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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20150042 Ver 1_John Barlett_20150516Burdette, Jennifer a From: Bartlett, John <bartlettj @campbell.edu> Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2015 11:12 AM To: SVC_DENR.publiccomments Cc: john_wagner @sarbo.net; Larsen, L. Michael - Biology; Liggett, Billy J.; Wells, Michael B. Subject: DEMLR DWM Attachments: Spring Avifaunal Survey of Proposed Coal Ash Site in Colon Community.pdf Dear NCDENR Representative, Please find attached my formal report on the avifaunal population at the proposed Colon Community Coal Ash Site in Lee County, NC. I welcome the opportunity to continue this research into the breeding season that begins after May 20th. Sincerely, John G. Bartlett, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Campbell University firing Avifaunal Sjrvey of Proposed Coal Ash Ste in Colon Community, Lee County, North Carolina ,bhn G. Bartlett, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Campbell University ABSTRACT: A series of volunteer avifaunal surveys (nom) of the proposed Colon Coal Ash Site and surrounding area, including the drainage basin northeast to Farrell Fbad, was conducted during the spring 2015 season until May 10. Each walking survey began before dawn and lasted five hours. Atotal of 66 specieswere recorded, including winter residents prior to migration, migrants heading north and breeding residents. Notable and uncommon species included: American Redstart, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Bobwhite Quail, varlet Tanager, a North Carolina ,gDecies of Concern - Yellow - bellied Sapsucker, and an unusually dense population of Ovenbirds in the hardwood lowlands on the site. Due to the early deadline for research reports and public comments (May 16, 2015) relative to the official start dates for Breeding Bird Surveys in this area (May 20), 1 recommend extending the research period until late Saptember, after the fall migrants have passed back through the area and abetter understanding of the role that this ecosystem plays for migrants can be documented. Also, a high volume drainage event of the main pond into the floodplain owned by Bullard Trailer Sales between April 15 and July 15 will damage or destroy breeding habitat and nest sitesfor ground - nesting Ovenbirds, which are thriving in the area. METHODS Four walking surveys were conducted on April 12, 19, 26 and May 10 for five hours each beginning 0.5 hours before dawn. All birdsseen or heard were recorded and the location of uncommon specieswas noted. %rveyswere conducted acrossthe entire property, including the riparian hardwood forest to the northeast of the main pond, all holdings pondsand marshesto the southwest, all fields and power line corridorsand the extensive floodplain to the southeast between the railroad tracksowned by Bullard Trailer Sales Inc. northeast to Farrell Fbad. FESULTS& DISCUSSON: Afull list of recorded species is included in Table 1. Due to the highly variable nature of the site, ranging from bare earth to marshlandsto second- growth hardwood forests, birdsfrom vastly different habitatswere observed on and around the property Early- sucoessional Habitats - In and above the early - successional grassy habitats to the far west and surrounding the main pond and power line corridors, American Goldfinch, American Fbbin, Black Vulture, Blue Grosbeak, Canada Goose, Chimney Shift, Chipping gDarrow, Common Grackle, Feld Sparrow, Mallard, Northern Bobwhite, Northern Flicker, Prairie Warbler, Purple Martin, Ong gDarrow, Swamp gDarrow and Turkey Vulture were present (Figure 1). If the finished coal ash site is maintained in a glyphosate -ready monocultured fescue with hard forest edges and two or more bush hog cuts per year, all of these bird specieswill disappear from the site with the possible exception of American Fbbin, Common Grackle and Northern Ricker. An herbicide -free maintenance regime that includes native grasses, a single bush hog cut per year in the core area and one cut every two years along the perimeter will support a wide variety of bird species including Chipping gDarrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Northern Bobwhite and many others listed in the next section. Transitional Thickets- In the thickets and shrubs surrounding open