatures are affected more by elevation and proximity to the Great Lakes than by latitude. Annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 1000 mm, and generally increases from sout heast to northwest. However, winter precipitation is particularly heavy in the snowbelt areas located east of Lake Superior and Georgian Bay. 2.4 Vegetation This region lies within the Great Lakes St. Lawrence forest region (Rowe 1972), which is characterized by mixed and deciduous forests. Common tree associations in the forest region include: mixed hardwoods (sugar maple, yellow birch and beech); mixed hardwoods with white pine; trembling aspen with balsam fir; eastern hemlock with sugar maple and yellow birch; and white pine and red oak (Thompson 2000) Natural Vegetation The natural landscape of this region is a mosaic of deciduous, mixed and coniferous forest stands (OMNR 2002). Numerous small patches of non-forested habitats, including open wetlands, riparian meadows, and rock barrens, as well as lakes and streams, are scattered within the forest matrix. Many of the deciduous hardwood trees species that are common in the SE sub-region, such as sugar maple, red maple, red oak, American beech and basswood, reach the northern limit of their range within this region. Boreal tree species such as black spruce, white spruce, white birch, balsam fir, and jack pine are more frequent in the northern portions. White pine, red pine, and yellow birch are found throughout the region. In the W sub-region also shows a north-south gradient in tree species composition, with red pine and white pine common only locally in the south (especially Quetico and Lake of the Woods areas), and black spruce increasing to the north. Several species that are important components of the forests in the SE and NE sub-regions are absent in the W sub-region (e.g., hemlock, yellow birch, basswood, beech, and black cherry). The major natural disturbances in the Great Lakes forest include blowdown, fire, insect outbreaks, and forest disease (Thompson 2000, Fleming et al. 2000). Catastrophic fire is much less frequent in the Great Lakes forest than in the Boreal Forest region to the north. Infrequent large-scale natural dis turbances (e.g. hurricanes) have resulted in long-term landscape-level changes in forest stand age and composition and age in this region. (Thompson 2000) Human Influences on Vegetation Historically, anthropogenic disturbances by aboriginal peoples included burning and harvesting of forest materials (Thompson 2000). The impact of European cultures began to affect the natural landscape of large parts of this region some 350 years ago. White pine was formerly a dominant super-canopy species in the Great Lakes forest but this species has not recovered from intensive harvesting of mature white pines for the British square-timber trade in the 1700s (Thompson 2000). Overexploitation of the beaver populations for the fur trade resulted in Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 9

21 the near extirpation of this ecologically important species by the early 20 th century; unlike the white pine forests, beaver populations have since recovered. Throughout the 19 th and 20 th century the intensity and scale of logging increased as a result of increasing mechanization. In the 20 th century, active fire suppression became much more widespread and more effective (Carleton 2000). Compared to the natural disturbance regime, the historic combination of logging and fire suppression has favoured the succession of fire-sensitive, shade-tolerant deciduous tree species relative to fire-dependent, shadeintolerant conifers (Carleton 2000). The largescale effects of changes to forest management direction to ensure logging practices (Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994) will not become apparent for several decades (Voigt et al. 2000) While logging and fire suppression have had the most widespread influence on the vegetation in this region, other significant human influences in this region include agricultural land clearing, road construction, hydro -electric power developments, and urbanization. Atmospheric pollution and climate change may also be causing insidious changes in regional vegetation and ecosystems (McLaughlin 1996). The current and future vegetation cover in ON BCR 12 is a reflection of the cumulative effects of past and present human activities, as well as natural processes. 