PROPOSED Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series Recovery Strategy for the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) in Canada Common Nighthawk 2015 Recommended citation: Environment Canada. 2015. Recovery Strategy for the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 48 pp. For copies of the recovery strategy, or for additional information on species at risk, including COSEWIC Status Reports, residence descriptions, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk Public Registry1. Cover illustration: © Zoe Crysler and Danielle Fife Également disponible en français sous le titre « Programme de rétablissement de l’Engoulevent d’Amérique (Chordeiles minor) au Canada [Proposition] » © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of the Environment, 2015. All rights reserved. ISBN Catalogue no. Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source. 1 http://sararegistry.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=24F7211B-1 Recovery Strategy for Common Nighthawk 2015 PREFACE The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)2 agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of recovery strategies for listed Extirpated, Endangered, and Threatened species and are required to report on progress five years after the publication of the final document on the SAR Public Registry. The Minister of the Environment and the Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency are the competent ministers for the recovery of Common Nighthawk and have prepared this strategy, as per section 37 of SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec (Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs), New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the territories of Yukon and Northwest Territories and others as per section 39(1) of SARA. 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 and will not be achieved by Environment Canada and the Parks Canada Agency, or any other jurisdiction alone. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of Common Nighthawk and Canadian society as a whole. This recovery strategy will be followed by one or more action plans that will provide information on recovery measures to be taken by Environment Canada and the Parks Canada Agency, and other jurisdictions and/or organizations involved in the conservation of the species. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations. 2 http://registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=6B319869-1%20 i Recovery Strategy for Common Nighthawk 2015 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This recovery strategy was prepared by Julie McKnight, Krista Baker (Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (EC-CWS) - Atlantic Region) and Andrew Horn. Early drafts were reviewed by members of the National landbird recovery planning team [Andrew Boyne, Peter Thomas, Becky Whittam (EC-CWS – Atlantic Region), Vincent Carignan, Gilles Falardeau, Mireille Poulin (EC-CWS – Quebec Region), François Fournier and Junior Tremblay (EC – Science & Technology – Quebec region), Kevin Hannah, Rich Russell, Kathy St. Laurent, Ken Tuininga, Russ Weeber (EC-CWS – Ontario Region), Connie Downes, Manon Dubé, Carolyn Seburn, (EC-CWS – National Capital Region), Mark Bidwell, Donna Bigelow, Lisa Mahon, Lisa Pirie, Samantha Song, Steve VanWilgenburg, Karl Zimmer (EC-CWS - Prairie & Northern Region), Saleem Dar, Wendy Easton, Megan Harrison, Craig Machtans, Nancy Mahony, Wendy Nixon, Pam Sinclair (EC-CWS - Pacific & Yukon Region)]. Other contributors provided detailed comments on this recovery strategy: Adam Smith (EC-CWS-National Capital region), Stephen Davis and Samuel Haché (EC-CWS-Prairie & Northern Region). Acknowledgement and thanks are also given to all other parties that provided advice and input used to help inform the development of this recovery strategy including various Aboriginal Organizations and individuals, provincial and territorial governments, other federal departments (e.g., Department of National Defense), landowners, citizens, and stakeholders. Environment Canada would like to acknowledge the contribution of the thousands of volunteers who generously donate their time and expertise to bird monitoring programs throughout North America, as well as the many professional biologists and technicians working for various government agencies and non-government organizations in Canada and the United States who helped to establish, design, run, and analyze the Breeding Bird Survey and Breeding Bird Atlas results. ii Recovery Strategy for Common Nighthawk 2015 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Common Nighthawk is a medium-sized mottled grey-brown bird usually seen or heard overhead at dusk and dawn, with long pointed white-barred wings and unique bounding flight. The species is listed as Threatened on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), because of significant long- and short-term declines across the portion of its range covered by bird population monitoring programs. The species is known to breed in every province and territory except Nunavut. Ten percent of the global population of Common Nighthawks is estimated to breed in Canada (Rich et al. 2004). Common Nighthawk nests on the ground in open land or forest clearings, and on gravel roofs in cities. Foraging nighthawks require open areas with flying insects and this need is met in a wide range of habitats. Almost any site with shade, camouflage from predators, and an unobstructed flight path for access from the air can be used for roosting. There is virtually no information on habitat needs during migration and wintering habitat is not well known except that a variety of open areas are used for foraging much like at other times of year. Many threats to Common Nighthawk have been postulated, but data are still lacking to directly link a single threat to observed population declines. The threats to the species are found within the following categories: natural system modifications (e.g., reduced insect prey and fire suppression), habitat loss and degradation, climate change and severe weather, accidental mortality, pollution, and problematic native and invasive non-native species. The recovery of the Common Nighthawk in Canada is considered feasible; however, there are several unknown factors associated with its potential for recovery. Despite these unknowns and in keeping with the precautionary principle, this recovery strategy has been prepared as per section 41(1) of SARA. The short-term population objective for the Common Nighthawk in Canada is to halt the national decline by 2025 (i.e., 10 years after this recovery strategy is posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry), while ensuring the population does not decrease more than 10% over this time. The long-term (after 2025) population objective is to ensure a positive 10-year population trend for the Common Nighthawk in Canada. Broad strategies to be taken to address the threats to the survival and recovery of Common Nighthawk are presented in section 6.2: Strategic Direction for Recovery. At present, the available information is not adequate to identify the habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of the Common Nighthawk in Canada. A schedule of studies is included to obtain the information needed for the identification of critical habitat. One or more action plans for Common Nighthawk will be posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry within the five years following the posting of this recovery strategy. iii Recovery Strategy for Common Nighthawk 2015 RECOVERY FEASIBILITY SUMMARY Based on the following four criteria outlined by the Government of Canada (2009), there are unknowns regarding the feasibility of recovery for Common Nighthawk. In keeping with the precautionary principle, a recovery strategy has been prepared as per section 41(1) of SARA, as would be done when recovery is determined to be feasible. This recovery strategy addresses the unknowns surrounding the feasibility of recovery. 1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance. Yes. The species is still found throughout much of its range and breeding individuals are currently distributed throughout the Canadian range as well as in the United States. The Canadian population is estimated to be 900,000 individuals as determined by the Partners in Flight Science Committee (2013). It is believed that there are currently adequate numbers of individuals available to sustain the species in Canada or improve its abundance. 2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration. Unknown. Sufficient suitable breeding habitat (e.g., nesting and roosting substrate) is