Over the past 20 years, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has developed a series of forest management guidelines. These guidelines have been developed to assist resource managers to maintain or create a forest that has structure and composition to provide functional habitat for a variety of wildlife species. A variety of constraints and different timber harvest techniques are recommended in the guidelines in order to protect a specific habitat. While these may be considered of limited value to the municipal planning process, the general concepts of forest size, diversity and distribution on a landscape scale are useful. These guidelines offer concise summaries of specific habitat requirements for a number of wildlife species. Habitat requirements for some of these species are very specific (e.g. area sensitive species) while requirements of others may be more general. This information can be applied equally well in the municipal planning process.

Many of the guidelines recommend protecting wetlands and riparian forest areas. These areas provide habitat for a large number of wildlife species. Because of this, many of these areas can be considered significant wildlife habitats (see Tables 10.2 - 10.4 in the text).

Where available, large forest areas will meet habitat requirements of many of the more specialized area sensitive species. The guidelines recommend protecting these areas from fragmentation. Many municipalities do not have large tracts of forest. Instead they may have numerous smaller tracts of forested land that may or may not be interconnected by corridors of forest, thicket or riparian vegetation. The guidelines recommend retaining these corridors, rather than fragmenting the forest landscape further. This may be enough to protect critical habitat of some more specialized, yet adaptable wildlife species.

The concept of establishing buffer zones and timing restrictions for development activities to occur around known significant wildlife habitat is presented in many of these guidelines. Timing restrictions are particularly important during critical life stages (e.g. nesting, calving). All the guidelines provide lists of reference material.

While many of the wildlife species referred to in these guidelines are protected, in varying degrees, by provincial or federal legislation, only those species covered under the Endangered Species Act have protection extended to their habitat.

This appendix is arranged into two parts. The first part provides a list of existing guidelines with a short summary of how each may be valuable to the municipal planning process. The second part is a more detailed description of each set of guidelines.

It is important to take into account that many of these guidelines were written in the mid-1980s. Since that time, there have been some changes in landscape ecology concepts. For example, today there is a greater emphasis placed on protecting large, undisturbed tracts of land and lesser emphasis on preserving edge habitat. Even so, all of the guidelines are a good source of information about habitat requirements for many individual species.

When referring to these guidelines, please keep in mind that protecting natural features during forest management activities may be less stringent than those required for urban development. This is because urban developments result in more dramatic and permanent changes to the landscape.

A complete copy of many of these guidelines is available for review at your local Ministry of Natural Resources office. The Black Rat Snake in Ontario, Rideau Lakes Population, specific to Kemptville District and Bird Habitat Guidelines for Forests and Grasslands, an Illinois document only are available at the Kemptville work centre.

Forest management guidelines

Guideline title and application value to municipal planning

Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of Pileated Woodpecker Habitat (OMNR 1996)

  • developed to address Timber Environmental Assessment requirements
  • intended to ensure adequate representation of mature forest habitat
  • provides an excellent summary of Pileated Woodpecker behaviour and habitat requirements
  • particularly useful reference for planning at the landscape scale
  • application of these guidelines should provide adequate forest habitat for other woodpecker and cavity nesting bird species
  • also see Habitat Management Guidelines for Cavity-nesting Birds in Ontario (1984)

Habitat Management Guidelines for Cavity-Nesting Birds in Ontario (OMNR 1984)

  • includes provisions for establishing minimum forest habitat for 27 cavity-nesting birds
  • includes habitat descriptions for the following species of woodpeckers: Pileated, Red-headed, Red-bellied, Black-backed, Three-toed, Hairy, Downy, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Kestrel, Barn Owl, Eastern Screech-owl, Hawk Owl, Barred Owl, Saw Whet, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Prothonotary Warbler Habitat Management Guidelines for Warblers of Ontario’s Northern Coniferous Forests, Mixed Forests of Southern Hardwood Forests (OMNR 1984)
  • includes distribution maps and habitat descriptions/ requirements for the following species of warblers: Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Bay-breasted, Cerulean, Black-and-white, Mourning, Hooded, Canada, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush
  • lists factors affecting management considerations
  • identifies area-sensitive warbler species (please note: there has been extensive work in this area in recent years; additional species have been identified as area sensitive since the guideline was written)

Bird Habitat Guidelines for Forests and Grasslands (Illinois Department of Conservation undated)

Only available through MNR's Science Technology Transfer Unit, Kemptville office. See web page http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/manbook/manbook.htm [invalid link] for a more current version of Illinois guidelines

  • augments information provided in Habitat Management Guidelines for Warblers of Ontario’s Northern Coniferous Forests, Mixed Forests of Southern Hardwood Forests (1984) (includes area requirements for 17 additional forest species not covered in warbler guidelines)
  • provides estimates of minimum areas to sustain viable breeding populations of area sensitive forest (23) and grassland (14) bird species (includes 17 forest species not

