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Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and eared (Podiceps nigricollis) grebes of central Alberta : inventory, survey techniques, and management concerns

Description

This project focused on western grebes and eared grebes inhabiting the Stony Plain area, which is within the Parkland and Boreal natural regions of central Alberta. These grebe species have a wide... More ≫

Description

This project focused on western grebes and eared grebes inhabiting the Stony Plain area, which is within the Parkland and Boreal natural regions of central Alberta. These grebe species have a wide distribution across western and central North America, yet indications are that they may be declining and could become threatened over the long-term. Relatively little research and monitoring attention has been directed toward these species. To address some of these concerns, surveys were conducted to locate grebe colonies, estimate population sizes, and assess their reproductive success. Various survey methods were also developed, tested, and evaluated, thereby providing a framework for future surveys. In doing so, trend data can now be gathered for western and eared grebes, which will enable local and regional status assessment. Management implications are also provided in this report.

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Peregrine falcon surveys and monitoring in the Parkland region of Alberta, 2001

Description

Due to the widespread use and environmental accumulation of pesticide residues, the peregrine falcon population declined throughout North America during the 1950s and 1960s. Populations of the... More ≫

Description

Due to the widespread use and environmental accumulation of pesticide residues, the peregrine falcon population declined throughout North America during the 1950s and 1960s. Populations of the falcon improved following the ban of DDT in Canada in 1969 and efforts to protect the species. As a result of the population increase, the species was down-listed from Endangered to Threatened in Alberta in 2000. The Parkland Region of Alberta supports a large percentage of the provincial population. Monitoring of the falcon population was conducted in the summer of 2000 and again in the summer of 2001. The results of the 2001 survey are discussed in this report.

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Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) monitoring in Alberta - preliminary investigations (2000)

Description

In the fall of 2000, a project was undertaken to collect and review information on the over-wintering sites used by the prairie rattlesnake in Alberta. These sites, known as hibernacula, and the... More ≫

Description

In the fall of 2000, a project was undertaken to collect and review information on the over-wintering sites used by the prairie rattlesnake in Alberta. These sites, known as hibernacula, and the surrounding suitable habitat, are undoubtedly important limiting factors affecting rattlesnake distribution within Alberta. This report summarises the preliminary work completed to begin updating historical information on the prairie rattlesnake, and includes suggestions for a long-term monitoring and population analysis program. Information gained from this project is intended to help in the protection and survival of this species in Alberta.

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Alberta species at risk program and projects, 2000-2001

Description

This report highlights the achievements and progress made through the provincial species at risk program from 2000 to 2001.

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Utilization of air photo interpretation to locate prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) hibernacula in the South Saskatchewan River Valley

Description

Current anecdotal evidence suggests that the distribution and abundance of the prairie rattlesnake is declining. Due to a lack of standardized information, a means of conducting a landscape level... More ≫

Description

Current anecdotal evidence suggests that the distribution and abundance of the prairie rattlesnake is declining. Due to a lack of standardized information, a means of conducting a landscape level hibernacula inventory and population assessment of rattlesnakes in Alberta must be developed. Previous work undertaken by Alberta Environment was done to attempt to facilitate this process. This method used air photo interpretation and the ecological land classification system to classify a portion of the South Saskatchewan River valley for the likelihood of containing snake hibernacula. This method was evaluated for effectiveness by conducting ground searches throughout the identified study area and correlating actual locations of confirmed hibernacula to predicted locations. A total of eight hibernacula were confirmed.

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Proposed protocols for inventories of rare plants of the grassland natural region

Description

Several reports have been prepared on the status of Alberta's native plant species. More recently, nonvascular plants have been given some attention and tracking lists have been developed. There... More ≫

Description

Several reports have been prepared on the status of Alberta's native plant species. More recently, nonvascular plants have been given some attention and tracking lists have been developed. There is a relatively good information base for rare vascular species but a very limited one for rare non-vascular plants. This report analyzes the vascular plant species and discusses potential approaches to research, monitoring and conservation of vascular and non-vascular plants in the Grassland Natural Region. There is a fundamental recognition that habitat or landscape level approaches are preferred but that some single species attention may still be required. One hundred and twelve vascular plant species were selected for detailed analysis and preparation of protocols based on their distribution within the Grassland Natural Region.

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Status of the whooping crane (Grus americana) in Alberta

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the whooping crane, North America's tallest bird. Whooping crane numbers are stable and slowly increasing due to the results of a number of conservation... More ≫

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the whooping crane, North America's tallest bird. Whooping crane numbers are stable and slowly increasing due to the results of a number of conservation efforts to restore the species after it reached a global population low of fewer than two dozen individuals. The only self-sustaining migratory flock of whooping cranes numbers about 180 individuals and nests in Wood Buffalo National Park along the border between Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The whooping crane is currently ranked as At Risk in Alberta. The Alberta Wildlife Act also lists the whooping crane as Endangered. The purpose of this status report is to compile and summarize both historic and up-to-date information and to update the current status of the whooping crane in Alberta. It is part of the Alberta Wildlife Status Report series, which provides comprehensive summaries of selected wildlife species intended to be useful to those managing populations of species and their...

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Proposed monitoring plan for harlequin ducks in the Bow Region of Alberta

Description

This monitoring plan was designed to address three objectives. First, to make a preliminary assessment of the status of all potential harlequin duck breeding streams in the bow Region of... More ≫

Description

This monitoring plan was designed to address three objectives. First, to make a preliminary assessment of the status of all potential harlequin duck breeding streams in the bow Region of Kananaskis Country, and describe methods to continue this assessment with field work over a number of years. Second, to describe and assess the methods used to determine the population status of the ducks on the Elbow and Kananskis rivers; to assess the effectiveness of helicopter surveys used in central Alberta; and to recommend which methods to use to continue to estimate population size. Third, to describe and assess methods used to determine productivity of harlequin ducks on the Elbow and Kananskis rivers, and their validity for other streams.

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Survey of the bats of Central and northwestern Alberta

Description

Previous bat studies conducted in Alberta have been limited in geographical scope and no long-term, province-wide, standardized monitoring has ever been conducted. A standard protocol for... More ≫

Description

Previous bat studies conducted in Alberta have been limited in geographical scope and no long-term, province-wide, standardized monitoring has ever been conducted. A standard protocol for surveying bats in Alberta was recently developed, with the goal of ensuring that all studies on bats in the province collect the same types of information in standard formats. The report presents the results of a study conducted with the dual purpose of surveying bats in central and northwestern Alberta, while also performing a field test of the newly developed protocols.

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Survey of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Alberta

Description

Since 1970 national surveys of the peregrine falcon population have been conducted every five years. Alberta has committed to surveying peregrines on a provincial basis as a component of the... More ≫

Description

Since 1970 national surveys of the peregrine falcon population have been conducted every five years. Alberta has committed to surveying peregrines on a provincial basis as a component of the national survey. In 2000, Alberta was surveyed comprehensively as part of the 2000 national survey. This report presents the findings of the 2000 survey. Provincially, 48 territorial pairs were located: 23 in the southern Alberta population and 25 pairs in the northern population.

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