Implementing Conservation Measures to Reduce Impacts to Migratory Birds

1. Implementing Conservation Measures to Reduce Impacts to Migratory Birds

2. Managing Exposure • We cannot change how a species and resources respond to stressors • But…we may be able to change how they are exposed

3. Understanding Exposure • Consider how each stressor may affect the species and/or resources: • Is the stressor direct, indirect, or both? • Where will each stressor occur? • When will each stressor occur? • How long will each stressor occur? • What is the frequency of each stressor? • How intense will each stressor be?

4. Conservation Measures • Also called BMPs or Mitigation Measures • Should be targeted at specific stressors • Designed to avoid or minimize: • the production of the stressor • the exposure of resources & individuals

5. Project Type Avoid or Minimize the PRODUCTION IMPACTS Activities CONSERVATION MEASURES Stressors THREAT Avoid or Minimize the EXPOSURE Resources EFFECTS Conservation Needs Species

6. Common Avian Stressors • Artificial Light • Artificial Perches • Chemical Contamination • Human Disturbance • Invasive Species Introduction • Noise • Structural Additions to Landscape • Vegetation Manipulation • Vegetation Removal

7. Avoidance – Project Siting • Use disturbed lands • Minimize area of disturbance • Minimize fragmentation of intact habitat blocks • Avoid important migratory corridors or wintering areas • Avoid features that attract birds (e.g., wetlands)

8. Seasonal Avoidance Avoid disturbing activities during the nesting season • Nesting season varies by species and area • Contact local FWS Office • Clear woody vegetation a year prior to construction If activities cannot avoid nesting season: • Provide justification • Pre-construction surveys • Establish work avoidance buffers

9. Minimization - Project Design • Minimize lighting • Minimize noise • Minimize perches • Minimize nesting structures • Avoid guy wires • clearly mark lines

10. MinimizationWork Buffers • Distances will vary • Species tolerance • Habitat type • Work type (e.g., prolonged loud noise, short duration) • Work with FWS on appropriate distances

11. Avian Powerline Interaction Committee (APLIC) Electric Utility Standards

12. Additional Measures • Prevent release of non-native plants • Minimize wildfire potential • Erosion Control • Minimize operational road traffic • Nest Management plan • Prepare HAZMAT plan

13. Compensation • In rare cases, NO avoidance or minimization measures exist • Compensation IS a conservation measure • most intensive option • potentially compensate for impacts in the long term • especially effective when stressors cannot be avoided

15. Post-Construction Monitoring • Essential to validate stressor management assumptions • Generally, monitoring takes two forms • Fatality monitoring • Conservation measures effectiveness

16. Post-ConstructionFatality Monitoring • Conducted when risk of mortality is possible or uncertain • Evaluate all components of a project • Evaluate temporal and spatial patterns of mortality

17. Post-ConstructionEffectivenessMonitoring • Did Conservation Measures reduce the effects of project-related stressors? • Did the measures avoid or minimize the consequences of stressors?

18. MONITORING

19. Reporting It is essential that project proponents report findings • Share data • Documented mortality • Conservation Measure effectiveness

20. Essential To Success • Adaptive Management • Managing uncertainty • Flexible decision process • Allows adjustments • Ideal for stressor management • Key to conservation measure implementation • Without monitoring – no means to evaluate or adjust the measures to meet conservation needs