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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.