2.5 Land Cover The Ontario Land Cover (OLC) spatial database provides a coarse-resolution but comprehensive snapshot of the extent and distribution of landbird habitats in this region (White in OMNR Table 1: Relationshi p of the Ontario Land Cover Classes with the General Land Cover Categories and Landbird Habitat Categories used in the ON BCR 12 plan. General Land Ontario Land Cover Classes Cover Categories Dense Deciduous Forest Deciduous Fo rest Mixed Deciduous Mixed Forest, mainly Deciduous Forest Open Deciduous Sparse Deciduous Forest Forest Dense Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest Coniferous Plantation Mixed Coniferous Mixed Forest, mainly Coniferous Forest Open Coniferous Sparse Coniferous Forest Forest Recent cutover Recent burns Regenerating Forest Older cuts and burns Treed Bog Treed Fen Treed Wetland Deciduous Swamp Coniferous Swamp Open Bog Open Fen Open Wetland Freshwater Marsh Rock Rock Pasture and Abandoned Fields Agriculture Crops (row crops, open soil) Settlement and Developed Land Urban (includes major transportation routes) Source: Ontario Land Cover satellite data, 1990s edition. Landbird Habitat Categories Deciduous Forest Deciduous Forest/ Successional Forest Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest/ Successional Forest Successional Forest Non-forested Wetland (also Coniferous Forest and Deciduous Forest) Non-forested Upland Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 10

22 Table 2: Current General Land Cover (ca. early 1990s) in Ontario BCR 12 and Sub-regions General Land Cover Category Ontario BCR 12 Sub -regions and Ecoregions* West Northeast Southeast 4S 4W 3W 5S 4E 3E 5E 6E Land Area (km2) 24,470 16,511 1,911 2,975 37,012 27,294 66, Deciduous Forest 19% 20% 18% 36% 12% 7% 19% 28% Mixed Deciduous Forest 7% 18% 12% 6% 20% 19% 22% 7% Open Deciduous Forest 7% 7% 2% 7% 10% 6% 14% 25% Coniferous Forest 12% 9% 20% 5% 14% 16% 5% 2% Mixed Coniferous Forest 21% 19% 15% 1% 25% 22% 22% 14% Open Coniferous Forest 15% 6% 6% 1% 10% 14% 7% 4% Regenerating Forest 13% 15% 19% 1% 6% 14% 1% 0% Treed Wetlands 3% 3% 6% 9% 1% 2% 2% 3% Open Wetlands 1% 0% 1% 3% 0% 0% 0% 1% Rock 2% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 3% 2% Fields & Crops 0% 2% 1% 31% 2% 0% 3% 15% Urban 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 1% 0% Unknown 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% * Portion of the ecoregion within ON BCR 12 only. Source: Ontario Land Cover database, 1990s edition. 2002). There are now two sets of OLC land cover database available covering this BCR ( m). The first edition ( 1990s edition ) was derived from LANDSAT-TM 5 satellite images acquired between 1990 and 1998 (Spectranalysis 1999). The second edition (2000 edition) is based on LANDSAT-TM 7 imagery compiled between 1999 and 2002 (Spectranalysis 2004). Most land cover analyses in this plan use the 1990s OLC data as it was available at the time. Comparisons of 1990s and 2000 data at the ecoregion level (as summarized in the State of the Forests reports, OMNR 2002 and OMNR 2006) are also presented. The 1990s provincial-scale OLC database uses 28 land cover classes, including vegetated (dense deciduous forest, cropland) and non-vegetated (bedrock outcrops, developed land, tundra) cover types. In this plan, the land cover classes that occur in this region have been combined into 12 general land cover categories (Table 1). The relationship of the general land cover categories to the five landbird habitat groupings used in the plan (Chapters 5 to 9) is also shown in Table 1. Note that some land cover groups fall into more than one landbird habitat group (e.g., sparse deciduous forest is used by landbird associated with either deciduous forest or successional forest habitats). Land cover information for the three sub-regions and eight eco-regions within ON BCR 12, is summarized in Figure 8 and Table 2, respectively. The distribution of the general land cover categories in ON BCR 12 is shown in Figure 6. Overall, almost 87% of the land cover in ON BCR 12 is classified as forest, including 44% deciduous forest, 41% coniferous forest, and 2% treed wetlands (Figure 8). The open forest category (less than 30% canopy closure), comprising 19% of the land cover, includes habitats used by a range of forest and early successional landbirds. An additional 7% of the land cover is classified as regenerating forest that has been disturbed by past clear-cutting or burns and was in an early to mid-successional condition during the 1990s. Non-forested habitats comprise only about 6% of the land cover and include open wetlands (primarily bogs and fens), rock barrens, agricultural lands, urban areas, and other developed lands. Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 11

