Amendment to the final Recovery Strategy for the Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) in Canada [Proposed] – 2011


The Recovery Strategy for the Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) in Canada (Environment Canada 2008) was posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry in May 2008.

Under Section 45 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Minister of the Environment may amend a recovery strategy at any time.

This amendment to the Recovery Strategy for the Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) in Canada is for the purpose of:

This amendment is being posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry for a 60–day comment period. At the time of final posting, the following text will replace sections 2.7 and 2.11 of the complete recovery strategy as well as adding Appendices 2–5 to section 5 and revising the Acknowledgments and Literature Cited sections.

Critical habitat is defined in the Species at Risk Act section 2(1) as “the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in the recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species”.

Ideally, critical habitat would be identified based on a range–wide analysis of the amount, locations, and attributes of habitat required to meet the population and distribution objectives for the species. The identification of critical habitat for Sprague’s Pipit is complicated due to 1) the species’ broad distribution within Prairie Canada, 2) the paucity of information regarding occurrence and abundance of the species, and 3) the annual variation in the species’ occurrence and abundance.

At this time, based on the best available information, critical habitat is partially identified for Sprague’s Pipit in south–eastern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan.

The following approaches were used to partially identify critical habitat for Sprague’s Pipit in Canada.

The original recovery strategy outlined a number of steps and studies that needed to be undertaken before critical habitat could be identified (Environment Canada 2008). Progress has since been made on five of the items: 1) establishing a database with the abundance and location of Sprague’s Pipits across Prairie Canada (Davis unpubl. data), 2) developing a protocol to identify sites as potential critical habitat, 3) developing and refining predictive models of pipit occurrence using existing data (Dale unpubl. data, Davis unpubl. data), 4) determining how response to patch size and landscape factors varies temporally and spatially (Davis unpubl. data, Fisher and Davis unpubl. data), and 5) identifying factors influencing use and reproductive success in non–native habitats (Dohms 2009, Fisher and Davis in press, Davis unpubl. data). Results from these studies have contributed to the identification of the three sites herein identified as containing critical habitat for Sprague’s Pipit.

Sprague’s Pipit occurrence and abundance data was compiled from a number of sources across Prairie Canada including government and non–government biologists, academics, and provincial data repositories (Saskatchewan and Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Information Management System, and Alberta Conservation Information Management System). The following criteria and approaches were used to identify sites containing critical habitat:

Approach 1: Where detailed occupancy and demographic information exists, sites (e.g., quarter– sections), or portions of sites, known to be important to pipits were identified based on persistence (singing males recorded in at least two of the past five years), density (≥ 5 singing males/100 ha), and confirmation of breeding (nests or fledged young recorded) in the past five years. While this is the preferred approach for identifying Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat, data meeting these criteria were only available for two sites (see Section 2.7.2 below).

Approach 2: In the absence of detailed occupancy and demographic information, identification of critical habitat was guided by spatially explicit predictive models where sufficient and current data existed for a given area. Because the species has undergone substantial population declines and distribution shifts, only data collected within the past 10 years was used to avoid erroneously identifying historic breeding sites that are no longer suitable for Sprague’s Pipits. Reliance on predictive models was necessary because surveys and observations of pipits are widely scattered and tend to sample only a small proportion of a given area. Use of predictive models is a precautionary approach that allows one to determine the potential suitability of sites which were not sampled but can reasonably be expected to be inhabited by pipits. Models were validated to ensure reasonable usefulness for identifying critical habitat. This approach was used to identify Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat for one site where suitable data was available (see Section 2.7.2 below).

Information was sufficient to identify Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat using approach 1 in portions of Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area (NWA), the adjacent Agriculture and Agri–Food Canada (AAFC) Nokomis Community Pasture, and Grasslands National Park (GNP), Saskatchewan, while approach 2 was used to identify critical habitat in Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield NWA, Alberta. Further analyses and models are required to identify additional sites throughout the species range (see Table 5: Schedule of Studies to Identify Critical Habitat).

