PROCEEDINGS OF THE TH 12 PRAIRIE CONSERVATION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE WORKING LANDSCAPES Winnipeg, Manitoba February 19–21, 2019 Published by Critical Wildlife Habitat Program Winnipeg, Manitoba 2020 Edited by Donna Danyluk www.pcesc.ca Suggested citation – Danyluk, D. (ed). 2020. Working Landscapes. Proceedings of the 12th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference, February 2019, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Critical Wildife Habitat Program, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Cover photo by Tara Mulhern-Davidson, Lonesome Dove Ranch, Saskatchewan TABLE OF CONTENTS Conference Sponsors .................................................................................................................................. 12 A Note from the Editor ............................................................................................................................... 15 Welcome to the Proceedings of the 12th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference ...... 16 Conference Organizing Committee ............................................................................................................. 17 History of the Conference and Past Proceedings ....................................................................................... 19 Young Professional Stewardship Grants ..................................................................................................... 21 Prairie Conservation Awards ....................................................................................................................... 24 Author Index ............................................................................................................................................. 202 PLENARY PRESENTATIONS Plenary 1: The Prairie Crisis – Crossing the Ledger Trevor Herriot ................................................................................................................................. 28 Plenary 2: Lessons from the South of the Divide – A Facilitated Panel Discussion Chay Anderson, Robin Bloom, Tom Harrison, Jeff McManus, Sue Michalsky and Beatriz Prieto .................................................................................................................................. 40 Plenary 3-1: Beyond Pesticides – A Systems-Level Solution for Agriculture and the Environment Christy A. Morrissey ....................................................................................................................... 42 Plenary 3-2: Applying the Principles of Regenerative Agriculture in Manitoba Ryan Boyd ...................................................................................................................................... 43 Plenary 4: What is Indigenous-led Conservation? Shaunna Morgan Siegers ............................................................................................................... 44 SESSION ABSTRACT AND PAPERS SESSION 1: PRAIRIE BIRD CONSERVATION – PART I The Status of Red-headed Woodpeckers in Southern Manitoba: Can They Persist Without Grazing? Ken De Smet ................................................................................................................................... 46 Comparing Population Trends of Grassland Bird Species at Risk between a Large, Intact Native Prairie and Breeding Bird Survey Data at Multiple Spatial Scales Nancy A. Mahony, Brenda C. Dale and David A. Miller ................................................................. 46 Grassland Bird Diversity and Abundance Responses to Alternative Grazing Practices Jeannine Randall and Mark Boyce ................................................................................................. 47 Enhancing Grassland Bird Habitat in a Semi-urban Landscape Renny W. Grilz and Eryn Tomlinson ............................................................................................... 47 Trials and Tribulations from 40 years of Grassland Bird Monitoring in Southwestern Manitoba Ken De Smet ................................................................................................................................... 48 TH PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12 PRAIRIE CONSERVATION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE 3 SESSION 2: PRAIRIE BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION Collaborative Conservation for the Endangered Poweshiek Skipperling: Working Together to Save a Species Melissa A. Grantham and Cary D. Hamel ...................................................................................... 49 Ex-situ Prairie Conservation in Zoos: A Case Study of the Poweshiek Skipperling, an Endangered Grassland Butterfly Laura D. Burns, Cale Nordmeyer, C-Jae C.M. Breiter, Paulson G. Des Brisay, Erik B. Runquist and Stephen D. Petersen ....................................................................................................................... 49 Assessment of Oviposition Behaviour and Larval Microhabitat Location for Potential Reintroduction of the Endangered Poweshiek Skipperling in Tall-grass Prairie in Manitoba Justis Henault and Richard Westwood ........................................................................................... 50 Pesticides and the Disappearance of Threatened and Endangered Prairie Butterflies Erik Runquist .................................................................................................................................. 50 Habitat Characterization of Saskatchewan’s Dakota Skipper Population Kelsey M. Seidle, Eric G. Lamb and Jean-Michel DeVink ................................................................ 51 SESSION 3: TOOLS FOR MODELS AND CONSERVATION MULTISAR – Enhancing Habitat Conservation Strategies with GIS solutions: Applying ArcGIS Model Builder and Grassland Vegetation Inventory (GVI) to Expedite Wildlife Surveys for Species at Risk and Management Plans for Producers in Southern Alberta Mike Verhage ................................................................................................................................. 52 Is the Picture Worth a Thousand Animals? Individual Differences Drive Space Use in Prairie Elk Populations Levi J. Newediuk, Christina M. Prokopenko and Eric Vander Wal .................................................. 53 Are You Seeing the Whole Picture? Applied Uses for High-resolution Elevation Data (LiDAR) in Biodiversity Conservation and Land Management Jordan Becker and Cary D. Hamel .................................................................................................. 53 Policy Instruments and Incentives for Conservation on Working Landscapes Jeremy Pittman .............................................................................................................................. 54 Evaluating Grassland Ecological Function: Manitoba’s New Range and Pasture Health Assessment Method Mae Elsinger .................................................................................................................................. 55 SESSION 4: RESTORATION PLANNING AND MONITORING Habitat Restoration – Is It Worth It? Scott Beaton and Maria Neumann ................................................................................................ 62 Grassland Restoration and Preservation: Using Sound Ecological Principles for Establishment, Rejuvenation, and Maintenance of Native Grasslands Glen Koblun, Gord MacKay and Neill Ryan .................................................................................... 62 Soil Nematodes as Bioindicators of Restoration Success in a Northern Fescue Prairie Victory Coffey and Rafael Otfinowski ............................................................................................ 63 TH PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12 PRAIRIE CONSERVATION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES CONFERENCE 4 Integrating Plants, Roots, and Soil Nematodes to Restore Northern Prairie Ecosystems Rafael Otfinowski and Victory Coffey ............................................................................................ 63 Rescue the Fescue: Conservation and Restoration of Waterton Lakes National Park’s Grasslands Kimberly Pearson, Robert Sissons, Scott Murphy, Adam Collingwood, Ashley Wruth, Dianne Pachal and Dennis Madsen ................................................................................................ 64 SESSION 5: ADVANCING THE SARPAL APPROACH Conservation Grazing: A Last Hope for Grassland Species at Risk Christian Artuso.............................................................................................................................. 70 Advancing Beef Sustainability and Supporting Species at Risk? Andrea White ................................................................................................................................. 70 A Producer’s Perspective on the Partnership between Agriculture and Conservation Curtis Gervin ................................................................................................................................... 70 Should Conservation Groups be in the Business of Selling Beef? Tim Sopuck ..................................................................................................................................... 71 SESSION 6: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT – PART I Ruminating on Restoration: How a Community Approach to Watershed Health can Drive Success Mara E. Erickson ............................................................................................................................ 75 Ellis Bird Farm – A Success Story Myrna Pearman ............................................................................................................................