Pierre River Mine Project

TERRESTRIAL AENV SIRS 44 – 78
Common Nighthawk
Rusty Blackbird
Short-eared Owl
Whooping Crane
Section 13.1
Eight common nighthawks were observed incidentally within the LSAs
during field surveys. These observations occurred in lichen jack pine (a1),
blueberry jack pine-aspen (b1), disturbance (DIS), and cutblock (CC)
(Terrestrial Environmental Setting Report, Appendix T). Historical data from
the Oil Sands Region suggest common nighthawks are associated with open
or semi-open habitats in a variety of areas including forest clearings, burned
areas, and grassy meadows (Golder 2004; Semenchuk 1992). These habitats
closely equate to meadows (Me) and disturbed habitat areas such as
cutblocks (CC) and burned upland (BUu). Using information from project
surveys and historical surveys, the net gain of habitat types from Base Case
to Closure for common nighthawk is approximately 1,745 ha (3% of the
LSAs; see Table AENV 59-1).
One rusty blackbird was recorded in graminoid fen (FONG) during surveys
conducted for the project (Terrestrial Environmental Setting Report, Section
5.4.4.2, Table 5.4-13). Historical data on other habitat associations for rusty
blackbirds were not available for the Oil Sands Region. Using information
from project surveys, the net loss of habitat types from Base Case to Closure
for rusty blackbird is approximately 1,397 ha (3% of the LSAs; see Table
AENV 59-1).
Short-eared owls were not observed during field surveys conducted for the
project. Historical data from the Oil Sands Region and relevant literature
indicate that short-eared owls are associated with open habitats, including
grassy or brushy meadows, marshland and previously forested areas that
have been cleared (Semenchuk 1992; Canadian Natural 2000; Wiggins
2006). In northern Alberta, these habitats equate to graminoid fen (FONG),
marsh (MONG), shrubby swamps (SONS), meadows (Me) and cutblocks
(CC). Using information from historical surveys and relevant literature, the
net loss of habitat types from Base Case to Closure for short-eared owl is
approximately 5,100 ha (10% of the LSAs; see Table AENV 59-1).
Whooping cranes were not observed during field surveys conducted for the
project. Whooping cranes are only present in the LSAs during spring and fall
migration. There have been five confirmed and two probable historical
incidental sightings of whooping cranes in the Oil Sands Region. The most
recent sighting of a pair occurred in 2004 near the Suncor Firebag Project but
habitat information was unavailable (Suncor 2008). Current nesting areas for
whooping cranes within Wood Buffalo National Park consist of poorly
drained, shallow-water wetlands separated by narrow ridges of white spruce,
black spruce and willows (Salix spp.) (Lewis 1995). Other literature suggests
whooping cranes are associated with large, relatively open, marshy areas
(Semenchuk 1992). In northern Alberta, these habitats equate to marsh
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 13-27
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