Guidelines for the Protection of Forest-nesting and Wetland-nesting Bird Habitat by Means of Modified Management Areas (OMNR 1985)

  • suggests the expected maximum number of nest sites /9200 ha of land-base for Northern Goshawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk
  • recommends buffer zone sizes for Bald Eagle, Osprey and heronries
  • recommends riparian zone widths according to degree of slope (same as recommended in Guidelines for Furbearer Management in Ontario and Habitat Management Guidelines of Waterfowl in Ontario)
    • Use In conjunction with Management Guidelines for the Protection of Heronries in Ontario, Management Guidelines and Recommendations for Osprey in Ontario, Habitat Management Guidelines for Ontario’s Forest Nesting Accipiters, Buteos and Eagles, Bald Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines, Golden Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines and Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of Pileated Woodpecker Habitat.

Habitat Management Guidelines for Waterfowl in Ontario (OMNR 1985)

  • includes a description of species habitat requirements for a number of wetland, upland and cavity-nesting waterfowl species
  • recommends riparian zone widths according to degree of slope (same as recommended in Guidelines for furbearer habitat management in Ontario, 1985)
  • wetland and adjacent land protection measures are intended to provide sufficient protection to wetland and riparian forest-nesting waterfowl

Guidelines for Furbearer Habitat Management in Ontario (OMNR 1985)

  • provides description of habitat requirements, effects of habitat alterations and habitat management tactics for both wetland-associated and forest-associated furbearers
  • recommends riparian zone widths according to degree of slope
  • wetland and adjacent land protection measures are intended to provide sufficient protection for wetland-associated furbearers

Habitat Management Guidelines for Birds of Ontario Wetlands - including marshes, swamps and fens or bogs of various types (OMNR 1985)

  • includes habitat requirement descriptions for the following species: Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Green Heron, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Yellow Rail, King Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs,, Solitary Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Common Snipe, American Woodcock, Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-neck Phalarope, Parasitic Jaeger, Little Gull, Common Tern, Forster’s Tern, Black Tern, Great Gray Owl, Short-eared Owl, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Jay, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Shrike, White-eyed Vireo, Solitary Vireo, Philadelphia vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Yellowthroat, Wilson’s Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Le Conte’s Sparrow, Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird
  • wetland and adjacent land protection measures are intended to provide sufficient protection for wetland birds

Management Guidelines for the Protection of Heronries in Ontario (OMNR 1984)

  • identifies habitat requirements and sensitivities
  • particularly useful to identify work or timing restrictions and buffer zones during development in areas close to existing heronries
  • helps determine suitable distance for development to occur

Management Guidelines and Recommendations for Osprey in Ontario (OMNR 1983)

  • identifies habitat requirements and sensitivities
  • can be used to identify work or timing restrictions and buffer zones during development in areas close to Osprey nesting sites
  • different restrictions apply for northern and southern Ontario nest sites

Habitat Management Guidelines for Ontario’s Nesting Accipiters, Buteos and Eagles (OMNR 1984)

  • includes habitat requirement descriptions and distribution maps for the following species:
    • Northern Goshawk
    • Cooper’s Hawk
    • Sharp-shinned Hawk
    • Red-shouldered Hawk
    • Broad-winged Hawk
    • Bald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon Habitat Management Guidelines (OMNR 1987)

  • recommends developing a nest site management plan within a 3 km radius of any nesting site (short outline of plan and description of management options are included)

Bald Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines (OMNR 1987)

  • provides description of essential habitat, Bald Eagle life history and critical periods during the nesting period
  • offers recommendations for regional (landscape scale) management that may be of value for municipalities that have known Bald Eagle nesting sites

Golden Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines (OMNR 1987)

  • similar to Bald Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines (1987) with the exception of offering large clearings beyond the 100 m buffer zone

Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of Marten Habitat (OMNR 1996)

  • provides an excellent summary of marten behaviour and habitat requirements
  • particularly useful to refer to requirements at the landscape scale
  • application of these guidelines would provide habitat required by mammals and birds associated with mature –overmature coniferous forests, cavity trees, woody debris

Habitat Management Guidelines for Bats of Ontario (OMNR 1984)

  • includes distribution maps, description of habits, diet, habitat requirements
  • species include: little brown myotis, Keen’s myotis, small-footed bat, silver-haired bat, eastern Pipistrelle, big brown bat, red bat, hoary bat
  • guideline implementation requires knowledge of known roosting, nursery or hibernation sites

Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of White-tailed Deer Habitat (OMNR 1997)