Last Mountain Lake NWA and AAFC Nokomis Community Pasture (Site 1)

Sprague’s Pipit occurrence and abundance have been quantified at Last Mountain Lake NWA for 9 years from 1980–1997 (Dale 1983, Sutter 1994, Dale et al. 1997). More recent monitoring (2004–2009) has focused on quantifying pipit reproductive success on a number of sites at both the NWA and the adjacent Nokomis Community Pasture (Davis and Fisher 2009, Dohms 2009, Dohms and Davis 2009, Brewster 2009, Davis unpubl. data). Sprague’s Pipit surveys conducted in 2007 (Strauss 2007) along the eastern and western portions of the NWA indicated that pipits were much less common than in the 1980s and 1990s. Changes in abundance and distribution appeared to be due to substantial changes in vegetation in the NWA. Therefore, locations of all territorial males and nests from 2004–2009 were plotted in a Geo–referenced Information System (GIS) to identify areas known to be used by Sprague’s Pipits on the NWA and the adjacent community pasture. Portions of quarter–sections (Appendix 3) known to be used by pipits and containing suitable biophysical attributes (see Section 2.7.3 below) are identified as critical habitat.

Grasslands National Park (Site 2)

Sprague’s Pipit abundance and reproductive success has been quantified within the East Block of Grassland National Park since 2007 (Lusk 2009). Surveyors recorded the locations of all singing males and nests in six study plots. These locations were plotted in a GIS to identify areas known to be used by breeding Sprague’s Pipits. Portions of quarter–sections containing these locations were identified (Appendix 4) and portions containing suitable biophysical attributes (see Section 2.7.3 below) are identified as critical habitat.

Canadian Forces Base Suffield NWA (Site 3)

Canadian Forces Base Suffield National Wildlife Area (CFB Suffield NWA) is a protected area under the Canada Wildlife Act managed by the Department of National Defense; military exercises do not occur within the NWA. Grassland bird surveys were conducted at the NWA for 12 years during the period 1994–2009 (Dale et al. 1999, Wiens et al. 2008, Dale unpubl. data). Results from these surveys indicate that Sprague’s Pipits occur in the area annually and over a large portion of the NWA. However, because of the presence of anthropogenic features (e.g. roads and natural gas infrastructure) and unsuitable habitat (e.g., shrubs, wetlands, open sand dunes) the entire area is not comprised of suitable habitat for Sprague’s Pipit. Intensive surveys conducted in the area over multiple years permitted an area–specific habitat model to be developed for the Suffield NWA to facilitate the identification of areas within the NWA that are suitable for this species. The model was developed and tested using 5 years of data (2000–2004) collected from the southern block of the NWA (Appendix 2). The data were collected within a broad range of precipitation conditions (from severe drought to above normal precipitation). Two additional years of data (2005 and 2006) collected in both the southern block and northern block of the NWA (Appendix 2) were used to validate the model. The model is adapted from the methodology outlined in Wiens et al. (2008). The model was not developed for portions of CFB Suffield outside of the NWA or for other land located near the NWA at this time due to the lack of data available for model development and validation, and because land–use and habitat features in those areas are substantially different than those found in the NWA.

Results from the Suffield NWA habitat model and the extensive coverage of known locations of territorial males indicate that most areas of the south block are used by Sprague’s Pipits (CWS unpubl. data). Furthermore, the model indicates that many areas within the north block also contain critical habitat. Although all habitat suitability classes (relative probabilities 0.1–1.0) were used by Sprague’s Pipits in at least one of the five years, habitat suitability classes ≥0.6 had over 50% use overall suggesting that these areas are particularly important for pipits (CWS unpubl. data); this threshold (0.6) was thus used for identifying critical habitat for Sprague's Pipit in CFB Suffield NWA.

Critical habitat for Sprague’s Pipit was partially identified to the extent possible based on best available information in 767 quarter–sections1 at Suffield NWA in Alberta, 8 quarter–sections within Last Mountain Lake NWA, 5 quarter–sections in Nokomis Community Pasture, and 43 quarter–sections in Grassland National Park (GNP) in Saskatchewan. Quarter–sections that contain critical habitat are listed in Appendix 5 for each site.

