SAM Newsletter #30 - Spring 2021

 

SAM 2021 AGM The 2021 SAM AGM is scheduled for this upcoming Friday, June 11, 2021. Though we had hoped to meet in person, member feedback in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic indicated that a virtual meeting would be preferable at this point in time.  Attendance is by invitation only, so check your inboxes! If you believe that you should have received an invitation but didn't, please contact us at samstewardship@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there! Despite restrictions, the SAM 2020 business meeting was a success! What have we been up to? The Upper Humber Wetlands Complex -An Ecologically Significant Habitat - One of the central goals of SAM is identify our province’s special places - those areas which are significant to our province’s wildlife. We seek to identify habitat protection mechanisms which balance wildlife and habitat conservation with community access and sustainable use. We believe communities understanding and valuing these special places is key to the long-term success of any habitat protection initiative.   For much of 2020 and into 2021, SAM Conservation staff have been focusing on one key aspect of our special places project: the Upper Humber River area north of Deer Lake, Reidville and Cormack.   Area of Interest This area has long been known as one of the most productive wildlife areas in the province. It first came to most people’s attention because it contains the highest density of inland breeding ducks on the island of Newfoundland and provides valuable staging habitat, where waterfowl can gather together to build up energy reserves before continuing on their migration. Each year hundreds of migrating birds (primarily American Black Duck, Green Winged Teal, Ring Necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, and Canada Geese) utilise this area. Additionally, the Humber River, which flows through the Complex, has the largest Atlantic Salmon population (estimated 40,000 individuals) of all rivers in insular Newfoundland. We are by no means the first to recognize the importance of this habitat to waterfowl. In May of 1992, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Ducks Unlimited Canada, as partners in the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, signed a Corporate Stewardship Agreement with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited seeking to implement sustainable forest practices in the area. However more recent habitat and wildlife surveys have indicated that the Upper Humber River wetlands complex is also home to abundant populations of the Humber River caribou herd, the Newfoundland marten, Little brown bats, and many rare plant species which had not been previously considered when assessing the ecological importance of the area. We also documented the significant cultural and recreational values of the area to the people of Newfoundland including access to cabins, hunting, fishing, berry picking and for commercial uses such as a outfitting camps and off-grid tour operations.  Given the demonstrated importance of this area to wildlife, we have subsequently sought to promote the Upper Humber River area as provincially significant wildlife habitat.   Did you know? Two Newfoundland bats species, Little brown bat and Northern Myotis, have been listed as endangered under Newfoundland's Endangered Species Act. This designation is a response to the presence of White Nose Syndrome, an invasive fungal disease that has been decimating bat populations throughout North America. In 2017, the fungus was confirmed to be in the province, and bat populations have been declining precipitously every since.  According to a statement released to the public announcing the listing: "Endangered species designation provides immediate protection to these bats and their residences or dwellings. It is illegal to disturb, harass, injure, or capture bats, or to disturb or destroy their residences, including overwintering sites (hibernacula) and roost sites, such as maternal colonies. Individuals who plan to remove bats from homes, buildings or other structures should contact the Wildlife Division for a permit and further advice to limit the impact on the bats."  Are you a cabin or homeowner who is concerned about bats or other wildlife on your property? Check out SAM's resources on how to make your cabin wildlife friendly.  From our friends at the Nature Conservancy of Canada... Did you know that SAM regularly partners with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, as we are both core members of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture? The Newfoundland and Labrador office of the NCC has welcomed two new staff members - Piers Evans, their new Program Director and Jennifer Sullivan, the acting Stewardship Coordinator. Let's hear from them below: My name is Piers Evans, and I have recently moved into the Program Director position for the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s NL Branch. I am looking forward to building on the deep and productive relationships NCC has with our partners throughout the province, including Stewardship Association of Municipalities. During my time in NL, I have been able to explore a great deal of this province through research and work opportunities, and I am very grateful to now be in a position to work toward protecting some of the special and unique places our province holds. Before joining NCC, I worked with Conservation Corps NL helping small and rural communities in Conception Bay North build new skills and techniques to manage their assets and to recognize the value of natural assets in mitigating climate change risks. I look forward to new and exciting partnerships focused on exploring ways to enhance conservation and awareness of the issues facing our natural areas, and unique and special ecosystems. My name is Jennifer Sullivan, and I am the acting Stewardship Coordinator for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in Newfoundland and Labrador. Born and raised in St. John’s, I spent much of my childhood camping, hiking, and sailing around the island, fostering a deep-seated love of nature that lead me to work in conservation. Before joining NCC, I completed both a BSc and a MSc at Memorial University in St. John’s, where my graduate research focused on non-native plant establishment within the boreal forest on the Avalon Peninsula. I began my work with NCC last year as the Conservation Intern for the 2020 field season. Through this role I became very familiar with the great work that NCC does in this province, with the help of many partners, to protect natural areas and species at risk. NCC’s mission greatly aligns with my own values, I believe that there are significant benefits in protecting natural areas so that they may be enjoyed by future generations. I love that my role at NCC allows me to work with so many passionate people to conserve the beautiful, rugged landscapes of Newfoundland and Labrador for the next generations to enjoy as we do today. New Stewardship Signs Residents of Come By Chance and Corner Brook may have noticed some new signage around town! A special thank you goes out to the Public Works crew out in Come By Chance, who got the new sign up and displayed in record time. From our friends at Birds Canada... Whoooo’s Out There? The Nocturnal Owl Survey comes to NL!  By Catherine Dale of Birds Canada