  • excellent summary of winter and summer habitat requirements for deer (note: deer do not yard as readily in southern portions of Ontario unless the winter is severe)
  • protection of deer habitat will protect habitat for other wildlife species that rely on mast producing trees and plants and require connectivity between forest patches

Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of Moose Habitat (OMNR 1988)

  • wetland and adjacent land (120 metres) protection measures will go a long way to protecting moose feeding areas
  • provides recommendation for no development areas adjacent to critical mineral lick or calving sites

The Black Rat Snake in Ontario, Rideau Lakes Population (OMNR 1977) - A Field Guide

Copy available for viewing at Kemptville work centre or from the Science and Technology Transfer Unit, Kemptville

  • not a guideline document
  • provides concise description on range, habitat, prey hibernation, reproduction of black rat snake
  • specific population information limited to eastern Ontario

Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of Pileated Woodpecker Habitat Version 1.0 (OMNR, 1996)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • Mature or old growth productive forests (mixed, deciduous and to lesser extent coniferous) Snags
  • Downed woody debris

B. Intent of guidelines

These guidelines were prepared as a commitment to the Class Environmental Assessment for Timber Management. The Pileated Woodpecker is representative of mature and old growth forest habitat in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region. Guidelines include provisions for the management of forest habitat in order to meet current and future habitat needs of the Pileated Woodpeckers throughout the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest region by:

  1. allowing sufficient flexibility in management options to suit a variety of situations

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • availability of large tracts of interconnected mature forest in the landscape
  • current abundance and distribution of Pileated Woodpeckers

D. Management approaches

  • maintain sufficient supply of roosting trees, cavity nesting trees, potential cavity trees and trees that provide a food source
  • encourage continuous, adequate supply of downed wood and dead standing trees

E. Level of guideline specialization

Provides an overview of habitat needs for the Pileated Woodpecker. Application of these guidelines should provide adequate habitat for other woodpecker and cavity nesting bird species.

F. Other comments

  • describes rationale and objectives for the guidelines
  • deals with habitat needs at the Stand Level (10s' of hectares) and Landscape Level (1000s' of hectares)
  • guidelines provide an extensive list of reference materials, ecosite types and criteria for selecting cavity trees

Habitat management guidelines for cavity-nesting birds in Ontario (OMNR, 1984)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • semi-mature, mature forests (mixed, coniferous, deciduous)
  • forest edge
  • snags or hollow, living trees
  • downed woody debris

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for establishing minimum forest habitat for 27 cavity-nesting bird species and general habitat management guidelines by:

  1. promoting the protection of large, undisturbed tracts of land
  2. recommending minimum (not optimum) habitat requirements

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • available number of snags in a given area
  • variety of diameters and height of snags
  • diversity of tree species and ages
  • forest size
  • width of riparian forest areas
  • Site Region location
  • presence/absence of primary cavity excavators

D. Management approaches

  • maintain large, undisturbed tracts of forest area (650-2500 ha)
  • preservation of deciduous forests, particularly on the Canadian Shield (avoid clear cutting) D maintain 100 metres wide corridors between fragmented forest areas, especially along shorelines D preservation of adequate number of trees with heart-rot, dead or dying trees, malformed trees D girdle undesirable trees
  • retain fallen logs and slash during forest operations
  • create irregular forest edge habitat
  • protection of riparian forests
  • erect artificial nesting cavities (nest boxes)

E. Level of guideline specialization

Protection and preservation of optimum habitat requirements for primary cavity excavators, like the Pileated woodpecker, are most likely to provide sufficient habitat for other cavity-nesting bird species. Also see Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of Pileated Woodpecker Habitat (OMNR, 1996). In addition to birds, a variety of mammal, reptile and amphibian species benefit from the application of these guidelines. These species are generally ones that: a) require travel corridors to move from one habitat to another; b) require large tracts of mixed wood, deciduous and coniferous forests; and, use a variety of lowland and upland forests habitats; forest and riparian edge habitat; and, downed woody debris.

F. Other comments

  • provisions should be made to conserve tracts of forest large enough to provide for an entire bird population, not just a single, breeding pair

Habitat management guidelines for Warblers of Ontario’s northern coniferous forests, mixed forests of southern hardwood forests (OMNR, 1984)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • forests
  • forest edge
  • downed woody debris
  • riparian areas

B. Intent of guidelines

Provides forest management options to preserve and protect forest habitats in general and large forest habitats from fragmentation in particular.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • insect abundance
  • availability of downed woody debris
  • diversity of habitat (forest, forest edge, openings)
  • forest size
  • forest type (coniferous, deciduous, coniferous)
  • stratification (overstory, understory, ground cover) within a stand (otherwise referred to as structure)
  • location and availability of riparian areas
  • presence of bird species (may include species requiring special habitat needs e.g. area sensitive, old growth forest)
  • present and future development pressures

D. Management approaches

  • manage for larger rather than smaller tracts of forest
  • maintain corridor connections between smaller forest areas
  • avoid cutting riparian forests

E. Level of guideline specialization

Guidelines are somewhat generalized. Descriptions of specific species requirements is valuable.

