this document - Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan

Transcription

Biomonitoring Program
Strategy
for the
Bay of Quinte Area of Concern
September 2000
Prepared By: Darleen Wolters-Sword
Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan
c/o Quinte Conservation
R.R. # 2
2061 Old Highway 2
Belleville, ON
K8N 4Z2
Biomonitoring Program Strategy - Bay of Quinte RAP
BIOMONITORING STRATEGY FOR MARSH BIRD & AMPHIBIAN
SURVEYS IN THE BAY OF QUINTE AREA
OF CONCERN
, ,
INTRODUCTION
The Bay of Quinte is a z-shaped bay, approximately 100 km long, located on the north shore
of Lake Ontario, In 1985, the International Joint Commission identified the Bay of Quinte as one of
forty-three Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes basin, A number of beneficial uses of the Bay
had been impaired due to environmental degradation and pollution, As a result, the Bay of Quinte
Remedial Action Plan (RAP) formed in 1988, Quinte RAP was developed to produce an action plan
to restore these impaired beneficial uses within the Bay, which included the loss offish and wildlife
habitat and the degradation of fish and wildlife populations,
Quinte marshes and wetlands are home to a variety of wildlife, fish and plants, some which are
considered rare in the region or province', The wetlands within the Bay of Quinte provide many
functions, including supplying vital spawning and nursery habitat for fish, breeding and feeding areas
for wildlife, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion protection and flood reduction, The loss
and degradation of wetland habitats has impacts on the local and regional populations of wetland
dependent species, such as marsh birds, frogs and toads,
The habitat requirements and population trends of these wetlands species is not fully
understood, Globally, declines in the occurrence and size of amphibian populations have been noted
by scientists', Amphibians are dependent on aquatic and terrestrial habitats and, therefore, are a good
indicator species of changes to these environments, Large natural fluctuations do occur within
amphibian populations, but long term studies of amphibian populations will indicate if the declines are
natural or caused by environmental disturbances, such as habitat loss, pollution, climate change etc,
Presently, there is little information available on wildlife populations which rely on the Bay of
Quinte wetlands for their survivaL No regional monitoring program is currently operating that could
provide this type of information, To address this issue, a monitoring program is being set-up to form a
baseline of data that can be used to monitor and detect changes in ecosystem health and over the long
term demonstrate trends in populations, numbers and species of amphibians and marsh birds within
the Bay of Quinte AOC.
Monitoring sensitive taxa, such as amphibians and marsh birds, will allow people to
understand trends within specific populations, and determine if they are related to natural fluctuations
or due to degradation and loss of wetland habitats. The information collected may be a valuable tool
in contributing to the assessment of the restoration of impaired beneficial uses within the Bay of
Quinte, in particular the loss of fish and wildlife habitat and degradation of fish and wildlife
populations. As Natural Heritage Strategies are being developed for the Bay of Quinte AOe,
1 Karen Hartley, Time to Complete The Big Cleanup of the Bay ofQuinte (Belleville: Quinte COllBervation, 2000) pg. 4
, Environment Canada, Amphibian Road Call Counts Participants Manual (Burlington: Environment Canada, 2000), pg. 2.
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1
information on various species of amphibians and marsh birds may be relevant to designating certain
areas as important wetland habitat. The data collected within the Bay of Quinte AOC could be
incorporated into provincial and national programs such as the,MarshMonitoring Program (Bird
Studies Canada), Frogwatch Program (Environment Canada) and the Amphibian Call Count Program
(Canadian Wildlife Service).
A monitoring program provides a unique opportunity for individuals with an interest in the
environment to get directly involved within their community. Opportunities to increase awareness and
educate the public about the importance of wetlands and wetland species is provided. Volunteers have
an opportunity to participate in a monitoring program which expands across Ontario and Canada,
contributing to data on global climate change and to databases of amphibians and marsh birds.
The purpose of this report is to develop a strategy for establishing and maintaining a
biomonitoring program for the Bay of Quinte AOe. Areas to be addressed include volunteer
recruitment and training, establishing and tracking routes, data analysis and reporting, partnerships,
appreciation/recognition for volunteers, costs, existing programs and staff requirements.
STUDY AREA
The primary area of interest for marsh monitoring is in wetland areas within the municipalities
that surround the Bay of Quinte, including Quinte West, Belleville, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory,
Deseronto, Napanee and Prince Edward County, see map (pg. 3) . If volunteers wish to participate in
the road call counts or backyard surveys outside of these areas, they are more than welcome to do so.
All data collected is relevant to the provincial programs, even if it is not applicable to the Bay of
Quinte. The Marsh Monitoring Program has identified specific routes which need surveyors (see
Appendix A for further information).
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Wetlands of the Jay of Quinte
~
~
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So
ro
..,OJ
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~ Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Tier 1 Emphasis
(contact completed)
u.>
I
1. Bayside Marsh
2. Belleville Treatment Plant Marsh
3. Belleville Marsh
4. Bell Creek Marsh
5. Blessington Creek Marsh
12. Forester's Island
13. Lower Napanee River
14. Hay Bay Marsh
16. Carnachan Bay
22. Big Island Marsh
23. Robinson's Cove Marsh
~
26. Sawguin Creek Marsh
28. Albury Swamp
29. Carrying Place Marsh
33. Pine Point
27. Rednersville Swamp
29.12 O'Clock Point
30. Dead Creek Marsh
32. Upper Sucker Creek
Tier 2 Emphasis
15. Platts Creek Swamp
17. Adolphustown
18. Townline Creek
19. Cressy Swamp
20. Lake-on-the-Mountain Marsh
21. Fish Lake Swamp
25. Crofton Marsh
Wetland
River or Stream
Mohawk Territory
6. Lower Salmon River
7. Big Marsh (Marysville Creek)
8. Bluff Point Marsh
9. Lower Sucker Creek
10. Sucker Creek Creek Tributarie
11. Airport Creek Marsh
ThIs map \.Vas created by merging digItal data
received from the Ministry of Transportation and digitized
data from the MOT hard copy rcx::::1d map (7 :250,000),
lVIode vvlth kind permission of the MOT.