As we all know, April can be a chilly month in Newfoundland. Late one cold evening on the Easter weekend, I found myself shivering on a dark roadside in Terra Nova National Park. Despite the cold, my toque was pulled up over my ears, exposing them to the icy breeze. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I was determined to maximize my hearing potential. I was participating in the NL Nocturnal Owl Survey – and if an owl called, I wanted to be sure to hear it. The Nocturnal Owl Survey (NOS) is one of Birds Canada’s most popular citizen science surveys nationwide.  Every spring, hundreds of volunteers across the country spend one evening between April 1st and May 15th surveying a pre-determined route of 10 stops for owls, alternating between silent listening periods and a broadcast of owl calls. The survey makes an important contribution to our understanding of owl distribution and population health across Canada. Owls are high on the food chain and thus vulnerable to many environmental disturbances, making them great indicators of environmental health. But monitoring owl populations is no easy task, because most species are secretive and primarily nocturnal. Specialized surveys like the NOS allow us to keep track of what’s going on with these species. Although the NOS has been running for more than 20 years in some provinces, it has only expanded to Newfoundland and Labrador within the last few years. In 2018, Memorial University graduate student Travis Heckford partnered with Birds Canada to set up 35 owl survey routes, and volunteer citizen scientists across the province took the first step towards collecting the data necessary to evaluate the health of NL’s owl populations. Since 2018, the survey has continued to grow, and this year it expanded dramatically with the establishment of more than 20 new routes. From its humble beginnings only 4 years ago, the survey has grown to involve more than 60 volunteers surveying 57 routes across the province. The owl survey is so popular partly because it is perfect for beginning birders. Only 6 species of owls breed in NL, and of those, there are only 3 volunteers are likely to encounter during a nocturnal survey. So those who have never taken part in citizen science bird surveys before can learn the necessary calls relatively easily. A volunteer field crew heads out on a nocturnal owl survey. But beyond that is the simple fact that owls are a universal source of fascination: mysterious and stealthy predators of the night, occasionally heard, rarely seen. The Nocturnal Owl Survey provides a window into a world that many of us don’t normally experience. "Every year, I look forward to the Owl Survey as a sign of spring and the start of breeding bird season,” says Beverly McClenaghan, an veteran survey volunteer. “It's always an adventure getting bundled up and heading out on a cool spring night in hopes of hearing the familiar hooting of an owl…[and] I love knowing that my efforts are contributing valuable information to the study of these creatures!" Over the next few years, Birds Canada hopes to continue to expand the NL Nocturnal Owl Survey and establish additional routes in many of our coverage gaps. If you would like to sign up for a route or set up a new one near your community, please contact me at cdale@birdscanada.org.  Do you have a story you would like to see featured in a future newsletter? Send us an email with the details to samstewardship@gmail.com!