Action Plan: Research

Very little site-specific information exists for landbirds north of 60º (Canada’s border between the southern provinces and the northern territories). Information is needed about habitat requirements at the stand and landscape level of virtually every bird species covered by the landbird program. It is therefore difficult to articulate every need and to determine priorities. Nonetheless, some of the more urgent priority items are listed below.

• Determine habitat requirements of boreal songbirds
• Research the effects of development on landbirds, from both an isolated impact and cumulative impacts view
• Determine population status and basic biology of landbird species, and identify priorities for conservation action

Determine habitat requirements of boreal songbirds

Priority - high
Bird Conservation Region – 6

Magnolia Warbler Photo: C. Machtans; Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service

The boreal forest in the southwestern corner of the Northwest Territories is undergoing high levels of development activity. An understanding of the characteristics of the landbird community must be gained to help provide useful input to environmental assessments and regional songbird initiatives. CWS is currently identifying songbird habitat requirements and bird community composition of songbirds near Fort Liard. This study, when completed, will help determine the applicability of the habitat models to other parts of the southwestern NWT.

Similar work is needed in other forested regions of the Territories.

Key results:

• appropriate bird conservation recommendations in environmental assessments in the Fort Liard area.

• knowledge of what other work is required to provide songbird-related advice for development projects elsewhere in southern NWT.

• Use of this knowledge in regional habitat modeling exercises.

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Research the effects of development on landbirds, from both an isolated impact and cumulative impacts view

Priority - high
Bird Conservation Region - 6

There is an abundance of research on the effects of development and other human-created disturbances to songbirds in North America. However, very little of it is applicable to the western boreal forest. It is now understood that species' response to impacts such as fragmentation are landscape dependent. That is, the same effects noted in an area of primarily disturbed habitat are different or may not be detectable in areas of primarily undisturbed habitat. The effects also vary regionally, responding to changes in the composition of bird communities. In-depth research in Canada’s western boreal forest has only begun within the past decade, and almost none of it has occurred in the North.

The unfortunate outcome of site-specific results means that generalizations are either difficult or impossible across large areas. Research programs must be carried out in the Northwest Territories to determine the effect of particular types of development to the particular bird communities and landscapes present. As research on songbirds in the western boreal forest matures, generalizations may be possible.

Projects will therefore be undertaken to investigate the impacts of various types of development on landbirds, including energy exploration and development, forestry, and other activities. Current projects include supervising work on the impact of pipeline right-of-ways on landbirds and proposed work on the impacts of seismic lines.

Key Results:

• research and results that are applicable to species and landscapes of the north
• specific recommendations during environmental reviews, land-use planning exercises and other planning processes

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Determine population status and basic biology of landbird species with identified priority for conservation action

Priority - medium
Bird Conservation Regions - 4,6,7

Priority species are identified in the document Setting Priorities for Conservation, Research and Monitoring of Canada's Landbirds (see Further Reading). Basic life history information is critical to our ability to accurately assess the impacts of developments and propose suitable mitigation measures. We may need to delineate breeding populations, identify their wintering grounds, as well as migration routes. Demographic information may also be required (nest success rates, adult survival rates, and factors affecting the above, for example), so that declines can be traced to a source. Without this information, it is difficult to take conservation action in response to declining population trends. Similarly, habitat protection for declining species cannot be undertake without understanding the habitat components that are required for successful breeding.

This work is difficult and time consuming. Efforts will be directed at priority species or populations as they are identified by national working groups. Studies would need to be species specific.

Key results:

• information regarding migratory routes, wintering areas, breeding season phenology, demographics, and breeding habitat requirements becomes available for priority species

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