F. Other comments

  • provides habitat requirements for 19 warbler species
  • identifies species that require large tracts of forest (area sensitive species) and mature to old growth forests
  • identifies species that are tolerant of timber harvest and may respond positively to logging
  • identifies species that require dense growth of deciduous shrubs, riparian habitats, closed canopies
  • includes a list of reference material

Bird habitat guidelines for forests and grasslands (Illinois Dept. of Conservation, c. 1988)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • forests
  • grasslands

B. Intent of guidelines

To provide guidance to resource managers who wish to enhance habitat of grassland and forest interior birds.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • availability of larger-sized forest blocks situated away from forest edge effects
  • availability of contiguous areas of grassy habitats (pasture, hayfields, but not row crops)
  • presence/absence of highways or other disturbances

D. Management approaches

Forests
  • avoid unnecessary fragmentation of forest
  • maintain maximum contiguous woodland with least amount of edge in small tracts of forest (even as small as 2 ha)
  • retain connecting corridors between isolated forest tracts
  • promote canopy closure
  • retain diversity of vegetation
  • plan to maximize unfragmented areas or reforest harvested or fragmented forest blocks
  • restrict human activities during breeding season
Grasslands
  • optimal area for restoration of grassland areas is more than 100 ha
  • reduce amount of linear edge habitat
  • adjacent areas should be open , not close to forest edge
  • prescribed maintenance burning during early spring or late fall

E. Level of guideline specialization

For a variety of interior forest and grassland bird species.

F. Other comments

  • includes a list of references specific to forest interior bird species and grassland nesting birds
  • includes a list of true grassland nesting bird species and other birds that may breed or spend part of their life in grasslands
  • includes a list of area sensitive forest birds and minimum forest area required to sustain viable breeding populations
  • a 1993 revision to this document entitled Habitat establishment, enhancement and management for forest and grassland birds in Illinois can be located on the following Internet web page: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/manbook/manbook.htm or, by writing to James R. Herkert, Division of Natural Heritage, Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, Illinois

Guidelines for the protection of forest-nesting and wetland-nesting bird habitat by means of modified management areas [draft] (OMNR, 1985)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • mature or old growth forests
  • forest edge
  • riparian areas
  • wetland areas

B. Intent of guidelines

To help resource managers integrate wildlife management concerns into forest management plans and operations.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • presence of species with more specialized habitat requirements
  • quality and quantity of available habitat (diversity, size)
  • existing and future development pressures

D. Management approaches

  • aim to meet optimum, not minimum habitat requirements of wildlife species
  • preserve snags, downed woody debris, riparian habitats
  • manage for habitat diversity (species richness)
  • provide forest tracts large enough to maintain healthy populations, not just single pairs

E. Level of guideline specialization

Special management guidelines are offered for Pileated Woodpecker (see 1996 guidelines), accipiters and buteos (see 1984 guidelines), Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Osprey, heronries (see 1987 and 1984 guidelines), Sand Hill Crane, Great Gray Owl, American Woodcock. Also provides general guidelines for wetland and forest habitats.

F. Other comments

  • includes a list of reference material
  • includes species lists and habitat association, a list of area sensitive bird species, dimensions for building nest boxes for cavity-nesting birds
  • recommends sizes of buffer zones around nest sites, by bird species

Habitat management guidelines for Waterfowl in Ontario (OMNR, 1985)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • mature upland forests
  • grasslands (openings)
  • mature riparian forests
  • wetland areas (critical habitat)
  • open water areas

B. Intent of guidelines

To assist resource managers in protecting and enhancing waterfowl habitat, particularly as it relates to timber harvesting.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • nesting and feeding requirements of ducks and geese
  • forest/woodpecker associations (in provision of critical habitat for cavity nesting ducks)
  • availability of wetland, riparian and upland forest habitats and their proximity to one another

D. Management approaches

  • restrict activities during waterfowl nesting period
  • encourage preservation of riparian areas
  • maintain uneven-aged, old growth forests with openings

E. Level of guideline specialization

Recommended management options are limited to forest management. Does not include recommendations for the management of habitat for all species of waterfowl.