Within the identified quarter–sections, the following biophysical attributes comprise critical habitat of Sprague’s Pipit (Dale 1983, Dale et al. 1997, Davis 2004, 2005; Davis and Duncan 1999, Davis et al. 1999, 2006, unpubl. data, Dieni and Jones 2003, Madden 1996, Sutter and Brigham 1998, Sutter et al. 2000, Koper et al. 2009):

It is not currently possible to provide the specific amounts or levels of all of these critical habitat attributes required by Sprague’s Pipits. Work to develop an understanding of such levels and thresholds in quantifiable terms is included in a schedule of studies.

Critical habitat for Sprague’s Pipit excludes unsuitable habitat (e.g., dense patches of woody vegetation, open sand dunes, coulees, riparian areas, water bodies, planted non–native grassland, eroded slopes, badlands), existing infrastructure (e.g., roads, gas and oil wells, buildings, pipelines, fence lines, and watering sites) and perennial watering and salting sites for livestock.

The critical habitat identified in this document is necessary for Sprague’s Pipit survival and recovery in Canada. However, further work is required to identify additional critical habitat necessary to support the population and distribution objectives for recovery of the species. Studies to identify additional critical habitat are outlined in Section 2.7.5. Additional critical habitat will be identified in one or more action plans as new information becomes available.

Land management and stewardship activities of various agencies and local residents have conserved native grassland habitat suitable for this species. For example, many range management practices for the production of livestock on native prairie are compatible with Sprague’s Pipit breeding habitat. Practices which maintain moderate amounts of residual cover with a patchy distribution and do not result in large increases in the amount of bare ground, shrub or non–native plants, or cause rangelands to degrade to poor range condition, are compatible with Sprague’s Pipits. However, there are other human activities which may result in the destruction of critical habitat.

Destruction is determined on a case by case basis. Destruction would result if part of the critical habitat were degraded, either permanently or temporarily, such that it would not serve its function when needed by the species. Destruction may result from single or multiple activities at one point in time or from the cumulative effects of one or more activities over time.

For example, Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat may be destroyed by anthropogenic activities that have the following effects (see Dale 1983, Davis et al. 1999, Davis and Duncan 1999, Davis 2005, Linnen 2008, Dale et al. 2009):

Examples of activities on critical habitat that will result in destruction of critical habitat include, but are not limited to:

Activities required to manage, inspect, or maintain existing facilities and infrastructure, which are not critical habitat but whose footprints may be within or adjacent to the identified critical habitat, are not examples of activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat. In addition, construction or repair of anthropogenic structures required to improve or maintain the condition of critical habitat (e.g., pasture fences, dug–outs and other livestock watering systems, or salt blocks) are not considered destruction of critical habitat.

Some human activities in or adjacent to critical habitat will require assessment for possible cumulative effects on critical habitat and the potential for destruction. Environment Canada will work with provincial regulatory authorities, academia, and land users to develop a better understanding of cumulative effects of both energy development and agricultural activities and associated infrastructure, as well as thresholds of destruction (Table 5), and mitigation guidelines (such as restrictions on activities in certain areas and over certain time periods).

Although much progress has been made since the original Sprague’s Pipit recovery strategy, there are a number of studies/steps that are required before additional critical habitat can be identified across the species’ Canadian breeding range (Table 5).

