Owl Ecology and Habitat Enhancement Report

Project Name: Inventory and habitat enhancement of Western Screech and Flammulated Owls in the Bridge Coastal Study Area
For the period of April 30 – June 30, 2006
Funded by BCRP, contributions by Ministry of Environment, N’Quaqua First Nations, Northwest Preservation Society
Project leader: Seepanee Ecological Consulting
Applicants: Eco-Vision Consulting/Seepanee Ecological Consulting

The project began 30 April with securing of resources, maps and equipment required for inventory.  Ministry of Environment Biologists modeled habitat within the study area for Flammulated Owl suitability.  Ministry biologists were consulted on survey sites and data collection to ensure province-wide consistency.  We contacted the N’Quaqua, Xwisten, Seton/Shalath and Lillooet First Nations to inform them of the upcoming field season.  Fieldwork commenced on May 20, 2006.  Fourteen transects were identified using habitat suitability modeling and visual assessment for Flammulated and Western Screech-owls.  As of June 30, all transects had been surveyed twice and 3 had been surveyed 3 times (Table 1). 

Preliminary results: Twelve Flammulated owls have been identified through survey efforts on Carpenter and Seton Lakes, one roost site identified on Carpenter Lake and one nest tree identified on Carol Lake.  Nine Western Screech-owl territories have been identified in the study area.  A nest tree of the pair on the Cayoosh Drainage near Lillooet was identified and the male’s vocalizations were recorded.  This pair successfully fledged a least one juvenile.  Recordings were also taken at two individual territories on Seton Lake, and 2 territories near the township of Seton- Portage.  An adult and a juvenile were found and recorded on the Highline road on Anderson Lake, and two individual territories were identified (1 included a potential nesting pair) and 2 adults recorded in D’arcy (Table 1). 

Project outreach:  With cooperation from the N’Quatqua first nations band, an intern, Jolene Patrick worked 1 June – 30 June.  Her duties included public outreach and presentations in the local communities, press releases and habitat enhancement.  Jolene sent press releases to local newspapers in Bridge River, the St’at’imc Runner and Lillooet News.  Lillooet News and St’at’imc Runner followed up with interviews and those articles should appear in July.  Presentations were advertised throughout the St’at’imc territory and were given from 27 June to 30 June in Lillooet, Bridge River, Seton/Shalath, and D’arcy.  Nest boxes built by school groups in the lower mainland and donated by Northwest Preservation Society, were distributed along with an educational pamphlet on placement and care to homeowners in the presentation communities. 

Itinerary: The last repetition of surveys should be complete by 15 July.

Table 1. Survey dates and response at transects surveyed in the BC Hydro footprint area May-June 2006.

Transect Name

Survey Date

Rep 1

Survey Date Rep 2

Survey Date Rep 3

Target species

Species response

Recordings

Carpenter Lake 1 (CA)

May 27

June 19

 

FLOW a

2 FLOW

 

Carpenter Lake 2 (CB)

May 29

June 17

 

FLOW

2 FLOW

 

Carpenter Lake 3 (CC)

May 23

June 7

June 21

FLOW

2 FLOW

 

Carpenter Lake 4 (CD)

May 24

June 6

June 22

FLOW

3 FLOW

 

Carpenter Lake 5 (CE)

June 4

June 18/ June 24

 

FLOW

1 FLOW

 

Carpenter Lake 6 (CF)

May 22

June 5

 

FLOW

1 FLOW

 

Carpenter Lake 7 (CG)

May 21

June 9

 

FLOW

1 FLOW

 

Seton Lake

June 20

June 29

N/a

FLOW

1 WSOW

 

Carpenter Lake spot checks

May 28

June 16

June 23

WSOW b

 

 

Lillooet (LS)

May 25

June 27

N/a

WSOW

3 WSOW (nest tree identified, 1 juvenile fledged)

May 25

Goldbridge (GB)

May 20

June 3

 

WSOW

1 WSOW

 

Seton/Highline (SP)

May 30

June 25/ June 29

 

WSOW

4 WSOW (one is a juvenile)

May 30 (Shalath)

June 25 (Highline)

June 29 (Spyder)

D’arcy/Highline (HI)

June 1

June 26

 

WSOW

3 WSOW (suspect 1 is a pair)

June 1 (2 recorded in D’arcy)

Seton Lake Drainages

June 20

June 28

N/a

WSOW

2 WSOW

June 20 (2 recorded)

a Flammulated owl
b Western screech-owl

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