Royal Botanical Gardens: 2013 to 2015 Acadian Flycatcher habitat improvement project

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With support from the Government of Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) (Species at Risk Stream), the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) conducted a two-year project in 2013-2014 to 2014-2015 to improve forest habitat for the Acadian Flycatcher, and raise community awareness about the region’s species at risk.

Why this project is important

The Canadian population of Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) is limited to the Carolinian area of southern Ontario and requires mature, undisturbed forest. It is estimated that fewer than 50 pairs are in Canada in a given year. This bird, listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), is threatened by forest loss and fragmentation and invasive plants. The RBG Cootes Paradise Nature Sanctuary, in Burlington, Ontario, covers over 600 hectares of land where critical habitat has been defined for a number of SARA-listed species, including the Endangered Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), the Threatened Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina), and the Endangered Bashful Bulrush (Trichophorum planifolium). The Nature Sanctuary also provides suitable habitat for the Acadian Flycatcher but unfortunately invasive plants cover about 10% of the forest understory habitat preferred by this bird.

What was done

RBG ecologists conducted annual Breeding Bird Count surveys in regions where Acadian Flycatchers had previously been seen and identified 65 breeding bird species in 2013 and 70 species in 2014. Surveys and mapping were conducted on 22.2 hectares of previously uncharacterized forest and ravine habitat to collect information about suitable habitat for the Acadian Flycatcher and other breeding bird species. The project also recorded locations of 55 introduced invasive plant species to help direct future removal work.  RBG held 10 volunteer events, including two with groups from Kings Road Public School, to improve forest habitat by removing invasive shrubs such as Common Buckthorn, Japanese Barberry, and Amur Honeysuckle. Educational materials, such as a bilingual poster, were created to raise awareness of bird species at risk at the sanctuary, threats to their populations, and actions taking place to address these threats. Information was also shared among southern Ontario species at risk professionals at an ecosystem recovery forum and among landowners at a workshop.

Achievements of this project

• Conducted Breeding Bird Count surveys at 22 locations across the RBG property and identified 65 species of breeding birds. Data will contribute to RBG ecologists’ understandings and ongoing monitoring of population trends in the area.
• Engaged Canadians in the removal of an estimated 22,000 invasive shrubs from 55 hectares.

Significance of this project

RBG gained species and critical habitat information through Breeding Bird Count surveys for many bird species, and has promoted stewardship through the coordination of volunteer events to remove non-native invasive plant species. Ultimately, these actions have resulted in improved habitat for the Acadian Flycatcher.

Habitat stewardship program - Species at risk stream
Email: ec.pih-hsp.ec@canada.ca