km I
0
5
10
15
I km
20
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o
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OBJECTIVES
The objectives of a biomonitoring program for the Bay ot'Quinte Area include:
• To develop a baseline of information that can be used to assess trends in the abundance
and diversity of selected taxa over the long term
• To identifY significant areas for conservation due to high concentrations of individual or
species of amphibians and/or marsh birds
• To incorporate significant wetlands/marshes into the Natural Heritage Strategy being
developed for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern
• To assess the success of habitat improvement projects
• To contribute to provincial and national census monitoring programs and databases
• To facilitate opportunities for individuals and groups to become involved in an
environmental initiative in their community
• To increase the environmental awareness of program participants and the community
about the importance of wetlands, other natural habitats and the species which depend
upon them
• To build the capacity of the community to monitor and sustain the health of the Bay of
Quinte watershed once the Bay has been delisted as an AOC
OVERVIEW OF EXISTING PROGRAMS (see Appendix B)
A Quinte monitoring program focusing on marsh and amphibian surveys was chosen, as
provincial programs are already in place which could supply necessary equipment and monitoring kits
to participants. This type of monitoring program requires little time to complete and is easy for
volunteers to do.
The following summaries outline existing programs which monitor amphibians and marsh
birds within Ontario, and across Canada. These programs could be incorporated into the
Biomonitoring Program for the Bay of Quinte AOC, as individuals within the Bay of Quinte
watershed already participate in some of these programs.
Marsh Monitoring Program - Bird Studies Canada
The Marsh Monitoring Program was launched in 1995 within the Great Lakes Basin to
provide baseline information on the population status of Great Lakes marsh birds and calling
amphibians, to assess habitat requirements and contribute to evaluations of AOe recovery'. This
program will incorporate any data from this region into the Great Lakes Basin database. Some
monitoring is currently being conducted within the Bay of Quinte watershed (see Appendix A), but
many routes have been abandoned and require new volunteers.
" Bird Studies Canada, The Marsh Monitoring Program Needs You! (Port Rowan: Bird Studies Canada, 2000).
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4
Bird Studies Canada will supply all the monitoring kits to volunteers including written
instructions for surveying, data forms, and an instructional calling tape. Staff from Bird Studies
Canada will participate in local training sessions, if they are orgailized by a local coordinator. The
Marsh Monitoring Program sends a thank-you note to volunteers who return their data and sends two
reminder letters to volunteers who are late returning their data. Each volunteer also receives
newsletters and annual updates about the program. Every year monitoring kits are mailed to everyone
who has returned data in the last two years and to the people who have requested them. Volunteers
participating in the amphibian surveys are required to survey each station three times a year for three
minute intervals. Marsh bird survey stations are monitored twice a year for ten minute intervals.
Presently, no summaries are available on a regional basis. Bird Studies Canada will supply an
electronic copy of data to anyone who requests it, but no earlier than six months after the return
deadline for data due to time required to organize and analyze the data. They are currently working
on an approach to do summaries on a regional basis.
From past experience, an estimated loss of 20% volunteers per year was given due to
volunteer bum-out, illness, moving etc. First year volunteers generally spend the first year finding a
place to survey and becoming familiar with the monitoring techniques. In the second year, they
generally start to survey the route. In areas where there is a local contact for volunteers to organize
training sessions, talks etc., Bird Studies Canada has found that all the routes are covered annually.
The local contacts sometimes go out with the volunteers to set up stations, show volunteers how the
survey works etc. This encourages volunteers to participate.
Frogwatch Program - Environment Canada
The Frogwatch Program was implemented to monitor the health of Ontario's wetlands. It has
been expanded across all provinces in Canada. Information gathered from monitoring is used to
predict when frogs are likely to call; watch the yearly south to north progression of calls as spring
temperatures move north; and monitor climate change over the long term'. As climates warm, it is
expected that frogs will call earlier each year and remain active for longer periods"' This program will
incorporate data from this region into their long-term database to be used by researchers to study the
distribution patterns of species across Canada and eventually North America. Currently this program
is running in all provinces across Canada.
The Provincial Coordinator of Frogwatch-Ontario from the Adopt-A-Pond Program at
Toronto Metro Zoo will supply monitoring kits, which include a tape of frog calls, poster of
amphibians in Ontario, amphibian identifier guide and a certificate of appreciation. The data can be
sent directly via mail, fax or e-mail to the Natural Heritage Information Center in Peterborough.
Each spring, Frogwatch promotion materials are sent to previous volunteers to remind them
to participate. The Provincial Coordinator also hosts workshops and media promotions each spring
to remind the public of the upcoming Frogwatch season. Volunteers are asked to monitor for five
minutes, two times a week at dusk in a local wetland. The Provincial Coordinator also thinks it may
be possible to provide Quinte RAP with a print out of observations specifically for this area.
4 Frogwatch Program Website http://eqb-dqe.cciw.calemanopslintro.html (Burlington: Environment Canada, 2000).
5 Frogwatch Program Website http://eqb-dqe.cciw.calemanops/intro.html (Burlington: Environment Canada, 2000).
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Amphibian Call Counts - Canadian Wildlife Service
The Amphibian Road Call Count and Backyard Survey prog'rams are organized by the
Canadian Wildlife Service, a department of Environment Canada, The Amphibian Call Count Program
was implemented to address and understand population fluctuations and determine if populations of
6
species of amphibians are disappearing or increasing in numbers . The Amphibian Road Call Count
Program has been implemented in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with plans to
expand into the eastern United States in the next few years. Data from this region will be incorporated
into a database to investigate amphibian population changes in Ontario and eventually across North
America.
The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) has supplied a limited number of monitoring kits to
conservation authorities in the past, containing data sheets, instruction packages and training tapes,
but this will depend on the quantity required. In the past, CWS has sent out reminder letters to
volunteers in September to have them send in their data. The Amphibian Call Count Program sends
their newsletter, The Ontario Chorus, along with a letter explaining any changes to the protocol or
data sheets, to everyone on their mailing list in FebruarylMarch ofthe following year. Data sheets for
the upcoming year are also mailed out to the people who have returned their data during the last three
years. The Backyard Survey Program requires volunteers to listen for three minute intervals in their
backyards, nearby wetland or cottage every night from March!April to August, when the frogs are
calling. The Amphibian Road Call Count requires volunteers to conduct three surveys between the
months of April and June, at ten sample points along a two-lane side road, listening for three minutes
at each sample point.
