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Songbird, Raptor and Waterfowl Inventory Kemess North Area June - October 2006 Prepared for: Northgate Minerals Corporation Smithers, BC Prepared by: Todd Mahon, RPBio Laurence Turney, RPBio and Anne MacLeod Wildfor Consultants Ltd. Gartner Lee Limited Box 562, Telkwa, BC V0J 2X0 2175 Millar Rd., Smithers, BC V0J 2N6 250-846-5449 250-877-6705 [email protected] [email protected] November 2006 Executive Summary The Kemess North Mine Joint Review Panel in their Information Adequacy Determination Document, dated June 30, 2006 requested that the results of proposed further breeding bird and waterfowl studies in 2006 be made available to the Panel during the Public Hearings in 2006. The purpose of this project was to assess the occurrence of breeding songbirds, raptors and waterfowl within the Kemess Mine Expansion area (Kemess North Study Area, KNSA) as part of the environmental assessment for the proposed mining development. This project involved identification of a list of potential bird species inhabiting the area using range maps and literature, determining species-at-risk status from the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre, and field surveys to assess the presence of birds in the KNSA. Songbird surveys consisted of point counts connected by line transects, which facilitated continuous observation periods and maximized detection of bird species. Survey routes were located to cover the main development areas (pit, dam, tailings pond) and to assess representative Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping habitat types within the overall KNSA. Raptor surveys included call playback surveys for Northern Goshawks and surveys of suitable habitat for cliff nesting raptors such as Golden Eagles, Gyrfalcons, and Peregrine Falcons. Goshawk call playback surveys were conducted in conjunction with the songbird surveys following completion of each point count station. Potential cliff nesting habitat was identified from ortho photos and topographic data in GIS and during a reconnaissance flight of the area; identified areas included the ridge west of Duncan Lake and the north face of the mountain where the mine pit is proposed. Waterfowl and shorebird surveys were conducted in both the summer (breeding) and fall (migration or staging) seasons. The breeding surveys consisted of helicopter and ground surveys. These surveys were initially focused on the KNSA and the 2 primary fisheries compensation options – Mulvaney Lake and Whudzi Lake. After we detected Long-tailed Ducks breeding at Mulvaney Lake we expanded the survey in order to determine the distribution of this species within a larger area surrounding the main KNSA (~ radius of 40 km). The fall staging surveys consisted of helicopter surveys focused on and around the main KNSA, as well as Mulvaney Lake and Whudzi Lake. The main round of field surveys for all species groups was conducted June 23-26, 2006. Expanded waterfowl surveys targeted at Long-tailed Ducks were conducted July 31-August 3, 2006. Fall migration surveys for waterfowl were conducted September 19-October 16, 2006. 2006 Breeding Songbird, Raptor and Waterfowl Inventory Page i Kemess Mine Expansion – Kemess North Project We identified a total of 177 bird species that could potentially occur in the KNSA based on range and habitat requirements. During field surveys we observed a total of 53 bird species within the main KNSA and an additional 29 species during the expanded waterfowl surveys (mostly water birds but also incidental observations of several additional land birds). Generally, songbird richness and abundance was moderate to low. No goshawks were detected and habitat suitability for nesting was generally low; however, higher value nesting habitat does occur in lower elevation forests outside of the KNSA. No cliff nesting raptors or nests were observed during our surveys for those species. Additionally, there have been very few sightings of eagles or falcons in the area by other field personnel. As these species are generally large and conspicuous, the lack of sightings suggests these species were probably not breeding in the KNSA. The species richness and abundance of water birds at Duncan Lake during the breeding season was quite low. Only 2 pairs of Common Loons, 1 pair of Canada Geese, 1 female Red- breasted Merganser, 3 Mallards (one of which was nesting near the southwest inlet), 1 Common Snipe, and several pairs of Spotted Sandpipers were observed during helicopter, boat and shoreline surveys during the breeding season. During the expanded waterfowl surveys, 27 lakes were surveyed outside of the KNSA. A total of 470 individuals and 28 species were recorded during these surveys, however, Long-tailed Ducks were only observed at Mulvaney Lake. Four waterfowl surveys were conducted during the fall staging season. These surveys recorded 1413 individuals and 32 species in the area around the KNSA and the compensation lakes. A majority of the species and individuals observed during these surveys were on Thutade Lake and the lower Attichika floodplain. American Wigeon and Mallard were the most common species observed. Eleven bird species were listed as species-at-risk (SAR) for the Cassiar and MacKenzie Forest Districts by the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (2006). Only one SAR, the Barn Swallow, was detected in the KNSA in 2006, however one other, the Short-eared Owl, was observed incidentally during fieldwork in September 2003 (Turney and Roberts 2005). In the case of the Barn Swallow, the proposed mine development is unlikely to have an adverse impact on the species; mine buildings may offer nesting structures that do not currently exist. In the case of the Short-eared Owl, preferred grassland and shrub-carr habitats occur mostly in the valley bottoms of the upper Attycelley Creek and its tributaries, which are outside of the development footprint. Some alpine grassland areas will be impacted by mine development but these areas are suboptimal habitats for Short-eared Owls due to the sparse grass cover that occurs there. Three additional SAR have limited potential to occur in the KNSA: Red-necked Phalaropes, Sandhill Cranes, and Smith’s Longspurs, but none have been detected in the KNSA. 2006 Breeding Songbird, Raptor and Waterfowl Inventory Page ii Kemess Mine Expansion – Kemess North Project The remaining 6 SAR are unlikely to occur in the KNSA either because their normal range is farther north or the KNSA does not meet their habitat requirements. Long-tailed Ducks were observed breeding at Mulvaney Lake, which is one of the potential fisheries compensation lakes where trout stocking is proposed. This is the southernmost breeding record for the species in British Columbia. This species was formerly Blue-listed in the Cassiar District but their status was changed because of a lack of information on their occurrence and breeding status in British Columbia. Personnel from the BC Conservation Data Centre indicate they would still be a species of conservation concern if their breeding status was confirmed, which our surveys have done. Introducing trout or char into Mulvaney Lake may reduce the suitability of the lake for Long-tailed Ducks by reducing the taxonomic richness and abundance of macro-invertebrates and aquatic insects, which are their primary foods during the breeding season. 2006 Breeding Songbird, Raptor and Waterfowl Inventory Page iii Kemess Mine Expansion – Kemess North Project Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................. i Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Scope ................................................................................................... 1 Objectives .................................................................................................................. 2 Study Area ........................................................................................................... 2 Methods................................................................................................................ 4 Potential Avian Species Occurring in the Kemess North Study Area................... 4 Potential Avian Species-At-Risk in the Kemess North Study Area....................... 4 Field Surveys ............................................................................................................. 5 Results ............................................................................................................... 11 Potential Avian Species Occurring in the Kemess North Study Area................. 11 Potential Avian Species-At-Risk in the Kemess North Study Area..................... 11 Songbirds................................................................................................................. 14 Raptors ..................................................................................................................... 17 Waterfowl and Shorebirds ...................................................................................... 17 Unique or Especially Productive Habitats............................................................. 21 Southern Range Records........................................................................................ 28 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 29 Survey Adequacy....................................................................................................

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