F. Other comments

  • includes a list of waterfowl species that nest in forested areas of Ontario
  • includes a list of reference material

Guidelines for furbearer habitat management in Ontario (OMNR, 1985)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • forests
  • forest edge
  • riparian areas
  • wetland areas
  • downed woody debris

B. Intent of guidelines

To assist government and industry foresters and biologists to develop appropriate forest management prescriptions.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • whether furbearer is associated with forest or wetland habitats
  • diet, size, reproductive requirements and behaviour of furbearers
  • furbearer species interactions
  • habitat diversity and availability
  • water level permanence, fluctuation

D. Management approaches

Wetland-associated furbearers
  • protect wetland habitat from development (drainage, channelization, filling etc.)
  • avoid development in riparian areas, particularly road development
  • maintain wetland cover
  • reduce water velocity and avoid extremes in water fluctuation that may negatively affect furbearers at critical periods in their life (e.g. extreme water fluctuations during winter months can either drown-out or freeze-out muskrats)
Forest-associated furbearers
  • maintain dense, continuous overhead cover
  • retain snags, downed wood
  • protect old-growth forests
  • manage for future mature – old growth forest
  • protect large tracts of forested area
  • retain or create corridors to connect smaller tracts of forest

E. Level of guideline specialization

Maintaining habitat quality of beaver and muskrat will have beneficial effects on habitat of mink, otter and other wetland species. Forest-associated furbearers have a wide diversity of habitat requirements, larger carnivores requiring larger, contiguous tracts of forested area. Management for these species benefit their prey (e.g. small mammals such as rabbits, voles, mice).

F. Other comments

  • specific measures may be needed to meet the needs of individual species
  • guidelines include a list of reference material and description of individual species requirements

Habitat management guidelines for birds of Ontario wetlands, including marshes, swamps and fens or bogs of various types (OMNR, 1985)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • wetlands – a variety of different types of marsh, swamp, bog or fen habitat
  • riparian areas
  • open water areas
  • forest edge
  • seepage areas

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for timber harvest operations that are intended to help preserve remaining wetland habitat in Ontario for 66 Ontario wetland bird species by -

  1. promoting the protection of riparian forests and forests on steep banks
  2. recommending a minimum no-cut zone (50 metres) on either side of a river or lake
  3. providing suitable conditions for all wetland species by managing optimum habitat for the more habitat-specific species

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • existing size, form and function of wetland
  • wetland rarity (e.g. marshes are more rare in northern Ontario, whereas bogs are more rare in southern Ontario)
  • species diversity (flora and fauna)
  • surrounding land uses
  • future development pressures

D. Management approaches

  • preserve all remaining wetlands, particularly rarer forms that support several rare species of flora or fauna
  • conserve riparian and drier surrounding edges
  • avoid creating channels in river wetlands
  • discourage logging or development of swampy and riparian areas
  • encourage natural water regulation to promote a diversity of plant life
  • avoid use of chemical pesticides
  • encourage public education programs and stewardship
  • encourage research on wetland species
  • identify critical breeding, migration areas for rare species, or areas of high use
  • consider limiting recreational use of critical wetland areas during the breeding season
  • encourage wetland creation

E. Level of guideline specialization

Habitat requirements for a large number of species of flora and fauna are met when wetland habitat in general is protected.

F. Other comments

  • an important aspect of wetland protection and management is the preservation of the area where water and land meet (riparian zone)
  • protection of provincially significant wetlands now also involves the recognition of a 120 metres adjacent land area since many species use both wetland and upland areas to meet all their life’s requirements
  • for many species that are not area sensitive this adjacent land area may be sufficient to provide the required travel corridors to move from one habitat to another, or meet a breeding, nesting, foraging or shelter habitat requirement
  • upland habitat may include: mixed-wood, deciduous, coniferous forests; open grassland areas; forest edge; and, downed woody debris

Management guidelines for the protection of Heronries in Ontario (OMNR, 1984)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • mature hardwood forest types
  • forest edge
  • riparian areas
  • wetland areas (marshes for feeding; swamps for nesting)

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for preventing the loss of heron and egret colonial nesting sites by:

  1. encouraging educational programs to promote appreciation of herons
  2. providing information about the sensitivity of herons to disturbance
  3. specifying buffer zones for different levels of development disturbance

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • size of colony
  • location of colony
  • level of significance a colony has to the contribution of regional heron populations
  • quality of habitat conditions throughout the landscape

D. Management approaches

  • conduct inventory of existing heronries and potential nest sites
  • protect and manage relative to size of heronry, and its significance to regional population of herons
  • conserve habitat for future heronries
  • develop and follow buffer zone criteria for various levels of development
  • specify activities prohibited and permitted during the breeding and non-breeding season

E. Level of guideline specialization

Specific to Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, although management techniques and use of buffer zones during development activities may benefit other wetland species, including Osprey.

