Cause-Effect Monitoring Migratory Landbirds at Local Scales, Oil Sands Region

Local-scale projects focus on gaps in our understanding of complex response patterns at regional scales by targeting specific habitats or development features of interest. Environment and Climate Change Canada is monitoring how and why boreal birds respond to oil sands development features using 25-hectare survey sites selected to represent a range of disturbance intensities from low to high. Sites are visited multiple times during the breeding season, from early May through early July, to count the number of individual birds within the study site. The monitoring design targets habitat and disturbance types that have limited information.

Dataset 1 (2014-2015) focused on songbird response to Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) activity in peatland habitats within the Athabasca oil sands area. Peatland habitats comprise approximately 40% of the total Athabasca oil sands area, but little was known about bird response to oil sands features in this habitat type. Data comprise the number of individual birds of each species detected in each of 11 sites. In 2014, 62 species were detected within the sites, with 38 species detected on at least 3 visits. In 2015, 71 species were detected within the sites, with 39 species showing detected on at least 3 visits. Habitat disturbance features associated with SAGD activity include high-density exploratory seismic lines, winter roads, well pads, pipelines, permanent roads and industrial facilities.

Dataset 2 (2016) focused on songbird response to conventional oil and gas disturbance in upland regenerating habitats within the Peace River oil sands area. Regenerating deciduous habitat (20-40 years old) was selected to address a habitat gap in knowledge of avian response to oil sands features. Data comprise the number of individual birds of each species detected in each of nine sites. 85 species were detected within the survey girds, with 42 species detected on at least 3 visits. Habitat disturbance features associated with conventional oil and gas include seismic lines, pipelines, powerlines, well sites and gravel roads.

Dataset 3 (2017) focused on songbird response to SAGD oil sands disturbance in upland regenerating habitats within the Athabasca oil sands area. Regenerating deciduous habitat (10-20 years old) was selected to address a habitat gap in knowledge of avian response to oil sands features. Data comprise the number of individual birds of each species detected in each of 12 sites. 71 species were detected within the survey girds, with 51 species detected on at least 3 visits. Habitat disturbance features associated with SAGD development include seismic lines, pipelines, powerlines, well sites, winter roads and gravel roads.