Individual summaries of specific areas have been completed in the past by CWS, but these
summaries have been limited to Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes Basin. CWS is not able to
determine if a summary for this area could be completed at the present time.
CWS does send out a questionnaire to all members on their mailing list every couple of years
to get feedback and determine if volunteers who have not returned data still want to receive the
annual newsletter. The biologist at CWS does radio and newspaper interviews to promote programs
at CWS and recruit quite a substantial amount of volunteers through these efforts. Volunteers are also
recruited through a newsletter that is distributed with the Season's magazine and to participants
involved with other monitoring programs.
PRINCIPLES OF A VOLUNTEER-BASED MONITORING PROGRAM
The success of a biomonitoring program is dependent upon a variety of factors:
• recruiting enthusiastic, dependable volunteers
• staff time to coordinate and train volunteers
• a local contact person to aid volunteers
6 Environment Canada, Amphibian Road Call Counts Participants Manual (Burlington: Environment Canada, 2000), pg. 2.
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• developing a map/list of routes to be monitored
• volunteers returning data for analysis
• coordination with parent programs (Marsh Monitoring; 'Amphibian Call Counts and
Frogwatch)
• receiving feedback from the parent programs for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern
• production oflocal report of findings to be distributed to volunteers and other partners
• keeping volunteers interest, though recognition, annual luncheons, tours, training sessions
guest speakers etc.
• constantly recruiting new volunteers
• minimizing time required by volunteers for monitoring
OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
The monitoring program should be undertaken with partnerships that combine available
resources (funds and in-kind services, materials etc.) from provincial and federal agencies and
governments, municipalities, conservation authorities, the private sector, business associations,
service clubs, community groups, partnerships with local schools and/or businesses, corporate
donations etc. Funds may be available from organizations such as the Great Lakes Sustainability
Fund, Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, Friends of the Environment Foundation, Quinte
Watershed Clean-up etc.
There are several approaches that could be taken for establishing and maintaining a volunteer
monitoring program depending on the availability of resources and staff time. These approaches can
be broken down into a high, medium and low effort. The term "parent program" refers to the existing
monitoring programs in operation by Bird Studies Canada, Frogwatch c/o Toronto Zoo - Adopt-APond Program and Canadian Wildlife Service.
Each of the existing monitoring programs has benefits and limitations associated with it, which
mayor may not make it suitable to include in the monitoring program for the Bay of Quinte AOe.
The type(s) of programs incorporated into the Quinte monitoring program will be dependent on the
volunteer base, staff time and resources available.
Marsh Monitoring
Benefits:
• operating since 1995, a potential to develop a long term database
• only monitoring program that surveys marsh bird species
Limitations: • focused within marshes, need two people for safety
• access to marshes in Bay of Quinte AOC mostly through private property, therefore
limiting locations for volunteers to survey
• marsh bird surveys require volunteers to know at least 50 bird species by sight or
sound
• time consuming as must set-up stations along routes prior to survey
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Frogwatch
Benefits:
Limitations:
•
•
•
•
•
survey in local wetlands or backyards
.
any age can participate, geared to childrenlstutlents
survey twice a week, little time required
safe, as surveys are in backyard or local neighbourhood
survey sites may not be in Bay of Quinte AOC
Amphibian Call Count
Benefits:
• road call count provides options to survey marshes, wetlands, ponds etc., in areas
with no public access
• as conducted on daily basis, trends can be more easily identified
Limitations: • road call count time consuming since must set up stations along a route
• safety an issue along back roads
• daily backyard survey is time consuming, since must be done every night
• volunteers must be responsible & older to conduct road survey and must be able to
drive
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
With any program, recruitment is necessary by the local organization, with a local coordinator
for volunteers to keep in touch with regarding any concerns, questions.
Low Effort
• Advertise in local papers for volunteers and/or spring workshop
• Frogwatch sends out letters to past volunteers for upcoming season
• Recruit new volunteers for high priority routes which have been abandoned
Medium Effort (in addition to above)
• Send letters to community interest groups/schools
• Recruit new volunteers yearly, sending names onto parent programs
High Effort (in addition to above)
• Fall presentations to interested groups/schools & sign-up interested individuals
• Keep track of volunteers hours, number of years participate etc.
• Send out letters to past volunteers for upcoming season
• Organize guest speakers, training sessions, information sessions, tours etc.
A variety of target audiences are available from which to recruit volunteers including:
• Schools - Adult Education, Loyalist College and high schools (environmental classes & community
service component)
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8
• Church & Senior Citizen groups - As One That Serves (AOTS), Bridge Street United Church
Foundation etc.
• Field Naturalist Groups - Brighton, Quinte and Prince Edward County, Kingston
• "Friends of .... " Groups - Massassauga, Frink Centre, Sandbanks etc.
• Fishing Organizations - Cold Creek Fly Fishers, Quinte Anglers, Belleville Fish & Game Club
• Members of: Ducks Unlimited, Federation of Agriculture, Quinte Watershed Cleanup, OFAlI
• Yacht Clubs - Bay ofQuinte, Prince Edward County, Presqu'ile, CFB Trenton, Quinte Rowing
Club
• Cottage & Landowner Associations - Lake Weslemkoon, Moira Lake, Stoco Lake, Beaver Lake,
Kennebec Lake, Salt Creek, Palliser Creek, Waring Creek, Trail of Two Lakes, Green Acres
• Other Local Clubs - Community Partners for Success, Community Visions & Networking,
YMCA, Belleville Club Ltd., Garden Clubs, Nortel Pioneers
• Local KinsmeniKinette, Kiwanis, Shrine, Rotary, Lions/Lioness Clubs - Belleville, Cherry
Valley, Deseronto, Foxboro, Frankford, Trenton, Picton, Wellington, Tyendinaga
Volunteer Quinte will post an advertisement for volunteers free of charge in their office in
Belleville. Posters/flyers could be distributed to libraries, nature and outdoor sport stores (Backyard
Birds, The Bird House, QUinte Outdoor Sports, The Highland Outfitters, Upper Canada Paddle Co.
and Frontenac Outfitters etc.) to advertise the workshop/orientation session and recruit volunteers
from the general public. Advertising in local newspapers, cable and radio will be necessary to recruit
volunteers to attend the orientation session/workshop.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Low Effort
• No additional training offered, refer volunteers to parent program
Medium Effort
• No additional training offered unless person contacts local coordinator
High Effort
• Develop a handout/manual for volunteers outlining purpose of program, what data used for,
safety and monitoring guidelines etc.
