Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax Virescens) in Ontario
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Photo: Mike Burrell Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Ontario Recovery Strategy Series Recovery strategy prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 2016 Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry About the Ontario Recovery Strategy Series This series presents the collection of recovery strategies that are prepared or adopted as advice to the Province of Ontario on the recommended approach to recover species at risk. The Province ensures the preparation of recovery strategies to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) and the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada. What is recovery? What’s next? Recovery of species at risk is the process by Nine months after the completion of a which the decline of an endangered, recovery strategy a government response threatened, or extirpated species is arrested statement will be published which or reversed, and threats are removed or summarizes the actions that the Government reduced to improve the likelihood of a of Ontario intends to take in response to the species’ persistence in the wild. strategy. The implementation of recovery strategies depends on the continued What is a recovery strategy? cooperation and actions of government Under the ESA a recovery strategy provides agencies, individuals, communities, land the best available scientific knowledge on what users, and conservationists. is required to achieve recovery of a species. A recovery strategy outlines the habitat needs For more information and the threats to the survival and recovery of To learn more about species at risk recovery the species. It also makes recommendations in Ontario, please visit the Ministry of Natural on the objectives for protection and recovery, Resources and Forestry Species at Risk the approaches to achieve those objectives, webpage at: and the area that should be considered in the www.ontario.ca/speciesatrisk development of a habitat regulation. Sections 11 to 15 of the ESA outline the required content and timelines for developing recovery strategies published in this series. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for endangered and threatened species within one or two years respectively of the species being added to the Species at Risk in Ontario list. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for extirpated species only if reintroduction is considered feasible. Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Recommended citation Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. v + 5 pp. + Appendix. Cover illustration: Photo by Mike Burrell © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2016 ISBN 978-1-4606-8986-8 (HTML) ISBN 978-1-4606-8990-5 (PDF) Content (excluding the cover illustration and images in the appended federal recovery strategy) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source. Cette publication hautement spécialisée « Recovery strategies prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 », n’est disponible qu’en anglais en vertu du Règlement 411/97 qui en exempte l’application de la Loi sur les services en français. Pour obtenir de l’aide en français, veuillez communiquer avec [email protected]. i Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Acknowledgments We thank Jody Allair and Audrey Heagy of Bird Studies Canada, and Chris Risley and Sarah McGuire of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, for providing information that assisted in the development of this recovery strategy addendum. ii Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Declaration The recovery strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) was developed in accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). This recovery strategy has been prepared as advice to the Government of Ontario, other responsible jurisdictions and the many different constituencies that may be involved in recovering the species. The recovery strategy does not necessarily represent the views of all of the individuals who provided advice or contributed to its preparation, or the official positions of the organizations with which the individuals are associated. The goals, objectives and recovery approaches identified in the strategy are based on the best available knowledge and are subject to revision as new information becomes available. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations. Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy. Responsible jurisdictions Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Parks Canada Agency iii Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Executive summary The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to the species. The Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) is listed as endangered on the SARO List. The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment Canada prepared the Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) and the Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) in Canada in 2012 to meet its requirements under the SARA. The portions of the recovery strategy relevant to the Acadian Flycatcher are hereby adopted under the ESA. With the additions indicated below, the enclosed strategy meets all of the content requirements outlined in the ESA. The Critical Habitat section of the federal recovery strategy provides an identification of critical habitat (as defined under the SARA). Identification of critical habitat is not a component of a recovery strategy prepared under the ESA. However, it is recommended that the approach used to identify critical habitat for the Acadian Flycatcher in the federal recovery strategy be considered when developing a habitat regulation under the ESA. Since the publication of the federal recovery strategy in 2012, many observations of Acadian Flycatcher have been reported at new locations in southern Ontario not contained in Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre database or identified as critical habitat. Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre has not yet processed these records, but there is a high probability they will become element occurrences in the near future, pending verification. The new locations for Acadian Flycatcher, in addition to those that are currently proposed as critical habitat for the Acadian Flycatcher in the federal recovery strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher in Canada (Environment Canada 2012), should also be considered in developing a habitat regulation for this species. iv Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Table of contents Recommended citation ................................................................................................. i Acknowledgments .........................................................................................................ii Declaration .................................................................................................................. iii Responsible jurisdictions ............................................................................................. iii Executive summary .....................................................................................................iv Adoption of federal recovery strategy .......................................................................... 1 Species assessment and classification .................................................................... 1 Distribution, abundance and population trends ........................................................ 2 Area for consideration in developing a habitat regulation ......................................... 2 Glossary ................................................................................................................... 3 References ............................................................................................................... 5 Appendix 1. Recovery strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) and the Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) in Canada ......................................... 6 v Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in Ontario Adoption of federal recovery strategy The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to the species. The Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) is listed as endangered on the SARO List. The species is