Conspicuous Raptor and Great Blue Heron Study APRIL 2015 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project CONSPICUOUS RAPTOR AND GREAT BLUE HERON STUDY Preface Technical studies were initiated in 2014 to support both ongoing Project planning and future permitting and approval requirements. Since the technical studies were initiated prior to finalizing the scope of the proposed Project, the scope of some studies consider physical activities and spatial areas that are beyond the scope of the Project assessed under the B.C. Environmental Assessment Act. The results of future studies will be presented in the Environmental Assessment Certificate Application that will be prepared for the Project. i George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project CONSPICUOUS RAPTOR AND GREAT BLUE HERON STUDY Executive Summary The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Ministry) is proposing the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project (Project) to meet regional, provincial, and national transportation management goals. The proposed Project involves replacing the George Massey Tunnel (Tunnel) with a new bridge spanning the Fraser River South Arm and Deas Island, decommissioning the Tunnel, and improving Highway 99 between Bridgeport Road in Richmond and Highway 91 in Delta. To support project planning and future permitting and approval requirements, the Ministry initiated studies to document existing conditions of environmental components that could potentially be affected by the Project. A study of conspicuous raptors and herons was conducted as part of the environmental program for the Project. The study focused on conspicuous species as described in the Resource Inventory Committee Inventory Methods for Raptors. Conspicuous raptors include turkey vulture, osprey, eagles, most hawks, and some falcons. The study area included roadside areas from Bridgeport Road in Richmond, to Beach Road in Surrey (near the Canada‒U.S. border), within 1000 m from either side of the Highway 99 centreline. Roadside surveys for conspicuous raptors and herons were conducted in spring, summer, autumn, and winter 2014. Data collection and assessment of the environmental resources in the study area entailed the following tasks: A desktop review of relevant available information Field work to characterize the species composition, seasonal abundance, and distribution of raptors and herons in the study area Field work to identify nests of herons and raptors in the study area The conspicuous raptor fauna of the study area consists mainly of bald eagle and red-tailed hawk. Overall, observed numbers of raptors were highest during the spring surveys (725 detections), followed by winter (297), summer (243), and then autumn (46). Great blue herons were observed fairly consistently throughout the spring, summer, and autumn, with highest recorded numbers in winter (38 detections). ii George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project CONSPICUOUS RAPTOR AND GREAT BLUE HERON STUDY Raptor detections were concentrated in four broadly classified areas: the area near the Vancouver Landfill, agricultural areas between 88th Street and the Highway 99/Highway 91 interchange, the area near the Serpentine and Nicomekl rivers, and Deas Slough and Deas Island. Great blue herons were seen most frequently between 96 Street and the Highway 99/Highway 91 Interchange in Delta, and between Mud Bay Park and the Nicomekl River. A total of 14 raptor nests were identified in the study area, eight of which were active in 2014. Four nests are located near the Tunnel. Bald eagle nests are afforded protection year-round under the provincial Wildlife Act and must not be disturbed or destroyed. Red-tailed hawk nests are protected when occupied by a bird or its egg. On the B.C. south coast, red-tailed hawk eggs or young may be present from approximately February 26 to August 10. iii George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project CONSPICUOUS RAPTOR AND GREAT BLUE HERON STUDY Abbreviations and Acronyms Term Definition B.C. British Columbia CDC B.C. Conservation Data Centre COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Ministry Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure MOE Ministry of Environment ROW right-of-way SARA Species at Risk Act SFPR South Fraser Perimeter Road SC Special Concern Tunnel George Massey Tunnel Glossary Term Definition The B.C. CDC designation for species considered to be of special Blue List, blue-listed concern (formerly vulnerable) in British Columbia. Species that no longer exist in the wild in B.C. but occur Extirpated elsewhere. The right-of-way owned by the Province of B.C. for Highway 99 Highway 99 Corridor from the Peace Arch Canada-U.S. border crossing in Surrey to the Oak Street Bridge in Richmond. All lands and lands under water, except the Project footprint, which Project disturbance are subject to disturbance during Project construction and required area for maintenance activities during Project operation. The B.C. CDC designation for species considered extirpated, Red List, red-listed endangered, or threatened. iv George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project CONSPICUOUS RAPTOR AND GREAT BLUE HERON STUDY TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface .......................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... ii Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................... iv Glossary ...................................................................................................................................... iv 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Background ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Study Rationale ..................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Study Objectives ................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Review of Available Literature and Data ....................................................................... 4 2.1 Raptors .................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Great Blue Heron ................................................................................................ 10 3.0 Methods ......................................................................................................................... 12 3.1 Study Area ........................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Temporal Scope .................................................................................................. 12 3.3 Roadside Survey Methods .................................................................................. 13 3.4 Nest Search Methods .......................................................................................... 13 4.0 Results ........................................................................................................................... 14 4.1 Presence and Abundance ................................................................................... 14 4.2 Distribution .......................................................................................................... 17 4.2.1 Raptors ................................................................................................. 17 4.2.2 Great Blue Heron .................................................................................. 17 4.3 Nests ................................................................................................................... 17 5.0 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 20 5.1 Key Findings ........................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Data Gaps and Limitations .................................................................................. 21 6.0 Closure ........................................................................................................................... 22 7.0 Statement of Limitations .............................................................................................. 23 8.0 References ..................................................................................................................... 24 v George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project CONSPICUOUS RAPTOR AND GREAT BLUE HERON STUDY LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Listed Conspicuous Raptor and Heron Species Known to Occur in Study Area ... 3 Table 2 Conspicuous Raptor and Heron Study Components and Major Objectives .......... 3 Table 3 Raptors Reported in the Boundary Bay Regional Park Bird Checklist .................. 5 Table 4 General Habitat Requirements for Conspicuous Raptor Species in Study Area ... 7 Table 5 Roadside Survey Schedule ................................................................................. 12 Table 6 Observed Raptor and Heron Abundance during Roadside Surveys ................... 14 Table 7 Seasonal Abundance of Conspicuous Raptors and Herons during Roadside Surveys ..............................................................................................................