• Spring orientation session/workshop to review methods of surveying, areas to monitor,
purpose of program, responsibilities etc.
• Hold orientation session yearly for new recruits
An orientation session is desirable to review techniques of sampling, areas to monitor, purpose of the
program, review of forms, time required, responsibilities and to distribute information. As volunteers
will be working closely with the local coordinator(s), some type ofmanual!handout outlining the
purpose of the program, Quinte RAP's philosophy, the monitoring programs place in the overall
scheme of things, what the data is used for, safety and guidelines for monitoring etc. may be
informative for volunteers.
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9
ESTABLISHING ROUTES
, ,
Low Effort
• Volunteers set-up own routes and stations based on information from parent program
and own preferences for routes
• Develop a list/map of high priority routes to be monitored
• Develop a list/map of all routes to be monitored
• Help volunteers set up stations along routes if requested
• Conduct a practice survey with volunteers if requested
PROVIDING MONITORING KITS
Low Effort
• Parent program mails kits and information to volunteers annually
Medium Effort
• Parent program mails kits and information to local coordinator first year
• Local coordinator mails kits and information to volunteers in first year
• Parent program mails kits and information to volunteers annually after first year
High Effort
• Parent program mails kits and information to local coordinator annually
• Local coordinator mails kits and information to volunteers annually
TRACKING ROUTES
Low Effort
• Send a list of volunteer names & addresses to parent program
• Parent program keeps track of routes being actively monitored & informs local coordinator
• Local coordinator keeps track of high priority routes being actively monitored
• Keep track of all routes being actively monitored that were identified in the
Bay of Quinte AOC
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RECEIVING DATA FROM VOLUNTEERS
, ,
Low Effort
• Volunteers send data directly to parent program
• Parent program does follow up calls/letters to remind volunteers to return data
Medium Effort
• Volunteers return data to local coordinator
• Local coordinator sends all data collected to parent program
• Parent program does follow up calls!letters to remind volunteers to return data
High Effort ( in addition to above)
• Local coordinator (instead of parent program) does follow up calls!letters to remind
volunteers to return data
DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORT
Low Effort
• Parent program analyzes data and sends results of Bay of Quinte AOC to local
coordinator
• Local coordinator develops own report of findings for Bay of Quinte AOC annually
• Parent program sends annual newsletter to volunteers
• Send newsletter of findings specific to Bay of Quinte AOC to volunteers annually
• Develop database for Bay of Quinte AOC
• Analyze data specific to Bay of Quinte AOC
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
Low Effort
• No appreciation program.
• Parent program sends thank-yous/certificates to volunteers who return data
• Local coordinator sends certificates of appreciation to volunteers annually
• Sends thank-yous in Christmas cards annually to volunteers who returned data
• Establish a recognition program for volunteers
• Host an annual luncheon for volunteers
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11
As outlined in the high effort approach, staff would be in close contact with local volunteers and
therefore, an annual luncheon or dinner for volunteers is recommended to give an opportunity for
the volunteers to socialize about the program and keep their interest: A recognition program provides
an opportunity to show appreciation to volunteers through prizes, certificates, volunteer of the year
award etc. Volunteers should also be encouraged to help out with other tasks such as developing the
annual newsletter, recruiting new volunteers, fundraising etc., in order to keep them involved in the
program.
RECOMMENDED STRATEGY
The type of approach that should be developed will be dependent on the availability of staff
resources to coordinate the program. A local coordinator to act as a contact person for volunteers
would be required with any approach taken. The most optimal strategy would be the high effort
approach, costing approximately $ 18 565 (see Budget), where there is a lot of contact with local
volunteers. The more contact you have with volunteers, the less likely you will lose them as they feel
they are important and contributing to something. An incentive and appreciation component will also
encourage volunteers to remain with the program.
As staff resources and funding are factors in this program, possibly a combination of
approaches would be best suited for Quinte RAP.
• Advertise in local papers for volunteers and/or spring workshop
• Send letters to community interest groups/schools
• Send out letters to past volunteers for upcoming season
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• Host a orientation session! training workshop in spring
• Local coordinator could develop a handout/manual for volunteers outlining the monitoring
programs role in Quinte RAP
ESTABLISHING ROUTES
• Develop a list/map of high priority routes to be monitored
• Volunteers set-up own routes and stations
• Parent program mails the kits and information to the volunteers annually
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TRACKING ROUTES
• Send list of volunteer names & addresses to parent program
• Parent program keeps track of routes being actively nionit6red & informs local coordinator
• Local coordinator keeps track of high priority routes being actively monitored
• Volunteers return data directly to parent program
• Parent program analyzes data and sends results of Bay of Quinte AOC to local coordinator
• Local coordinator develops a report on findings for the Bay of Quinte AOC
• Local coordinator sends an annual newsletter to volunteers on Bay of Quinte AOC
• Parent program sends annual newsletter about specific program to volunteers
• Establish a recognition program which includes certificates, thank-you cards at Christmas
time, a hat/shirt after so many years of service etc.
• Parent program sends thank-yous/certificates to volunteers who return data
Through this type of approach, local support is evident to volunteers yet a lot of the time consuming
tasks are completed by the parent program. This type of combination approach would cost
approximately $ 9 000 annually, which includes tasks outlined in the minimum approach plus options
from the medium and high approaches (see Appendix C).
The minimum approach required for a monitoring program would cost approximately $ 4 025 per
year (see Appendix C).