23 Figure 8: Distribution of General Land Cover in ON BCR 12 and by sub-region Land Cover in ON BCR 12 Land Cover in W sub-region 1% 3% 1% 1% 3% 20% 13% 11% 11% 7% 19% 11% 0% 2% 9% 7% 2% 2% 1% 16% 2% 9% Land Cover in NE sub-region 0% 0% 1% 0% 10% 18% 12% 19% 22% 10% 10% 23% 9% 15% Deciduous Forest Mixed Deciduous Open Deciduous Coniferous Forest Mixed Coniferous Open Coniferous Regenerating Forest Treed Wetland Open Wetland Rock Agriculture Urban 1% 7% Land Cover in SE sub-region 0% 3% 3% 1% 2% 19% 22% 21% 5% 14% Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 12

24 Total forest cover is similar in each of the three sub-regions, but the SE sub-region has a higher proportion of deciduous and mixed deciduous forests, the NE sub-region has higher proportion of coniferous and mixed coniferous forests, and the West sub-region has equal proportions of deciduous and coniferous forest (Table 2, Figure 8). Open forests are fairly evenly distributed across sub-regions. Regenerating forests created by clearcuts and burns are rare in the SE subregion (less than 1% of total cover) and more frequent in NE (9%) and W (13%) sub-regions. Wetlands are fairly evenly distributed across the region. All of the upland non-forest categories (rock, agriculture, urban) are most common in the SE sub-region; however, the highest proportion of fields (31%) is in the small Agassiz Clay Plain eco-region (5S) within the W subregion (Table 1). Urban and developed lands comprise only 1% of the land cover, with the NE sub-region having the lowest proportion of developed lands. Open inland waters are not included as land cover in Table 2 or Figure 8 but are widely distributed throughout the region and comprise about 15% of the total area. 2.6 Avifauna From a continental perspective, the avifauna of this region exhibits relatively high species richness during the breeding season (Figure 9). This BCR is at the transition of the eastern deciduous and northern boreal forests and contains elements of the distinctive avifauna of both forest regions. In addition, a few non-native species have become established, particularly in urban settings. The breeding birds in this region are largely migratory. Winter bird diversity is much lower than in the summe r, though still high by Canadian standards In the Ontario portion of BCR 12, breeding and wintering bird diversity generally decreases along a south to north gradient across this region. Several species present in the SE sub-region are rare or absent in the NE and W sub-regions (Cerulean Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow, Red-shouldered Hawk). A few of the landbirds breeding regularly in ON BCR 12 (Appendix D) occur in the W sub-region only (e.g., Black-billed Magpie, Yellow-headed Blackbird). Twelve bird species breeding in ON BCR 12 are currently designated as Species at Risk (SAR) in Canada (COSEWIC 2005, SARA 2005). These and four additional species are on the Ontario Species at Risk (SARO) list (OMNR 2005b). One species, Passenger Pigeon, formerly bred in this region but is now extinct (Kirk 1985). The avifauna of this region has undergone many major adjustments in the past, in response to radical changes in the biological environment. Glaciers covered this entire area about 12,000 years ago. Plants and birds rapidly colonized the land as it emerged from under the ice and melt-waters. Boreal coniferous forests developed first, followed by a sequence of pine, mixed, and deciduous forests as the climate warmed (Karrow and Warner 1990). Great Lakes type mixed forest was established in parts of this region by 9500 (Thompson 2000). Between 7000 and 3000 years before present, the climate was warmer than at present and the northern limit of the deciduous and Great Lakes type forests were farther north than at present (Thompson 2000). The present distribution of forest regions in Ontario appears to have become established around 3000 years ago (Thompson Figure 9: Average Species Richness from Breeding Bird Surveys, Many birds typical of the Northern Forest Avifaunal biome (Rich et al. 2004) have more than 5% of their global population breeding in BCR 12. The species with the highest proportion of their global population breeding in BCR 12 are all landbirds: Kirtland's Warbler (100%, none in Ontario), Golden-winged Warbler (76%), Black-throated Warbler (43%), Chestnut-sided Warbler (37%), and Veery (34%) (Source: PIF Continental Database). Ontario BCR 12 Landbird Conservation Plan Overview 13