Local-scale projects focus on gaps in our understanding of complex response patterns at regional scales by targeting specific habitats or development features of interest. Environment and Climate Change Canada is monitoring how and why boreal birds respond to oil sands development features using 25-hectare survey sites selected to represent a range of disturbance intensities from low to high. Sites are visited multiple times during the breeding season, from early May through early July, to count the number of individual birds within the study site. The monitoring design targets habitat and disturbance types that have limited information.
Multiple datasets are available on the data link. This dataset is identified as Dataset 1. These data were collected from 2014-2015, and focused on songbird response to Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) activity in peatland habitats within the Athabasca oil sands area. Peatland habitats comprise approximately 40% of the total Athabasca oil sands area, but little was known about bird response to oil sands features in this habitat type. Data comprise the number of individual birds of each species detected in each of 11 sites. In 2014, 62 species were detected within the sites, with 38 species detected on at least 3 visits. In 2015, 71 species were detected within the sites, with 39 species showing detected on at least 3 visits. Habitat disturbance features associated with SAGD activity include high-density exploratory seismic lines, winter roads, well pads, pipelines, permanent roads and industrial facilities.