• Advertise for volunteers in local papers, radio, TVetc.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• No additional training offered, refer volunteers to parent programs
ESTABLISHING ROUTES
• Volunteers set-up own routes and stations
• Parent program mails the kits and information to the volunteers annually
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13
TRACKING ROUTES
• Send list of volunteer names & addresses to parent program
• Parent program keeps tracks of routes being actively'monifored & informs local coordinator
• Volunteers return data directly to parent program
• Parent program analyzes data and sends results of Bay of Quinte AOC to local coordinator
• Parent program sends annual newsletter to volunteers
• Local coordinator develops a report on findings for the Bay of Quinte AOC
• Parent program sends thank-youslcertificates to volunteers who return data
In initiating any monitoring program, the goal is to develop a good, reliable volunteer base
after the five year action plan is complete that will be able to sustain itself, with the parent programs
overseeing the monitoring program. To reach this objective, a community group or committee should
be approached to manage the monitoring program after the five years to ensure the program
continues. This committee/group will be responsible for organizing, recruiting, training volunteers
etc., and will assume the responsibilities of the local coordinator for Quinte RAP.
BUDGET
Minimum Required (Low Effort):
700
Advertise for Volunteers and/or
Orientation SessionIWorkshop
$
Produce Report of Findings
$ 1750
Local Contact with Volunteers
$
875
Send List of Volunteer names, addresses
to Parent Programs
$
175
Recruit New Volunteers for High Priority
Abandoned Routes
$
525
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14
Medium Effort - Additional Costs
Letters to Interest Groups/Schools
i
~
$ .. 380
Create Maps of High Priority Routes
$
350'
Volunteer Training if Requested
$
350'
Mail out Monitoring Kits - first year
$
295'
Send Data to Parent Programs
$
350
Track Monitoring of High Priority Routes
$
700'
Production & Mail out of Newsletter
$
480
Mail out of Certificates to Participants
$
380
Recruit New Volunteers Yearly
$
700
Presentations to Interest Groups
$
875
Create Maps of All Routes
$
700
Mail out Monitoring Kits Annually
$
295 per year
Track Monitoring of All Routes
$ 1050
Keep Track of Volunteers
$
Create Database & Data Analysis
$ 1750
Set up Stations
$
875
Practice Surveys
$
875
Call Backs to Volunteers to Return Data
$
350
High Effort - Additional Costs
Quinte Conservation
350
15
$
900
Mail Letters to Past Volunteers
$
380
Create a HandoutlManual for Volunteers
$
875
Host Spring Orientation/Training Workshop
$ 1 050
Host Annual Luncheon
$ 1050
Recognition Program
$
Organize Guest Speakers, Additional Training
Sessions, Information Sessions, Tours etc.
,
,
875
~~
~f
,,[/ "" ,
(
,I
/
BREAKDOWN OF COSTS
............................................................................~Q~.,E.:.t.T.1l.r.!..~':'i.....II.....L ........................l\1.e..lJ.i.I,I~.,E.:t.!Q~................. !I..ig.Jt}j~.t!Il.r.!.........
Staff Time
Other Expenses
$ 3 325
$ 700
$ 7100
$ 910
$ 16900
$ 1665
TOTAL COSTS
$ 4025
$ 8010
$18565
* indicates costs not included in calculation of total cost for high effort approach as not applicable
Costs include materials, production, postage and staff time (see Appendix C).
SCHEDULE
The following schedule is adaptable for the low, medium and high effort approaches. It outlines tasks
to be completed to begin the program and operate it for a year. The outline would be applicable year
to year, with minor alterations.
August -September 2001:
• Develop a list/map of sites to be monitored
• Develop handout/manual for volunteers **
September/November 2001: Volunteer Recruitment
• advertisements for volunteers and/or workshop
• letters to interest groups/schools
• presentations to interest groups
• have volunteers sign-up if interested
•• Indicates options to offer for volunteers
Quinte Conservation
16
December 2001:
• Send a list of names of volunteers to parent programs for
them to send kits to
• OR request X amount bfkits from parent programs and mail
out to volunteers in spring
January 2002:
• Staff set up stations with volunteers, do practice surveys**
February 2002:
• Mail a reminder letter to volunteers about upcoming season
• Mail monitoring kits (iflocai coordinator sending out)
Early March 2002:
Spring Orientation! Training Workshop
• review programs purpose
• review survey methods/station set-up
• review species need to know/forms to fill out
• review time required & responsibilities
• introduce the local coordinator
• slide show of Sawguin Creek, wetland creation sites etc. **
• distribute handout/manual for volunteer* *
Late March/April2002:
• Begin monitoring
August 2002:
• Track routes being monitored, ones abandoned or neglected
• Develop a list/map of sites to be monitored
September/
October 2002:
• Volunteer recruitment
November 2002:
• Host annualluncheon!recognition for volunteers* *
December 2002:
• Receive analyzed data from parent program
• Develop own report and newsletter to send to volunteers
• Send thank-yous in Christmas cards to volunteers**
January 2003:
• Send a list of names of volunteers to parent program for them
to send kits to
• OR request X amount of kits from parent programs and mail
out to volunteers in spring
March 2003:
• Spring orientation! training workshop
Quinte Conservation
17
CONCLUSION/SUMMARY
The costs calculated in the Budget include all aspects 0f ellCh approach outlined in Options for
Implementation, pgs. 7-12. These costs may be reduced if certain aspects of the approaches were not
implemented or a combination of approaches was used. These figures are estimates only, and are
dependent upon staff wages and time.
Forming any type of monitoring program will require staff resources and time. Optimally, an
approach where there is a local coordinator available to aid volunteers in a variety of tasks (run
workshops, help set up stations etc.) will keep the volunteers interested in the program. Volunteers
are less likely to get discouraged if they know someone is available on a local level to talk to and aid
them. If someone is available to answer their questions, volunteers will feel more involved in the
project and feel they are contributing to something important, not wasting their time.
Any type ofbiomonitoring program would be useful in the Bay of Quinte AOC, as there is no
organized local monitoring program. Locally, there are individuals participating in various provincial
monitoring programs, but this information is not available or analyzed on a regional basis (i.e. for the
Bay of Quinte AOC). In addition to the data being useful locally (to Bay of Quinte RAP), this
information will also aid in provincial and national census of amphibian and marsh bird populations,
through the Frogwatch, Amphibian Call Count and Marsh Monitoring Programs.