F. Other comments

  • includes field and record sheets for the Ontario Heronry Inventory
  • includes a dated but extensive list of reference material

Management guidelines and recommendations for Osprey in Ontario (OMNR, 1983)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • open water areas
  • riparian areas (treed)
  • wetland areas (treed)

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for Osprey habitat and nest site improvement and preservation.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • distribution and abundance of Osprey
  • Osprey health (in the past, reproductive success has been negatively affected by high levels of pesticides)
  • level of human disturbance

D. Management approaches

  • maintain and report nesting records of Osprey (assists in estimating breeding bird populations)
  • develop and follow buffer zone criteria for various levels of development according to northern and southern Ontario criteria
  • specify activities prohibited and permitted during the breeding and non-breeding season
  • encourage educational programs to promote awareness and appreciation of Osprey

E. Level of guideline specialization

Specific to Osprey. Osprey may also benefit from the protection of heronries.

F. Other comments

  • includes a standard inventory data sheet for nesting osprey
  • includes a dated list of references

Habitat management guidelines for Ontario’s forest nesting Accipiters, Buteos and Eagles (OMNR, 1984)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • Mature or old growth forests (mixed, deciduous and to lesser extent coniferous)
  • Forest edge
  • Riparian areas
  • Wetland areas

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for the protection of nesting and feeding habitats of six forest nesting species of raptors by:

  1. promoting the preservation of riparian forest habitat, forest edges and openings
  2. managing for present and future trees suitable for nesting and perching
  3. recognizing many raptors are area sensitive
  4. limiting human disturbances

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • Site Region location of forest stand
  • existing size of forest
  • raptor species involved and its specific habitat requirements

D. Management approaches

  • maintain extensive forest cover, particularly near riparian edges
  • suppress human activities where raptors are known to occur, particularly during the nesting season
  • manage areas to provide adequate nesting and perching sites

E. Level of guideline specialization

Specific habitat requirements and forest management guidelines are outlined for the following diurnal forest-dwelling raptors: Northern Goshawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk and Bald Eagle.

F. Other comments

  • of all the bird species, raptors are among the most easily disturbed by clearing or logging practices
  • provision of only minimum habitat requirements may lead to sub-optimal conditions that can lead to low nesting success and eventual extinction of a population
  • guidelines include a copy of the inventory data sheet and the Ontario nest record card
  • guidelines include a dated but extensive list of reference material

Peregrine Falcon habitat management guidelines (OMNR, 1987)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • cliffs
  • urban settings (sometimes nesting on tall buildings)
  • open areas
  • wetland areas
  • forest (early successional and mature)

B. Intent of guidelines

To provide criteria for the protection of existing and potential Peregrine Falcon nesting sites and for the protection of Peregrine Falcons from human disturbance during the breeding season.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • Peregrine Falcon occurrence and distribution
  • variability in tolerance to human presence
  • availability of nesting sites adjacent to open water of lakes or rivers
  • proximity of potential hunting areas (lakes, wetlands, forest openings, forest canopy) to the nest site
  • availability of prey
  • ocation and rate of human development as they relate to nesting site

D. Management approaches

  • survey for presence of Peregrine Falcon, assess habitat potential (data records)
  • collect information on historical nesting records for an area
  • identify and preserve Peregrine Falcon hunting areas
  • prepare site-specific management plans (within 3 km radius) for each nest site
  • identify buffer zones around nests within which human activities and habitat alterations are restricted
  • buffer zones above cliffs where nesting sites (eyries) are located should be wider than those at base of cliff
  • prohibit human recreational activities with 0.6 and 0.8 km of nest site during breeding season
  • preserve potential nest sites

E. Level of guideline specialization

Specific to Peregrine Falcons, but preservation of habitat types that provide nesting sites for prey species for Peregrines also preserve habitat for other species.

F. Other comments

  • cliffs and urban areas provide nesting sites for Peregrines; open areas, wetlands, forests provide sites that produce prey species suitable for Peregrines (e.g. protection of snags preserves habitat for cavity nesting bird and mammal species)
  • guidelines include a one page summary of a Peregrine Falcon nest site management plan
  • guidelines include a short list of reference material

Bald Eagle habitat management guidelines (OMNR, 1987)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • mature or old growth forests (super canopy trees)
  • forest edge
  • riparian areas
  • open water

B. Intent of guidelines

To provide criteria for the protection and maintenance of Bald Eagle breeding habitat and for the protection of Bald Eagles from human disturbance during the breeding season.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • Bald Eagle occurrence and distribution
  • variability in eagle tolerance to human presence
  • availability of large contiguous areas of habitat
  • rate of human development

