Appendix K: Significant wildlife habitat: waterfowl component (ducks, geese and swans)

The significant waterfowl habitats described in this appendix were developed by a working group formed at a significant wildlife habitat workshop held in January 1996. The working group membership included representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited and private consultants. The group also included researchers and field staff. The group met on several occasions and produced the report that makes up this appendix.

1. Conservation of significant waterfowl habitat

Goal:

Ontario has a rich diversity of waterfowl species and the intent is that none of them shall be permitted to undergo sustained decline because of development-related loss of habitat or degraded habitat functions.

• (Eleven waterfowl species that inhabit Ontario currently have populations that are below the goals established in the North American waterfowl Management Plan for 2001: Mallard, Pintail, Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Canvasback, Scaup, Southern James Bay Canada goose, Mississippi Valley Canada goose and Atlantic Brant)
• (In some southern Ontario landscapes, wetland losses range from 78 % to 87 %)
• (There is no estimate of the extent of degradation that settlement activities have had on wetland functions)

Objectives:

Identify and protect all waterfowl habitat of significance in the municipality.

• (Only 18 % of the municipalities in southern Ontario have no mapped wetlands)

Ensure policies do not prevent management and restoration of wetlands.

• (In a sample of 40 counties across southern Ontario, there are over 1.6 million ha of soils that are poorly drained, very poorly drained, bottomlands, organic or marshes that may need restoration or management to retain functions)

2. General principles

All migratory species are potentially important at different scales.

• Migratory wildlife are significantly different from sedentary species when it comes to habitat issues: no one jurisdiction encompasses the habitats required for their survival. Consequently, cooperation is needed at local, regional, provincial, national and even international levels to protect and enhance their habitat needs.

The entire suite of waterfowl habitats must be considered, including those that lie outside of wetlands. Agricultural practices that provide or promote ephemeral waterfowl habitats or functions (wet areas in farmed locations) should be encouraged.

• Waterfowl are a group of 32 species that use Ontario habitats for migration, staging, breeding, moulting, and in some cases, wintering. They depend on the following types of habitat to accommodate their needs over the course of their life cycle: pre-laying feeding habitat (usually ephemeral; include temporary pools, sheetwater, meltwater particularly on croplands during spring migration before machinery can access); nesting habitat; brood-rearing habitat; moulting areas; local roosts; staging habitat; and wintering habitat.

Habitats which are used by waterfowl that are rarely found in Ontario should be considered because of their contribution to the biological diversity of those sites.

• For waterfowl, the issue of rarity is best dealt with by considering site biodiversity. Normally, waterfowl are rare only because a small portion of their North American range includes Ontario. They may be abundant elsewhere. Their unique value should be recognized as a contribution to diversity rather than a rarity.

Planning controls should not prevent wetland management or restoration.

• Most wetland sites in southern Ontario are degraded and require management to restore functions.

3. Specific habitats

The habitat of significant species can be identified by two categories: locations that are known and mapped; and locations that are unknown and must be mapped on the basis of population status and landform preference.

a) Known and mapped locations

The following sites are significant for waterfowl:

(Sources for this information include Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited Canada and local Conservation Authorities)

b) Unknown and unmapped locations

Knowledge of two factors are useful in mapping local sites of potentially significant waterfowl habitat: the population status of the waterfowl species normally expected to inhabit the municipality and the location of landforms that characterize their habitat preferences.

Categories for waterfowl population status

These 5 categories are useful in describing the population status of the waterfowl that could be present in Ontario municipalities:

1. Species whose populations are in decline
   • Applicable Species or Populations (1995 Data): Black Duck, Southern James Bay & Atlantic populations of Canada goose
2. Species for which Ontario provides a large portion of their continental breeding and staging habitat
   • Applicable Species or Populations (1995 Data): Common Goldeneye, Canvasback, Redhead, Ringnecked Duck, Scaup (2 species), Hooded Merganser, Old Squaw, Scoters (3 species), Mississippi Valley & Southern Ontario Canada goose
3. Species for which Ontario provides an important component of continental breeding and staging habitat
   • Applicable Species or Populations (1995 Data): Wood Duck, Merganser (2 species) Coot, Wigeon, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, lesser Snow goose, Mallard
4. Species for which breeding, staging and wintering habitat is limited in Ontario
   • Applicable Species or Populations (1995 Data): Ruddy Duck, King & Common Eider, Trumpeter Swan, Atlantic Brant
5. Species that are dependant on transitory habitats
   • Applicable Species or Populations (1995 Data): Pintail, Tundra Swan, Shoveller

(Sources of this information include Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

The following landforms characteristically provide significant waterfowl habitat and need to be examined:

Wetlands

• Type of wetland: using the definitions in the Provincial Wetlands Classification System, marshes and swamps are more important than bogs or fens
• Size of wetland: small wetlands (based on confirmed boundaries) are important but as wetland size increases, so do the local values - larger may be better in some municipalities
• Groups of wetlands: clusters of wetlands (more than 10 within 1,000 m of the centre of each) are more important than single wetlands
• Peripheral lands: uplands, such as grass and shrub habitats, as well as pastureland within a significant distance can provide important nesting habitat

Poorly drained landscapes

• Stream & Riverine Bottomlands: floodlands provide important waterfowl habitat
• Soils: certain soil types (i.e. Farmington series as determined by soil maps or Ontario land Inventory maps) are useful indicators of important habitat.
• Potholes: terrain with over 50 small wetlands per sq. km. are important waterfowl habitats
• Beaver Ponds: terrain with over 25 ponds per 10 sq. km. are important habitats
• Seasonal Wet Locations: seasonally flooded locations, even those under active cultivation, such as sheetwater or meltwater areas and poorly drained croplands provide seasonally important pre-nesting habitat

NAWMP Project Sites

• These wetland enhancement locations are undertaken only on important waterfowl habitats

Coastal marshes

• The shores of Great Lakes and other large inland lakes provide uncommon but valuable locations for breeding and staging waterfowl

(Sources of this information include Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service, the Ontario Ministries of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Conservation Authorities, agricultural associations and farm, naturalist, hunter and trapper clubs)

By combining the category for each waterfowl species known to be present in the municipality with mapped landform information and the knowledge of interest groups, the local significance of waterfowl habitats can be determined.

4. Impacts from development

There are three impacts that residential, commercial and industrial development has on significant waterfowl habitats (see the 5 types in section 3b):

• loss of area and function;
• degradation of wetland functions and values; and
• fragmentation from surrounding natural landscapes.

These impacts operate more commonly in urban environments because they result in permanent changes to waterfowl habitat.

In rural environments, even those under active cultivation, the changes to waterfowl habitat are normally temporary and compensatory. Major drainage schemes and large-scale clearing efforts are the exceptions. Such techniques as crop rotation, grassed waterways, conservation tillage, buffer strips, living fencelines, windbreaks, rotational grazing and contour ploughing only shift the location of transitory habitat types - they do not permanently destroy them - particularly if they are practice within 300 m of traditional habitats.

If existing habitats are not destroyed, it allows for future restoration at appropriate times and locations.