In the future other monitoring programs could be incorporated into the Biomonitoring
Program, once it is established and operating smoothly, such as the Forest Bird Monitoring Program
and Christmas Bird Count (see Appendix D). Currently, both these programs have participants within
the Bay of Quinte AOC monitoring bird populations. Eventually, it may be possible to incorporate
these volunteers into Quinte RAP's Biomonitoring Program, which will broaden the volunteer base
and database for the Bay of Quinte area.
An important aspect to remember before initiating any type ofbiomonitoring program is to
ensure the continuity of the program. As people are volunteering their time to conduct surveys, it is
important to ensure the program is going to run year after year in order to maintain the community
volunteer base. It may not be wise to initiate a high effort approach that requires a lot of work by the
local coordinator if funding will not be available in future years, as this will have consequences within
the volunteer community. The local coordinator may identifY routes, recruit volunteers, organize the
monitoring in the first year, but in the second year receives no funding to continue with the program.
Any volunteers which did participate will feel their time was wasted and may not bother to volunteer
for any other programs within the Quinte RAP organization. Ideally, it would be beneficial to
structure the monitoring program to be self-sustaining, organized and run by the community after five
years. This may be achievable if dedicated volunteers can be found and a program can be developed
that does not require a lot of time to operate.
Quinte Conservation
18
,
,
Appendix A
Routes Currently Monitored .
in the
Bay of Quinte Area of Concern
through the
Marsh Monitoring Program
Bird Studies Canada
QUinte Conservation
The Marsh Monitoring Program has identified specific routes within the Bay of Quinte AOC
which need surveyors:
, ,
•
Lower Sawguin (LS)
•
Big Island Causeway (BIC)
•
Sawguin Creek - Causeway to Huffs Island (SClH/)
•
Upper Sawguin Creek (US)
•
Blessington Creek Marsh (BCM)
•
Belleville Marsh - Bakelite (EM/B)
•
Marsh Creek (for marsh birds only) (MC)
•
Sawguin Creek Marsh - Channel Creation Project (for
marsh birds only) (SClCC)
See attached map for all the monitoring locations within the Bay of Quinte AOC that need
volunteers.
Quinte Conservation
.........
/
CJ
~-,
"
/
/i
,---,-"","", Picton
-"'/®///
-.-r</ . . ~
,----\
Lake Ontario
c>
~
q
N
+
km?
?
\Okm
SIeve Whitehead, 1~5
Bay of Quinte Study Area
July 7, 2000
Route#
List of Routes in the Quinte Area
(>434500, <443000; >764500, <774500), Showing Route Status
Marsh/Route Name
Closest
County/Municip.
Latitude Longitude
97
Page 1
98
Town
ON069 Lower Sawguin 1
Mountain
Prince Edward
440455
772100 R
View
,~
-
R
LJI
R
,,',
Notes
abandoned route, unable to
place location well,
replacement route needed
ON070 Lower Sawguin 2
Mountain
View
Prince Edward
440448
772050 R
R
R
place location well,
ON071
Demorestvill
e
Fenwood
Prince Edward
440600
771430 N
N
N
VOL NEEDED
Prince Edward
440600
772050 R
R
R
Prince Edward
440600
772130 N
N
N
VOL NEEDED - access
problems
place location weH,
Point Anne
Hastings
Milford
Prince Edward
440930
435835
771925 R
770030 D
R
D
R
N
VOL NEEDED
VQL NEEDED
Belleville
Hastings
440940
772020 AB
N
VOL NEEDED?, rq's call
Belleville
Hastings
440940
772020 A
A
Big Island Causeway
Marsh
ON072 Sawguin Creek -
Causeway to Huffs Island Gardens
Fenwood
ON074 Upper Sawguin Creek
Gardens
ON076 Blessington Creek Marsh
ON111 Grenade Point (ne.
Granade Point)
ON137 Belleville Marsh Bakelite
ON138 Belleville Marsh - East
Bayshore
ON150 Presqu'ile Provincial Park
- Presqu'ile Pannes
- Boardwalk
ON153 Sandbanks (Sandbanks
Pannes, East Lake,
Outlet River)
ON201 Big Island - North Marsh
ON202 Belleville - Bakelite #2
(BAK2)
ON204 Belleville - Bakelite Birds
(BAK) - stns D & E
Marshes
ON218 Beaver Meadow - Cherry
Valley
ON255 Marsh Creek
Actively Surveyed
Brighton
Northumberland
440015
774400 N
N
N
VOL NEEDED
Brighton
Northumberland
440015
774345 N
N
N
VOL NEEDED
Picton
Wellington
435400
771600 A
N
VOL NEEDED
Demorestvill
e
Belleville
Prince Edward
440718
771240 AB
B
Actively Surveyed
Hastings
440940
772020
Belleville
Hastings
440940
772020
Brighton
Northumberland
435500
774000
N
N
VOL NEEDED
Cherry
Valley
Prince Edward
435000
770500 D
A
A
Picton
Prince Edward
440100
770900 A
N
N
Prince Edward
440600
772050
VOL NEEDED FOR BIRDS,
Actively Surveyed for
Amphibians
Amphibians
Amphibians
ON330 Sawguin Creek Marsh Belleville
Channel Creation Project
Legend: in each year field
N or R - previous volunteer no longer surveying the route.
DSurveyor deferred that year.
Volunteer surveyed route for both amphibians and birds.
AB Volunteer surveyed route for amphibians only.
ABVolunteer surveyed route for birds only.
Volunteer surveyed route for vegetation only.
VIn Most recent survey data has arrived.
AB
Actively Surveyed
Actively Surveyed
A
,
&<
JU/L d.) ,lOOO
I
Biomonitoring Program Strategy - Bay of QUinte RAP
• ,
''>'.
AppendixB
Correspondence from Provincial Agencies:
Bird Studies Canada
Marsh Monitoring
Adopt-a-Pond Toronto Metro Zoo
Frogwatch
Canadian Wildlife Service
Amphibian Call Counts
QUinte Conservation
email: [email protected]
Canadian Wildlife Service-Ontario Region web site:
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/intro.html
-----Original Message----From: Andy Margetson [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: August 2, 2000 8:10PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Amphibian backyard surveys/road counts
,,
Hi Glen, I was writing to find out some further information about these
programs.
