Tintamarre National Wildlife Area Management Plan: chapter 2

2 Ecological Resources

2.1 Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitats

The Tintamarre National Wildlife Area (NWA) contains a unique diversity of wetlands for such a comparatively small area (Figure 10) (Harries 1969; Malone 1977; Spicer et al. 1995). Bounded between a wooded interior and the upper extremity of the Tantramar dykelands, this area protects some of the last remaining lakes, bogs and fens in the Chignecto border region that have not been altered by ditches or dams. The upland areas, a mixture of forests and active and abandoned agricultural lands, also support a diversity of flora and fauna.

Tintamarre NWA, the nearby 4000 ha Missaguash Marsh managed by the Province of Nova Scotia and conservation lands of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, collectively provide a nearly continuous wildlife corridor through the narrow Chignecto Isthmus connecting Nova Scotia with New Brunswick. This corridor is a particularly important route that may be used by dispersed populations such as Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) (MacKinnon and Kennedy 2009) and Moose (Alces alces).

2.2 Wildlife Species

2.2.1 Birds

Several species of waterfowl, including Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis), American Black Duck (Anas rubripes), Northern Pintail (Anus acuta), Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), American Wigeon (Anas americana), Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Mallard (Anus platyrhynchos) and Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), regularly breed at Tintamarre NWA. Significant increases in waterfowl production have resulted from the wetland development and improvement work undertaken at Tintamarre NWA since 1967 (Whitman 1969; Whitman 1971; Erskine 1987).

The freshwater wetlands of Tintamarre NWA also provide important habitat for the spring and fall migration and post-breeding staging of waterfowl. Peak numbers in late summer-early fall approach 1000 birds, including several species that occur regularly. The principal migrant and staging waterfowl are Green-winged Teal, Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon and Ring-necked Duck.

Various species of marsh birds regularly breed at Tintamarre NWA, including Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), American Bittern (Botaurus lentigonosus), Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Sora (Porzana Carolina) and Marsh Wren (Cistothorus sp.) (Healy 1976; Milton 1977; Cash et al. 1981). Pied-billed Grebes and Soras are the most abundant (Healey 1976), and those species in particular have increased significantly in response to development of controlled water-level impoundments (Erskine 1992). Other species including Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), American Coot (Fulica americana) and Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) are either known or thought likely to breed occasionally. At least two or three pairs of Common Loons (Gavia immer) breed annually on the Jolicure Lakes.

Besides waterfowl and marsh birds, an impressive diversity of other birds is found within the area (Blacquierre 1975; Hudson 1978; Tingley 1980a and 1980b; Eskine and Smith 1986). Woodland birds, including a variety of warblers, make Tintamarre NWA a frequent destination for birdwatchers. Large birds of prey are also frequently observed within the area. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) and American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) are all frequently observed. More secretive species such as the nocturnal Great-horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and Barred Owl (Strix varia) are also common residents.

2.2.2 Mammals

Twenty-nine species of mammals occur, or would be expected to occur, within the Tintamarre NWA (Morton 1980). These include all of the species commonly found in New Brunswick (Banfield 1974). Larger mammals such as White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Moose (Alces alces) and Black Bear (Ursus americanus) are common within the NWA. Wetland mammals such as Beaver (Castor canadensis) and Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) are frequently observed. The common but more secretive smaller mammals include Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus), Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda), Water Shrew (Sorex palustris) and Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) (Morton 1980; Dawe 2002).

Maritime Shrew (Sorex maritimenis) is an interesting component of the NWA's fauna. This species has a rather limited distribution in the Maritime provinces. However, it appears to be relatively more abundant in the area around the head of Cumberland Basin including Tintamarre and Chignecto NWAs (Morton 1980; Dawe 2002).

The Muskrat is the most important mammal of the Tintamarre NWA in terms of management of the site. The Muskrat population within the NWA has benefited considerably from the wetland development and improvements that have been undertaken. A December 1983 survey of 9 impoundments showed 457 muskrat houses, which probably represented a population in excess of 2000 animals. The Muskrat population within the entire NWA could be 2 to 3 times higher than this figure (Caron 1976; Parker 1984; Parker and Maxwell 1984).

Trapping is allowed within the NWA, subject to provincial regulations, and is an important component to the local economy and to the management of Muskrat populations and their impact on the NWA's wetlands.

2.2.3 Reptiles and Amphibians

The amphibian and reptile fauna of Tintamarre NWA likely comprises most of the 16 species that commonly occur in the province, although thorough inventories have not been conducted (Brannen 2004). Confirmed snake species include the Eastern Garter (Thamnophis sirtalis), Green Snake (Liochlorophis vernalis) and Northern Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculatus), while frequently encountered amphibians include Green Frog (Rana clamitans), Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica), Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), Mink Frog (Rana septentrionalis) and Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens). Salamanders are an inconspicuous but abundant component of the fauna. Common species include the Yellow Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) and Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale).

2.2.4 Fish

The lakes and waterways within the Tintamarre NWA support a number of fish species (Arbing and McIntyre 1996). Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), the latter found only in Jolicure Long Lake, are popular with many fishers that visit the area. Other species such as Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) and White Perch (Morone americana) are also taken.

Three species of diadromous fish are found within Tintamarre NWA, the previously mentioned Brook Trout as well as American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) and Gaspereau (Alosa pseudoharengus).

Other commonly encountered fish within the NWA include Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosis), Ninespine Stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) and White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) (Hanson 1993).

2.3 Species at Risk

A list of species at risk that have been observed within the Tintamarre NWA is presented in Table 4. Of these, the Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) and Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), which are listed as Threatened and of Special Concern respectively, likely breed within the NWA.

2.4 Invasive Species

With such a long history of human settlement, a number of non-native plant species are found within the Tintamarre NWA (Spicer et al. 1995). Many of these plants were originally introduced and can be found associated with old and abandoned house sites. Although some species of plants may survive for a very long time in one location, they do not always spread to other sites and are not considered invasive. Some plants, such as Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), Phragmites (Phragmites communis [and P. australis]), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Reed Canary Grass, may be invasive, and expansion of these species may dictate some controls or removal (White et al. 1993).