Table 5. Schedule of Studies
Description of Activity and Question Anticipated Outcome/Rationale Timeline
Develop and refine predictive models of occurrence and abundance to help identify potential critical habitat areas. Geographic information system (GIS) maps will be developed delineating regions of high probability of occurrence and abundance will be used to identify candidate landscapes potentially containing critical habitat. October 2011– March 2013
Conduct field surveys to verify predictive models and collect pipit location and abundance data. Additional critical habitat is identified in various regions of the prairies, including southwestern Saskatchewan April 2011– March 2014
Determine thresholds of tolerance for exotic species, woody vegetation, wetlands, and disturbances associated with agriculture and energy development. Additional critical habitat is identified and cumulative effects and factors causing destruction are better understood. March 2014
Refine ability to derive population estimates. Understand how much critical habitat is required to meet population and distribution objectives . March 2013

The completion of Action Plans has been delayed pending identification of critical habitat and finalization of this amendment to the Final Recovery Strategy for the Sprague's Pipit. There is a potential for a multispecies Action Plan that could benefit multiple species at risk inhabiting southwestern Saskatchewan, which would incorporate an important part of the Sprague’s Pipit’s range in Canada. Action Plan (s) to cover other parts of the range of the Sprague’s Pipit also need to be developed. Action plans for Sprague's Pipit will be completed by 2014.

Abouguendia, Z. M. 1990. A practical guide to planning for management and improvement of Saskatchewan rangeland: Range plan development. Saskatchewan Research Council Report E–2520–1–E–90.

Brewster, K. 2009. Role of Landscape Composition and Geographical Location on Breeding Philopatry in Grassland Passerines: A Stable Isotope Approach. MS thesis. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

Dale, B.C. 1983. Habitat relationships of seven species of passerine birds at Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan. M.S. thesis, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Dale, B.C., P.A. Martin, and P.S. Taylor. 1997. Effects of hay management on grassland songbirds in Saskatchewan. Wildlife Society Bulletin 25: 616–626.

Dale, B.C., P.S. Taylor, and J.P. Goossen. 1999. Avian Component Report, Canadian Forces Base Suffield National Wildlife Area Wildlife Inventory. Unpubl. Canadian Wildlife Service report, Edmonton, AB.

Dale, B.C., T.S. Wiens, and L.E. Hamilton. 2009. Abundance of three grassland songbirds in an area of natural gas infill drilling in Alberta, Canada. Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference: Tundra to Tropic 194–204.

Davis, S.K. 2003. Nesting ecology of mixed–grass prairie songbirds in southern Saskatchewan. Wilson Bulletin 115: 119–130.

Davis, S.K. 2004. Area sensitivity in grassland passerines: Effects of patch size, patch shape, and vegetation structure on bird abundance and occurrence in southern Saskatchewan. Auk 121: 1130–1145.

Davis, S.K. 2005. Nest–site selection patterns and the influence of vegetation on nest survival of mixed–grass prairie passerines. Condor 107: 605–616.

Davis, S.K. and D.C. Duncan. 1999. Grassland songbird occurrence in native and crested wheatgrass pastures of southern Saskatchewan. Studies in Avian Biology 19: 211–218.

Davis, S.K., D.C. Duncan, and M. Skeel. 1999. Distribution and habitat associations of three endemic grassland songbirds in southern Saskatchewan. Wilson Bulletin 111: 389–396.

Davis, S.K., R.M. Brigham, T.L. Schaffer, and P.C. James. 2006. Mixed–grass prairie passerines exhibit weak and variable responses to patch size. Auk 123: 807–821.

Dieni, S.J. and S.L. Jones. 2003. Grassland songbird nest site selection patterns in northcentral Montana. Wilson Bulletin 115: 388–396.

Dohms, K. 2009. Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) nestling provisioning and growth rates in native and planted grasslands. MS thesis. University of Regina, Regina SK.

Dohms, K. M. and S. K. Davis. 2009. Polygyny and male parental care by Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii). Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121:826–830.

Environment Canada. 2008. Recovery Strategy for the Sprague's pipit (Anthus spragueii) in Canada. Species At Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. v + 29 pp:

Fisher, R. J. and S. K. Davis. In press. Post–fledging dispersal, habitat use, and survival of Sprague's pipits: are planted grasslands a good substitute for native? Biological Conservation.

Koper, N. and K.A. Schmiegelow. 2006. A multi–scaled analysis of avian response to habitat amount and fragmentation in the Canadian dry mixed–grass prairie. Landscape Ecology 21: 1045–1059.