I am trying to organize a biomonitoring program for this area to recruit
volunteers to do these surveys and wanted to know how we could incorporate
out program with yours.
If we collect the data from our volunteers and send it on to you, is it
possible to get some type of return docurnent wtth specifics for this area.
Also would be able to get the monttoring ktts from your organization?
I also had some questions regarding volunteer recruiting and what
percentage of people actually return the data to you in your program and if
you do callbacks or mailouts to remind people and notify them the next year
about the program. Is collecting the data time consuming?
As I am putting together a proposal for this program, I thought you may
have some information about time involved for volunteer recruitment, any
problems you have encountered etc.
If you can get back to me with this information, that would greatly be
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Darleen Wolters-Sword
Environmental Technician
Quinte Conservation
Ph: (613) 968-3434 Ext.104
Fax: (613) 968-8240
Message was sent to the Marsh Monitoring Program, Environment
Canada EMAN Frogwatch Program and to the Provincial Frogwatch
Coordinator c/o Adopt-a-Pond, Toronto Zoo.
Page 2
Andy Margetson
From: Barrett,Glenn [Burlington] <[email protected]>
To: 'Andy Margetson' <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Amphibian backyard surveys/road counts
Date: Thursday, August 17, 20003:05 PM
.'
Hello Darleen,
Answers to some of your questions:
- individual summaries for specific areas have been done in the past but it
has been limited to Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes basin. I would not
be able to say at this time if CWS would do a summary of your area.
- in the past we have supplied various conservation authorities with a
limited supply of kits (datasheets, instruction packages, training tapes)
however whether we supplied them to your organization would depend on the
quantity you required
- collecting the data is not consuming from a CWS perspective (the
volunteers are collecting the data) but certainly entering the data sent by
volunteers into our database is time consuming. Some years we have sent out
a letter in September to remind volunteers to send in their data. In
Feb/March we send out everyone on our amphibian mailing list a copy of The
Chorus Newsletter along with a letter (explaining any minor changes to
protocol or datasheets) and enough datasheets for the coming season of data
collecting (datasheets are only sent to those people who have mailed in data
(during the past 3 years).
- we have never really estimated the percentage of people who return data to
us, however every couple of years we do mail a questionnaire to everyone on
our mailing list (which includes those volunteers we have received data from
and those people who contacted us to receive the package) asking if those
people who have never (or not recently) sent data in to us want to continue
to receive The Ontario Chorus.
- volunteer recruitment - in past years the biologist in charge has done
radio/newspaper interviews to promote the programs, which often has produced
significant numbers of volunteers. We get a significant number of volunteers
through the Wildlife Watchers newsletter which is mailed out with Season's
Magazine, and is also mailed to participants of other volunteer monitoring
programs (i.e. Forest Bird Monitoring Project, Marsh Monitoring Program,
... ).
Hope this helps,
gB
Glenn Barrett, B.Sc.
Wildlife Toxicology Technician
Canadian Wildlife Service - Environment Canada
867 Lakeshore Rd.
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6
905-336-4952
336-6434 (fax)
Page 1
AMPHIBIAN
ROAD CALL COUNTS
PARTICIPANTS MANUAL
(REVISED FEBRUARY 2(00)
M.E. Gartshore, M.J. Oldham, R. van der Ham,
F.w. Schueler, C.A. Bishop, & G.C. Barrett
AMPHIBIAN
CALL COUNTS
Environment
• . . . Canada
Environnement
Canada
Ontario Region Region de ['Ontario
~!lI"""'_
• ......:
'ArCHERS
ONTARIO TASK FORCE ON DECLINING AMPHIBIAN
POPULATIONS
sponsored by
Environment Canada I Canadian Wildlife Service
Ontario Field Herpetologists
Norfolk Field Naturalists
Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network
RETURN DATA SHEETS TO:
"Frog Surveys"
Environment Canada I Canadian Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 5050, Burlington, Ontario
L7R 4A6 (905) 336-4952
(call us if you have questions or need a copy of the
amphibian calls training tape]
BACKYARD FROG
~URVEYS
(revised February 2000)
There are only 14 species offrogs and toads found in
Ontario (see below). This makes it fairly easy to learn how
to identifY and monitor these amphibians.
The purpose of the Backyard Frog Surveys is to obtain a
daily record of calling frogs and toads from various locations
across Ontario, so day-to-day and year-to -year population
fluctuations can be monitored. This information will provide
valuable baseline data for more formal surveys. Your survey
location can be your backyard, your cottage, or a nearby
wetland. If you choose to survey a couple of locations, be
sure to keep tihe data on separate Daily Log sheets; one for
each location you survey.
To fill out the Daily Log, please identify the precise location
of your backyard. To do tihis you will need to obtain a
1:50,000 topographic map (suggestions on acquiring a map
can be found on the next page; maps may also be available
for viewing at your local library). Your location can then be
determined by following the instructions for estimating the
Ur"''lrsal Transverse Mercator (UTM) number which can be
fo, " on the right- hand margin of 1:50,000 topographic
maps (please read through our example on the following
page). Be sure to record tihe name of the topographIc map
and map number on your Daily Log (e.g. Simcoe; 40 I116).
The UTM information is extremely important. Please call us
if you have questions on determining the UTM of your
location. In addition please photocopy the section of the
topographic map, with your survey location marked, and mail
it to us when you mail your Daily Log sheets.
We would like to encourage Backyard Frog Survey
participants to choose a name for their survey location as
well and "write it in tihe space provided. The name can be one
or two words but should not be a town name. The name
does not have to be frog related but it could be (Le. "Frog
Hollow"). If we receive duplicate names we will contact you
so tihat you can choose a unique name.
