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Barataria -Terrebonne National Estuary Program & Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Evaluation of Designed Microsite Use and Spatial Requirements for Focal Shorebirds: Utility and Implementation of Automated VHF Telemetry Stations Within the Lower BTNE. Barataria -Terrebonne National Estuary Program & Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

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Barataria -Terrebonne National Estuary Program & Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

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  1. Evaluation of Designed Microsite Use and Spatial Requirements for Focal Shorebirds: Utility and Implementation of Automated VHF Telemetry Stations Within the Lower BTNE Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program & Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

  2. Introduction: Ecological Role of Barrier Shorelines and Expansive Marshland • Protection of Inland sites • Absorption of storm energy • Restriction of salt-water intrusion • Nutrient Cycling • Habitat and Species Diversity • Ecological Stability

  3. Coastal Land Loss • Sea Level Rise • Low elevation • Major Storm Events • Dynamic ecosystems • Site Conversion • Canals and spoil levees • Hydrological diversions • Extraction of oil and gas • Salt-water Intrusion • Salt-intolerant species • Destabilization Credit: USGS 2002

  4. Restorative Efforts • Caminada Headland Beach and Dune Restoration Project • Vegetative Plantings • Artificial Buffers Location of the section of beach restored by the Caminada Headland Beach and Dune Restoration Project BA-45

  5. Shorebirds as Ecological Indicators • Population Response • Habitat loss • Reductions in habitat/resource quality • Migratory Species • Breeding • Wintering • Migration Red knot foraging for horseshoe crab eggs

  6. Focal Species: Least Tern • Three Subspecies • California • Interior • Eastern • Colonial Ground Nesters • Sandy/Gravel Substrates • Sensitive Species • Anthropogenic and Natural threats • 88% population decline in last 50 years

  7. Focal Species: Wilson’s Plover • Migratory and/or Resident Individuals • Coastal Obligate • Gulf Coast Population • Estimated at 3,000 pairs • Species of High Concern • U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan

  8. Research Need and Justification • Site Specific Research • Varying habitat characteristics across species’ range • Dynamic ecosystems • Differences in anthropogenic impact • Response to management for select species • Micro management vs. macro management • Natural vs. artificial • Dearth of Research Regarding Spatial Requirements • Home range delineation • Crucial site/resource identification • Associations between species movements and environmental impacts • Identification of breeding ,wintering, and migratory habitat selection for specific populations

  9. Study Site • Exxon Fields - Energy 21 Property - Grand Isle, LA • Treated to increase useable nesting space • Herbicide application • Plowing • Site stratified into six 1.2-1.4 acre plots

  10. Least Tern and Wilson’s Plover Monitoring: Nest Success and Behavior • Nest Surveys • Line transect • Variables Recorded • Substrate type • Vegetative type/cover • Distance to vegetation • Landform • Nests Re-evaluated for Activity, Success or Failure • Behavioral Monitoring • Between sampling events • Observation from blinds • Nesting/Marked individuals • Nest attendance • Associated activity

  11. Preliminary Results for 2017: Least Tern Nest Success at Exxon Fields Hatching success of least tern nests within the Exxon Fields study site during the breeding season of 2017 Causes of failure for least tern nests within the Exxon Fields study site during the breeding season of 2017

  12. Flooding/Storm Surge at Exxon Fields Photo of flooded plots at Exxon Fields following tropical storm, Cindy in June of 2017

  13. Least Tern Nest Success at Exxon Fields

  14. Background: VHF Radio Telemetry • 3 Main Components • Receiver • Antenna • Transmitter • Consistent Technology • Wildlife Applications • Home range • Mortality rates • Event response • Activity/Inactivity • Etc.

  15. Background Continued Obstacles • Transmitters assigned individual frequencies • High effort of operation • Localized data sets

  16. Automated VHF Telemetry: Nanotags • Transmitter Groups Assigned Single Frequency • Transmitters Identified by Unique Pulse Signature

  17. Automated VHF Telemetry: Receiver Stations • Programmable Receivers • Frequency • Scan rotation • Operation time • Directional Antennas • 9-element yagi • Central or Remote Operation • Transmitter Location Determined by Signal Strength and Antenna Direction

  18. Automated VHF Telemetry: Needs Addressed • Simultaneous tracking • Low effort of operation • Ability to track species continuously • Ability to track species throughout migration

  19. Automated VHF Telemetry: Current Network Credit: Motus.org

  20. Automated VHF Telemetry : Construction and Maintenance

  21. Operational BTNEP Towers • Port Fourchon • East Grand Terre • East Timbalier • Grand Isle • Scheduled: Big Timbalier

  22. BTNEP Tower Locations

  23. Collaboration With Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 6 Operational Towers Future Objectives • Grand Isle Marine Lab • Pointe-Aux-Chenes WMA • Sabine NWR • Rockefeller WR East • Rockefeller WR West • Peveto Woods • Funding Secured from ConocoPhilips for Project Expansion • 20 Additional Stations to be constructed in Southern Louisiana

  24. Least Tern and Wilson’s Plover Monitoring: Telemetry • Transmitter Attachment • 31 Least Tern • Epoxy • 20 Wilson’s plover • Epoxy • Objectives • Spatial Requirements • Time-effort • Resource acquisition • Breeding activities • Test Accuracy of Telemetry Stations • Full Analysis Forthcoming

  25. Research Benefits • Contributions to domestic and intercontinental studies on migration and complete life cycle analysis • Increased comprehension of complex associations between focal species and their immediate environment • Associations between nesting success and critical habitat characteristics • Data may assist land managers and biologist in the duplication of highly productive sites

  26. Resources • www.Motus.org • www.Sensorgnome.org • Lotek.com

  27. Acknowledgements • Richard DeMay (Principal Investigator – BTNEP) • Michael Seymour (Principal Investigator – LDWF) • Bret Collier (LSU) • Marty Floyd (Independent) • Samuel Holcomb (LDWF) • Delaina Leblanc (BTNEP) • Shannon Soudelier (S2-Energy) • Natalie Waters (BTNEP) • Casey Wright (LDWF)

  28. Contact Information Curtis D. Walker Contract Biologist BTNEP/BTEF P.O. Box 2663 Thibodaux, LA 70310 (843) 991-460 Office: BTNEF – S. Babington Hall

  29. Questions?

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