sites and at the tree -field interface, many more specieswere observed such as Blue -gray Gnatcatcher, Brown- headed Cowbird, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove, Orchard Oriole, Fed- tailed Hawk, F;Lby- crowned Kinglet, White -eyed Vireo, and Yellow - breasted Chat (Figure 1). Notably, an uncommon Hooded Warbler was observed in the young pine stand to the north of the main pond (Figure 1). This habitat will be removed for coal ash disposal. Marsh Ponds& Adjacent Forested Wetlands — The marsh ponds supported a diverse array of bird species including American Fbdstart, Black & White Warbler, Cooper's Hawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Indigo Bunting, varlet Tanager, gDotted Sandpiper and Yellow- bellied Sapsucker (Figure 2). These old ponds and adjacent maturing hardwood stands area rich resource for birds and other vertebrates. Maintenance of these old holding ponds is critical t o t he longterm health of this area since they likely form the trophic base of this ecosystem —providing the key source of water, arthropods and small vertebrate food for thisentire site. Pine Forests& Bottomlands— The CoIon Coal Ash Ste boasts several bird speciest hat typically occur in more mature riparian forests such as Acadian Rycatcher, Northern Parula and White - breasted Nuthatch. The Rne foreststo the north and northwest of the main pond support Brown- headed Nuthatch, Hooded Warbler, Rne Warbler, and Yellow- throated Warbler. The two bottomland hardwood forests on and around the site provided habitat for Barred Owl, Carolina Chickadee, Chuck- will's Widow, Northern Cardinal, Fbd- bellied Woodpecker, Fbd -eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse, and White- throated Bparrow (Figure 3). OONCWSION: The proposed CoIon Coal Ash Ste supportsa rich variety of birdsand isa possible source population for Ovenbirds in the area. However, a formal survey of breeding species is integral to assessing the impacts of pond drainage, land clearing and ash disposal on the avifaunal assemblage. It is simply impossible to gauge the impact of a massive earth - moving project on the native flora and fauna at the site if the prime window for assessing these ecosystem components, namely the spring and summer seasons, is unavailable for formal research. ACKNOWL®GBVIENM Dr. Bartlett would like to thank the Department of Biological Sciences at Campbell University for providing transportation funds for this research. Table 1. Bird species recorded during a series of 2015 spring surveys at the proposed Colon Coal Ash Site, Lee ODunty, North Carolina. Acadian flycatcher American crow American goldfinch American redstart American robin Barred owl Black and white warbler Black vulture Blue grosbeak Blue jay Blue-gray g natcatcher Brown thrasher Brown- headed cowbird Brown- headed nuthatch Canada goose Carolina chickadee Carolina wren Chimney swift Chipping sparrow Chuck - will's widow Common grackle Common yellowthroat Cooper's hawk Eastern kingbird Eastern phoebe Eastern towhee Eastern wood pewee Feld sparrow Gray catbird Great blue heron Great - crested flycatcher Green heron Hermit thrush Hooded warbler Indigo bunting M allard Mourning dove Northern bobwhite quail Northern flicker Northern parula warbler Orchard oriole Ovenbird Pileated woodpecker Pine warbler Prairie warbler Purple martin Red - bellied woodpecker Red -eyed vireo Red - shouldered hawk Red - tailed hawk Ruby- crowned kinglet Scarlet tanager Song sparrow Spotted sandpiper Summer tanager Swamp sparrow Tufted titmouse Turkey vulture White- breasted nuthatch White -eyed vireo White- throated sparrow Yellow- bellied sapsucker Yellow- breasted chat Yellow - rumped warbler Yellow- throated vireo Yellow- throated warbler Figure 1. Location of notable and uncommon early - successional bird species observed on the proposed CAlon Coal Ash Ste in Lee County, North Carolina during April and early May, 2015. Figure 2. Location of notable and uncommon forested wetland and marsh bird species observed on the proposed CAlon Coal Ash Ste in Lee County, North Carolina during April and early May, 2015. Figure 3. Location of notable and uncommon bottom land forest bird species observed on the proposed OIon Coal Ash Stein Lee County, North Carolina during April and early May, 2015. These bottomlands supported Ovenbirds in notably high numbers.