Lusk, J. 2009. The effects of grazing on songbird nesting success in Grasslands National Park of Canada. MS thesis. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.

McKercher, R. B., and B. Wolfe. 1986. Understanding Western Canada's Dominion Land Survey System. Division of Extension and Community Relations report, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. 26 pp.

Michalsky, S.J. and R.A. Ellis 1994. Vegetation of Grasslands National Park. Unpublished Report. D.A. Westworth & Associates Ltd. Calgary, Alberta.

Robbins, M.B. and B.C. Dale. 1999. Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii). In The Birds of North America, No. 439 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Strauss, L. 2007. Sprague’s Pipit and Baird’s Sparrow survey at Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area and Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Unpublished report to Canadian Wildlife Service.

Sutter, G.C. 1996. Habitat selection and prairie drought in relation to grassland bird community structure and the nesting ecology of Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan. 144 pp.

Sutter, G.C. and R.M. Brigham. 1998. Avifaunal and habitat changes resulting from conversion of native prairie to crested wheat grass: Patterns at songbird community and species levels. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76: 869–875.

Sutter, G.C., S.K. Davis, and D.C. Duncan. 2000. Grassland songbird abundance along roads and trails in southern Saskatchewan. Journal of Field Ornithology 71: 110–116.

The following individuals provided information on Sprague’s Pipit occurrence and abundance, H. Bogard, K. Brewster, B. Dale, S. Davis, A. Didiuk, S. Duran, R. Fisher, M. Gollop, L. Hamilton, G. A. Henderson, Holroyd, S. James, J. Keith, N. Koper, R. Poulin, C. Punak–Murphy, R. Sissons, S. Skinner, L. Strauss, G. Sutter, T. Wellicome, and K. White. M. Curteanu, M. Wayland, D. Duncan, D. Henderson, and the Sprague’s Pipit Recovery Team provided guidance during the drafting of this document.

