Flammulated Owl and Olive-sidedFlycatcher Inventory

Prepared: Sharon John, Robert Sterling Jr. andDave Caswell

March 15, 2011

Agenda• Introductions

• AFSAR Project Update

– Flammulated Owl and Olive-sided FlycatcherInventory

– Preliminary Results

• Success Story – Western Screech Owl Inventory

• Where are we going?

– Future Land Use Planning

– From the Council Table

Introductions

Dave Caswell, RPBio

• Wildlife Biologist

• Thompson Rivers (Cariboo College 1995)

• Consulting Biologist

• Lower Nicola Indian Band

• Land development and First Nations Programs

IntroductionsRobert Sterling Jr.

• Archaeologist and Cultural Resource Mgr.

• B.A. - Simon Fraser University 1999

• Owner - Sa’lish Archaeology & C.R.M 2008

• Recipient -ANTCo. Aboriginal Culture andTourism Business of the Year 2010

• Present – Interim Research Manager for theNicola Tribal Association

Introductions

Nicola Tribal Association Society - Incorp 1996

The Purpose of the Society are

To Preserve, Maintain, and Foster theN’tla?kepmx and Syilx Language and culture

To Pursue issues of concern including Title andrights, land and resource management andthe support and development of an effectiveself Government.

AFSAR Project Update

• Thompson-Okanagan region is host to some of the greatestbiodiversity with some of the highest concentrations ofSpecies at Risk in Canada

• It is also under significant development pressure and thecurrent amount of suitable, intact habitat for many rare andendangered species is declining rapidly.

• This area is also the traditional territory of the Nlakapamuxwhere our communities have lived since time immemorial.

AFSAR Project Update

• Project Purpose: to identify and conserve habitat on NTAmember reserves that is currently occupied by two “At Risk”species: Flammulated Owl and Olive-sided Flycatcher.

AFSAR Project Update

• Project Objectives:– collect known species location data

– raise capacity with NTA technicians utilizingstandardized inventory techniques and abilityidentify both species by sight and vocalization.

– identifying and conserving occupied habitat.

TEK Owls and Birds• Traditionally, many birds have shown up in the

archaeological record, their bones, beaks,feathers and feet have been used asadornments such as buttons, beads,necklaces, headdress, whistles and fans.

• Many colourful feathers from a variety of birdswere used for decoration purposes, but theowl feathers brought with it a higher level ofrespect, to wear an owl feather displayed aserious commitment to ones endeavor.

TEK Dry Fir and Pine

• The use and occupation of areas with Dry firand pine is essential to our culture. Dry Fir andpine remain to be a pivotal foundation to thelifestyle of our people, they are used forarchitecture, small constructive material, fire-starter, firewood, medicine, tools and utensils,gathering places for grubs to be used forfishing, hide smoking wood, and gravemarkers to name a few.

PRIZES!

• Who can correctly pronounce the Aboriginalname for the “Thompson People”.

• Hint – N’tla?Kepmx

Flammulated Owl

• Small owl (16 – 19 cm)

• Distinct dark browneyes

• Indistinct ear tufts

• Red / brown and greycolouring.

• COSEWIC designation:Threatened

• Provincial Listing: Blue

Flammulated Owl

• Mature and old Douglas-firand ponderosa pine isimportant for nesting

• In-growth of juvenilleconifer around the nest treeprovides security.

• Small openings near thenest tree provide anopportunity for forage.

• Migratory

Flammulated Owl Survey

• Road transect - Call-playback surveys completed inJune.

• “Dusk till Dawn” survey

• Using a megaphone - FlamOwl call was played for 1minute followed by 4minute listening period.Call was played in threedirections.

• Inter-station Distance :500m

• PEM – Suitability Map wasused select sample areas.

• Survey Team: Jerry Clark,NTA and Dan Erikson BNRS,CTQ

Olive-sided Flycatcher

• Medium-sized songbird (18-20cm)

• Darker olive – grey abovewith lighter underparts

• Tail is short in appearance

• Stout bill

• Sexes are similar inappearance

• “Quick, THREE, BEERS” song

• COSEWIC DESIGNATION:Threatened

• Provincial Listing: Blue

Olive-sided Flycatcher• Mixed forest edges

• Near openings meadows,wetlands.

• Often in early postdisturbance (fire) habitat. –Provided there are some talltrees / snags used to perchon for singing, and takingoff to catch flying insects.

• Harvested openings do notappear to provide the samebreeding success of naturalopenings.

Olive-sided Flycatcher Survey

• Road transect – PointCount Surveys forbreeding birds - June –mid July.

• Early morning surveys –Sunrise toapproximately 9am.

• At each station or“point count” record allbirds identified visuallyor by song or call.

• Inter-station distance250m.

• Sampled access roadson reserve.

• Survey Team: RalphHeinrich, RPBio,Wildtech BiologicalServices, Jerry Clark andSharon John, NTA.

Success Story – Western Screech OwlInventory

• 2008 – Western ScreechOwl Inventory completedwith the support of theInter-departmentalRecovery Fund and HabitatStewardship Program

• In 2009 a transmission linewas proposed near theShackan reserve and alsowhere there was activebreeding pair in 2008

• Relocation of transmissionline!

• Chris Gill, RPBio – KestralConsulting

Yes it’s true…more PRIZES!

Where are we going?

• Economic development onreserve is priority for manyFirst Nations communities

• Land developmentpressures are growing

• Finding a balance

• Promoting authority todirect natural resourcemanagement within theirtraditional territory

As a concerned Band member and a current member ofcouncil for LNIB, I want to express my sincere thanksto the SARA program for its continued support. Thehabitat loss across the province has beencatastrophic, if we have a chance to learn and rebuildfrom this loss it will be through programs like this.But as it stands today - (for those ears in this roomwho need to hear it) - it is not enough, we needmore time, resources and commitment to make abroad positive change for our children’s children.

Thank-You – Questions?