D. Management approaches

  • survey for presence of Bald Eagle, assess habitat potential (data records)
  • essential habitat at each nest site includes aquatic and terrestrial habitats of 260 hectares (640 acres) or more
  • prepare site-specific management plans to suit size and configuration of essential habitats
  • identification of buffer zones around nests within which human activities and habitat alterations are restricted
  • maintain prey base consistent with Bald Eagle food habits (fish)
  • preserve potential nest and roost trees

E. Level of guideline specialization

Specific to Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle with one exception (see Golden Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines for exception)

F. Other comments

  • includes list of reference material
  • includes Bald Eagle Breeding and Nest Area Record sheets

Golden Eagle habitat management guidelines (OMNR, 1987)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • mature or old growth forests
  • forest edge
  • grasslands
  • wetland areas
  • rock cliffs

B. Intent of guidelines

To provide criteria for the protection and maintenance of Golden Eagle breeding and foraging habitat and for the protection of Golden Eagles from human disturbance during the breeding season.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • Golden Eagle occurrence and distribution
  • variability in eagle tolerance to human presence
  • availability of large contiguous areas of forest habitat with large, adjacent clearings
  • rate of human development

D. Management approaches

  • survey for presence of Golden Eagle, assess habitat potential (data records)
  • essential habitat at each nest site includes aquatic and terrestrial habitats of 260 hectares (640 acres) or more
  • prepare site-specific management plans to suit size and configuration of essential habitats
  • identification of buffer zones around nests within which human activities and habitat alterations are restricted
  • maintain prey base consistent with Golden Eagle food habits (small mammals, particularly rabbits or hares)
  • preserve potential nest and roost trees

E. Level of guideline specialization

For full description of guidelines see Bald Eagle Habitat Management Guidelines (1987), with the exception that Golden Eagles benefit from large, contiguous clearings beyond 100 metres from the nest site. These clearings are used as feeding areas.

F. Other comments

  • Golden Eagles are highly sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season

Forest management guidelines for the provision of Marten habitat Version 1.0 (OMNR, 1996)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • moist, mature or overmature coniferous forests
  • hardwood dominated forests and wetlands to a lesser extent

B. Intent of guidelines

These guidelines were prepared as a commitment to the Class Environmental Assessment for Timber Management. The Marten is representative of contiguous, mature forest habitat in the Boreal Forest Region. Includes provisions for the management of forest habitat in order to maintain sufficient quality and quantity of habitat to support healthy populations of marten in the boreal forest region.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • availability of suitable forest coverage (hectares) and type and interconnecting corridors
  • availability of downed wood on the forest floor
  • prey availability
  • current abundance and distribution of marten

D. Management approaches

  • maintain core habitat areas of between 30 and 50 km2
  • maintain diversity of surrounding habitats to increase diversity of potential prey
  • provide suitable numbers and distribution of potential maternal and resting den sites

E. Level of guideline specialization

Provides an overview of habitat needs for marten. Application of these guidelines may provide some habitat required by other mammals and birds that are associated with mature and overmature forests, cavity trees and coarse woody debris.

F. Other comments

  • describes rationale and objectives for the guidelines
  • deals with habitat needs at the Stand Level (10s' of hectares) and Landscape Level (1000s' of hectares)
  • guidelines provide an extensive list of reference materials

Habitat management guidelines for Bats of Ontario (OMNR, 1984)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • forests (particularly snags that provide roosting sites)
  • riparian areas (critical)
  • aquatic areas (critical)
  • natural and man-made caves
  • urban and rural areas (open buildings)

B. Intent of guidelines

Summarizes general and specific habitat requirements for a number of bat species.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • bat habits, diet
  • specialized habitat requirements for some species of bats
  • temperature
  • humidity
  • availability and location of natural or man-man caves

D. Management approaches

  • protect all known major and marginal hibernacula
  • protect roost sites (e.g. snags)
  • restrict activities during periods of roosting and hibernation (caves, hollow trees)
  • limit accessibility to known hibernation sites
  • avoid disturbance of riparian areas
  • provide artificial roost sites (bat houses)

E. Level of guideline specialization

While specifically written for bats, recommendations provided in these guidelines offer protection of habitat components (e.g. snags and cavities) for other wildlife species. Potential roosting sites for bats may also be protected through the application of habitat management guidelines for other cavity nesting species.

