Technical Data Report Wildlife Habitat Modelling: Approach, Methods and Species Accounts ENBRIDGE NORTHERN GATEWAY PROJECT Jacques Whitford AXYS Ltd. Calgary, Alberta Paul Sargent, P.Biol., R.P.Biol. Colleen A. Bryden, M.Sc., R.P.Biol. Richard Wiacek, M.Sc. 2010 Wildlife Habitat Modelling: Approach, Methods and Species Accounts Technical Data Report Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1-1 2 Methods ......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Key Indicator Species ....................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Habitat Suitability Models ................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.1 General Approach ......................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Alternatives to Habitat Suitability Modelling .................................................. 2-4 2.2.3 Selected Life Requisites and Seasons of Use............................................... 2-6 2.2.4 Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping ..................................................................... 2-7 2.2.5 Habitat Ratings .............................................................................................. 2-7 3 Bird Habitat Models ........................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 White-winged Scoter ........................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Status ............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Distribution ..................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes .......................................................... 3-3 3.1.5 Ratings ........................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2 American Bittern............................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.1 Status ............................................................................................................. 3-5 3.2.2 Distribution ..................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................... 3-6 3.2.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes .......................................................... 3-7 3.2.5 Ratings ........................................................................................................... 3-7 3.3 Pacific Great Blue Heron .................................................................................. 3-8 3.3.1 Status ............................................................................................................. 3-8 3.3.2 Distribution ..................................................................................................... 3-9 3.3.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................... 3-9 3.3.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-10 3.3.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-10 3.4 Northern Goshawk ......................................................................................... 3-12 3.4.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-12 3.4.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-13 3.4.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-14 3.4.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-15 3.4.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-16 3.5 Yellow Rail ..................................................................................................... 3-18 3.5.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-18 3.5.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-18 3.5.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-19 3.5.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-19 3.5.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-19 2010 Page i Wildlife Habitat Modelling: Approach, Methods and Species Accounts Technical Data Report Table of Contents 3.6 Sandhill Crane ................................................................................................ 3-20 3.6.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-20 3.6.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-21 3.6.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-22 3.6.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-23 3.6.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-23 3.7 Western Screech-Owl ..................................................................................... 3-25 3.7.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-25 3.7.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-26 3.7.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-26 3.7.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-27 3.7.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-28 3.8 Barred Owl...................................................................................................... 3-29 3.8.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-29 3.8.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-30 3.8.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-31 3.8.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-32 3.8.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-32 3.9 Short-eared Owl ............................................................................................. 3-34 3.9.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-34 3.9.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-34 3.9.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-35 3.9.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-36 3.9.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-37 3.10 Common Nighthawk ....................................................................................... 3-39 3.10.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-39 3.10.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-39 3.10.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-40 3.10.4 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-40 3.10.5 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-41 3.11 Olive-sided Flycatcher .................................................................................... 3-42 3.11.1 Status ........................................................................................................... 3-42 3.11.2 Distribution ................................................................................................... 3-42 3.11.3 Habitat Use and Life Requisites .................................................................. 3-43 3.11.4 Reproducing Habitat .................................................................................... 3-43 3.11.5 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ........................................................ 3-44 3.11.6 Ratings ......................................................................................................... 3-45 3.12 Sprague’s