Black Nubble Wind Farm Redington Township, T1 R2 WBKP, Maine Section 7: Wetlands, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Fragmentation1 Prepared by Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. Topsham, Maine 1 The title of this section was changed to make it more clear where wetland information could be found and reflect the inclusion of a fragmentation discussion taken from previous pre-filed testimony. Black Nubble Wind Farm Page i Section 7 – Wetlands, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Fragmentation Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 2.0 Ecological Setting of Project area........................................................................... 3 2.1 Methods................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Natural Community Descriptions ........................................................................ 7 2.2.1 Terrestrial Communities ................................................................................ 8 2.2.2 Beech-Birch-Maple Forest............................................................................. 9 2.2.3 Spruce-Northern Hardwood Forest.............................................................. 10 2.2.4 Spruce-Fir-Mountain Sorrel-Feathermoss Forest ........................................ 11 2.2.5 Fir-Heartleaved Birch Subalpine Forest ...................................................... 11 2.2.6 Regenerating Forest Stands.......................................................................... 14 2.2.7 Wetlands and Streams.................................................................................. 16 3.0 Fish and Fisheries ................................................................................................. 20 3.1 Methods.............................................................................................................. 20 3.1.1 Habitat Assessment and Agency Consultation ............................................ 20 3.1.2 Field Surveys............................................................................................... 20 3.2 Fish Community Characterization ..................................................................... 20 3.3 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 22 4.0 Reptiles and Amphibians ...................................................................................... 23 4.1 General Community Description ....................................................................... 23 4.2 Methods.............................................................................................................. 24 4.2.1 Species-Habitat Association........................................................................ 24 4.2.2 Incidental Observations ............................................................................... 25 4.3 Results................................................................................................................ 25 4.4 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 26 5.0 Birds...................................................................................................................... 27 5.1 General Community Description ....................................................................... 27 5.1.1 Game Birds and Waterfowl ......................................................................... 28 5.1.2 Raptors and Owls......................................................................................... 28 5.1.3 Forest Birds and Songbirds.......................................................................... 28 5.1.4 Migratory Birds............................................................................................ 29 5.2 Methods.............................................................................................................. 30 5.2.1 Species – Habitat Matrix.............................................................................. 30 5.2.2 Incidental Observations ............................................................................... 30 5.2.3 Breeding Bird Surveys................................................................................. 31 5.2.4 Golden Eagle Surveys.................................................................................. 32 5.2.5 Hawk Migration Surveys ............................................................................. 33 5.2.6 Nocturnal Songbird Migration Surveys....................................................... 33 Black Nubble Wind Farm Page ii Section 7 – Wetlands, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Fragmentation 5.2.6.1 1994 Ceilometer and Moonwatching Surveys....................................... 34 5.2.6.2 2002 Radar Surveys ............................................................................... 35 5.2.6.3 Acoustical Monitoring........................................................................... 39 5.3 Results................................................................................................................ 41 5.3.1 Species – Habitat Matrix.............................................................................. 41 5.3.2 Breeding Bird Survey Results...................................................................... 41 5.3.3 Hawk Migration Survey Results.................................................................. 43 5.3.4 Songbird Migration Survey Results............................................................. 46 5.3.4.1 Ceilometer and Moonwatching Surveys................................................ 46 5.3.4.2 Radar Surveys........................................................................................ 47 5.3.4.3 Acoustic Surveys................................................................................... 59 5.4 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 63 6.0 Mammals............................................................................................................... 65 6.1 General Community Description ....................................................................... 65 6.2 Methods.............................................................................................................. 68 6.2.1 Species-Habitat Matrix................................................................................ 68 6.2.2 Incidental Observations ............................................................................... 68 6.2.3 Small Mammal Trapping ............................................................................. 68 6.2.4 Deer and Moose Wintering Habitat Surveys ............................................... 69 6.2.5 Canada Lynx Snow Tracking Surveys......................................................... 70 6.3 Results................................................................................................................ 71 6.3.1 Species-Habitat Matrix................................................................................ 71 6.3.2 Deer and Moose Wintering Habitat ............................................................. 72 6.3.3 Canada Lynx Snow Tracking Surveys......................................................... 73 6.4 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 73 7.0 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species.......................................................... 75 7.1 Reptiles and Amphibians ................................................................................... 75 7.1.1 Spring Salamander – Special Concern Species ........................................... 75 7.1.2 Northern Leopard Frog – Special Concern Species..................................... 76 7.2 Birds................................................................................................................... 76 7.2.1 Golden Eagle – Maine Endangered Species ................................................ 76 7.2.2 Cooper’s Hawk – Special Concern Species................................................. 77 7.2.3 Three-toed Woodpecker – Special Concern Species................................... 78 7.2.4 Olive-sided Flycatcher – Special Concern Species ..................................... 78 7.2.5 Bicknell’s Thrush – Special Concern Species ............................................. 78 7.3 Mammals............................................................................................................ 81 7.3.1 Long-tailed Shrew – Special Concern Species ............................................ 81 7.3.2 Yellow-nosed Vole – Special Concern Species........................................... 81 7.3.3 Northern Bog Lemming – Maine Threatened Species ................................ 82 7.3.4 Bats – Special Concern Species................................................................... 82 7.3.5 Canada Lynx – Federal Threatened Species, Maine Special Concern Species ......................................................................................................... 94 7.4 Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 95 Black Nubble Wind Farm Page iii Section 7 – Wetlands, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Fragmentation 8.0 Impact Assessment................................................................................................ 96 8.1 Roads.................................................................................................................