F. Other comments

  • bats are unique and specialized in their habits and habitat requirements
  • roosting and hibernation site availability is main factor limiting bat populations
  • guidelines include distribution maps, a description of habits, diet and habitat requirements for eight bat species, a list of reference material, a summary of bat diseases, instructions on how to build a bat house

Forest Management Guidelines for the Provision of White-tailed Deer Habitat (OMNR, 1997)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • coniferous forests
  • early successional forests
  • forest edge
  • grasslands

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for summer and winter deer habitat by -

  1. promoting early successional growth for summer forage production
  2. protecting known migration and travel routes
  3. maintaining conifer cover and providing sufficient deer browse

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • quality, quantity and availability of cover- and forage-species
  • quality of summer habitat
  • quantity and quality of winter habitat
  • winter severity
  • traditional deer-use patterns

D. Management approaches

Winter habitat
  • select for conifer species
  • promote regeneration of hemlock and cedar specifically
  • retain browse species such as cedar, hemlock, viburnums, maples, red oak, dogwood, beaked hazel, birch
Summer habitat
  • establish openings (0.4 to 4 ha in size)
  • promote growth of grasses, annuals, forbs
  • retain or release growth of mast producing species (oak, beech, raspberry)

E. Level of guideline specialization

Protection of deer habitat also provides habitat for a variety of species that: a) rely on mast producing trees and plants; b) require travel corridors to move from one habitat to another; and, c) use upland forest; lowland treed swamp areas; open grassland areas; forest edge; and, downed woody debris.

F. Other comments

  • areas of irregular terrain and areas containing wind-throws or downed woody debris provide good winter habitat
  • hemlock and cedar are best conifer cover, often associated with preferred browse species
  • browse should be within 30 metres of suitable winter cover in northern areas; 100 metres in southern areas
  • protection of known travel corridors is essential
  • quality of summer habitat determines reproductive rate
  • quality of winter habitat and winter severity determines spring survival

Forest management guidelines for the provision of moose habitat (OMNR, 1988)

A. Habitat types influenced

  • coniferous forests
  • early successional forests
  • forest edge
  • wetlands

B. Intent of guidelines

Includes provisions for protecting moose habitat in the Boreal and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Regions by:

  1. promoting growth and abundance of young deciduous stands
  2. protecting known feeding areas, calving sites and mineral licks
  3. maintaining large areas of semi-mature and mature conifer cover

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • quality, quantity and availability of specific (high sodium content) aquatic plant species
  • quality and quantity of summer, fall and early winter habitat (early successional forests)
  • availability and quality of winter concentration areas, mineral licks, calving areas
  • traditional moose-use patterns
  • occurrences of natural disturbances such as fire or insect damage
  • forest region differences (e.g. winter severity; dominant forest types)

D. Management approaches

  • select harvest operations that create irregularly shaped cuts, scattered shelter patches, high diversity of age-class and species composition
  • prescribed burns
  • in the Boreal Forest Region, maintain growth of existing and encourage growth of new mixed wood stands; in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest Region maintain existing semi-mature and mature coniferous growth
  • exclude development (particularly roads) near or in known mineral lick and calving sites and aquatic feeding areas
  • establish forested buffer zones between clear cuts, scattered trees within cutovers; shelter patches 3-5 ha in size, spaced 300-400 metres apart, being at least 6 metres high and have 11 m2ha-1 basal area

E. Level of guideline specialization

It has been estimated that the needs of 70% of all wildlife in an area will be satisfied if provisions for moose habitat are made in accordance with these guidelines. Protection of moose habitat provides habitat for a variety of species that: a) require travel corridors to move from one habitat to another; inhabit treed islands; and, c) use mixed wood and coniferous forests; lowland treed swamp, bog or marshy areas; open grassland areas; forest edge; and, downed woody debris.

F. Other comments

  • the best habitat should provide conditions enabling a moose to be within 200 metres of shelter patches or other cover
  • a buffer of 120 metres should be maintained around aquatic feeding areas, mineral licks and calving sites; travel corridors to these areas should be maintained

The Black Rat Snake in Ontario, Rideau Lakes population (OMNR, 1977) - a field guide

A. Habitat types influenced

  • Talus slopes
  • Rock outcroppings
  • Downed woody debris
  • Forests
  • Forest openings, grasslands

B. Intent of guidelines

Is not a guidelines document but represents a collection of information on black rat snakes, with a particular reference to an area in eastern Ontario.

C. Environmental and biological factors affecting management options

  • increases in vehicular traffic
  • interactions with human activity
  • availability of suitable habitat and sufficient prey
  • presence of predators
  • development pressures and loss of habitat

D. Management approaches

  • hold public education events regarding the conservation of black rat snakes
  • conduct population assessments and estimates
  • locate and evaluate habitat (identify hibernacula and nesting sites)
  • protect known nesting and hibernation sites

E. Level of guideline specialization

Specific to the black rat snake. Not a true habitat management guidelines document.

F. Other comments

  • this document is available for viewing at Kemptville work centre or from the Science Technology Transfer Unit, Kemptville; it may not be readily available at other MNR offices
  • provides a concise description on the range, habitat, prey, hibernation, reproduction of the black rat snake
  • includes a list of reference material