Appendix 2. is a representation of a map showing the location of Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat in the south and north block of the Canadian Forces Base Suffield National Wildlife Area (Alberta). At the bottom right corner of the map, the legend identifies the following elements: the boundary of CFB Suffield, the boundary of the Suffield National Wildlife Area, what is identified as critical habitat within Suffield NWA, and the scale of the map.
Appendix 3. is a representation of a map showing the location of Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat in Saskatchewan, most specifically in Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area and the adjacent Nokomis community pasture. At the bottom right corner of the map, the legend includes the following elements: highways and gravel roads, the quarter-sections containing critical habitat, the boundary of Nokomis community pasture as well as the boundary of Last Mountain Lake NWA, and the scale of the map.
Appendix 4. is a representation of a map showing the location of Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat in the east block of Grassland National Park. located in Saskatchewan. At the bottom right corner of the map, the legend includes the following elements: quarter-sections containing critical habitat, the boundary of Grassland National Park, including a small portion of provincial crown leased land, and the scale of the map.
LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE NWA, SASKATCHEWAN
Quarter section Section Township Range Meridian
NE 21 28 23 2
NW 22 28 23 2
NW, SW 23 28 23 2
NE, SE, SW 27 28 23 2
SE 28 28 23 2
AAFC NOKOMIS COMMUNITY PASTURE, SASKATCHEWAN
Quarter section Section Township Range Meridian
NW, SW 17 29 23 2
NE, NW 19 29 23 2
SW 20 29 23 2
GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK, SASKATCHEWAN
Quarter section Section Township Range Meridian
NE, NW 6 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 7 1 6 3
NW, SW 8 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 17 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 18 1 6 3
SE, SW 20 1 6 3
NE, NW 21 1 6 3
NE, NW 22 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 27 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 1 6 3
NE, NW, SE, SW 34 1 6 3
NE 1 1 7 3
NE, SE, SW 12 1 7 3
SE 13 1 7 3
CFB SUFFIELD NWA, ALBERTA
Quarter section Section Township Range Meridian
NE, NW, SE, SW 3 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 4 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 5 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 6 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 7 15 5 4
NW, SE, SW 8 15 5 4
NE, NW, SW 9 15 5 4
SE, SW 10 15 5 4
SW 15 15 5 4
NW, SE, SW 16 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 17 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 18 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 19 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 20 15 5 4
NW, SW 21 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 27 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 29 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 30 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 31 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 32 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 15 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 1 15 6 4
NE, SE 12 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 13 15 6 4
NE, NW 20 15 6 4
NE, NW 21 15 6 4
NW 22 15 6 4
NE, NW 23 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 24 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 25 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 26 15 6 4
NE, NW 27 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 29 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 32 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 34 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 35 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 36 15 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 4 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 5 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 6 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 7 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 8 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 9 16 5 4
NW, SW 10 16 5 4
NW, SW 15 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 16 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 17 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 18 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 19 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 20 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 21 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 22 16 5 4
NW 23 16 5 4
SW 26 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 27 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 29 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 30 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 31 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 32 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 34 16 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 1 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 2 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 3 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 4 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 5 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 8 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 9 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 10 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 11 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 12 16 6 4
NE, SE, SW 13 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 14 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 15 16 6 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 16 16 6 4
SE, SW 17 16 6 4
NE, SE 24 16 6 4
SE 25 16 6 4
NE, NW 7 17 3 4
SE, SW 18 17 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 31 17 3 4
NW, SW 32 17 3 4
NE 12 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 13 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE 14 17 4 4
NE, SE 15 17 4 4
NE, NW 19 17 4 4
NE, SE 22 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 23 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 24 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 25 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 26 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 27 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 29 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 30 17 4 4
NW, SE, SW 31 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 32 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 34 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 35 17 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 36 17 4 4
NW 2 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 3 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 4 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 5 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 6 17 5 4
NW, SE, SW 7 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 8 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 9 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 10 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 11 17 5 4
NW, SW 14 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 15 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 16 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 17 17 5 4
SE 18 17 5 4
SE, SW 20 17 5 4
SW 21 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 25 17 5 4
SE 26 17 5 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 36 17 5 4
NW, SW 5 18 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 6 18 3 4
NE, NW 7 18 3 4
NE, NW 18 18 3 4
NW, SW 19 18 3 4
NW, SW 30 18 3 4
NW, SW 31 18 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 1 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 2 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 3 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 4 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 5 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 8 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 9 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 10 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 11 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 12 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 13 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 14 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 15 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 16 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 17 18 4 4
NE, SE 20 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 21 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 22 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 23 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 24 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 25 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 26 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 27 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 18 4 4
NE, SE 34 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 35 18 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 36 18 4 4
NW 5 19 3 4
NE, NW, SW 6 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 7 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 8 19 3 4
NE, NW 9 19 3 4
NE, NW 10 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 11 19 3 4
NE, NW, SW 13 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 14 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 15 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 16 19 3 4
SE, SW 17 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 18 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 19 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 20 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 21 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 22 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 23 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 24 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 25 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 26 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 27 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 28 19 3 4
NE, SE, SW 29 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 30 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 31 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 32 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 33 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 34 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 35 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 36 19 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 1 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 2 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 3 19 4 4
NE, SE 10 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 11 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 12 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 13 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 14 19 4 4
NE, SE 23 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 24 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 25 19 4 4
NE, SE 36 19 4 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 1 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 2 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 3 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 4 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 5 20 3 4
NE, SE, SW 6 20 3 4
SE 7 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 8 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 9 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 10 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 11 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE 12 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 13 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 14 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 15 20 3 4
NE, NW, SE, SW 16 20 3 4
NE, SE, SW 17 20 3 4

1 The Dominion Land Survey system (McKercher and Wolfe 1986) is the grid system used in the Prairie Provinces to describe land locations. One unit of this system, the quarter–section (65 ha), is particularly useful for mapping critical habitat as it is used for ownership and management purposes. The quarter section level is used in this document to aid in describing the location of Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat.

2 Within these quarter–sections, Sprague’s Pipit critical habitat consists only of those areas of land with biophysical attributes as described in the Section 2.2.

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