In order to conduct a Backyard Frog Survey, first familiarize
yourself with tihe different frog calls by listening to tihe audiotape provided. If you do not have a tape, call the Canadian
Wildlife Service at (905) 3364952 and leave your name and
address. This tape was originally recorded for the 'Marsh
Monitoring Program' in Ontario, but tihe species and tihe
abundance rating information applies to the Backyard Frog
Survey too. Then stand outside your back door each night,
a\
from any extraneous noise tihat might interfere with
you, ability to hear calling amphibians. Liste~ for IIlree
minutes to tihe calling frogs and toads. CuppIng your ears
witih your hands will help you to hear calls from further away.
AMPHIBIAN
CALL COUNTS
Record the species calling, the code of estimated level of
calling (1-3), and tihe estimated number of individuals. Check
the Daily Log sheet, tihe audio-tape and tihe page for
information on how to assign a code of 1,2 or 3. In addition,
please record the time, air temperature, water temperature (if
possible) and type of precipitation (if any). Instructions for
estimating wind speed are also attached.
Start your Backyard Frog Survey as soon as you begin to
hear amphibians calling in the spring. In Southem Ontario,
listeners may hear frogs calling in late March and early April,
while central and northem Ontario residents will not likely
hear frogs calling until mid to late April or May, and then on
into August. You will require one Daily Log form for each
month amphibians are calling, so be sure you have enough
copies (computer versions of the Daily Log are available if
you wish to enter your data via computer; for additional
information email [email protected]).
Please be sure to record tihose nights when you listen but no
frogs or toads are calling because this information is also
important.
When conducting the survey, don't worry if you miss a few
nights. It is best to fix your count to a specific time of the
evening, preferably just after dark.
Before mailing your completed Daily Log sheets please
make a photocopy for your files. Send tihe original Daily
Log sheets before September 15 to :
"Frog Surveys'
Canadian Wildlife Service - Environment Canada
Canada Centre for Inland Waters
867 Lakeshore Rd., PO Box 5050
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6
(905) 3364952
Andy Margetson
From: Kathy Jones <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Marsh Monttoring ATTN Kathy Jones
Date: Wednesday, August 02, 2000 12:06 PM
Dear Darlene and/or Andy
I have been very long winded but have hopefully answered your questions.
My answers are in italics.amongst your questions. Please don't hesitate
to contact me if you have-any more.
>From: "Andy Margetson" «[email protected]>
> To: «[email protected]>
>Subject: Marsh Monitoring ATTN Kathy Jones
>Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2000 20:15:26 -0400
>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>
>
>
»Date: Wednesday, August 02, 2000 8:10 PM
»
» Hi Kathy, I was wrtting to find out some further information about
this
.
» programs.
» I am trying to organize a biomonitoring program for this area to
recruit
»volunteers to do these surveys and wanted to know how we could
>incorporate
» out program with yours.
»
» If we collect the data from our volunteers and send it on to you, is
it
» possible to get some type of return document with specifics for this
Page 1
bu rn out, moves and hearing or health loss.
In areas where we have a strong local contact ego a conservation
authority or a local naturalist representative. Someone who is willing
to contact volunteers, do training sessions, talks etc. we usually
.,
managed to get all the routes covered annually. We are constantly
working on ways of ensuring that our loss of participants goes down and I
spend a lot of time trying to get new volunteers to pick up orphaned
routes.
We do not contact volunteers in the spring - this is to time consuming
for the spring season when we need to be dealing with recruitment,
mailings and route locations. Spring registrations are very inefficient from other programs we have learned that people will assume they will get
the materials whether they contact us or not and thus only contact us
when their materials do not arrive. We send kits to all people who have
returned data during the last two years as well as to people who have not
returned data in the last two years but who have contacted our office
telling us that they still plan to survey. I usually pick up an
additional 100 participants a year.
Each year we send thank you notes to volunteers when the data comes in
and two reminder letters to people who have not sent in data. We provide
each volunteer with newsletter and annual updates. I only phone or email
volunteers if they contact me wah a question, if I have a question
concerning their route or if they have not surveyed recently and someone
else is interested in taking over their route. We are working on ways to
provide regional summaries to our volunteers - these may suit you needs but we haven't figured out the right cook book technique yet. Bird
Studies Canada is working on a interactive web page where volunteers can
go in and find data summaries (and enter their data) but the funding
associated wah did not involve the MMP so a isn't on the priority list
for this project.
Recruitment: We are certain that training sessions or talks are the best
recruitment method but they are expensive. We are willing to go to
training sessions (and atthe-present time have some funding to cover
them) but we need someone at that end to arrange it, we also have a
poster presentation that can be shown by volunteers or coordinators as
well as fact sheets and a brochure (available late this fall). Our
normal recruitment drive includes press releases to the media (communay
newspapers), to conservation organizations, several marsh and
conservation periodicals plus we plan (tentative) to put a brochure in
the Seasons birding addition next spring. We also ask our volunteers to
distribute brochures and fact sheets (if the opportunity arises) plus we
are listed in several volunteer directories including wildlife watchers,
the CNF directory, the FON directory and the ABA directory.
<.iitalic>
Is collecting the data time consuming?
<italic>
Page 3
. <litalic>>>
» If you can get back to me with this information, that would greatly
be
» appreciated.
.,
»
<italic>1 have been pretty long winder but I hope this helps.
Kathy
<litalic>
» Sincerely,
»
»Darleen Wolters-Sword
» Environmental Technician
» Quinte Conservation
»Ph: (613) 968-3434 Ext. 104
» Fax: (613) 968-8240
»
»
>
>
***********************************************************************
Kathy Jones, AquaticSulVllys-Officer,
Bird Studies Canada/Etudes d'Oiseaux Canada,
P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, ON, NOE 1MO
Phone: 519-586-3531, 1-888-448-BIRD, Fax: 519-586-3532
Email: [email protected], Web page: www.bsc-eoc.org
*************************************************************************
I'li
Page 5
The Marsh Monitoring Program Needs You!
MONITORING
PROGRAM
Through the. eff~rts of hundreds of volunteers throughout the Great Lakes region, the
Marsh Momtormg Program (MMP) provides information on the population trends and
habitat requirements of wetland dependent amphibians and birds in the region. This
information makes an important contribution to the conservation and management of
Great Lakes basin wetlands and their wildlife.
The Great Lakes, Marshes, Wildlife and You
The Great Lakes system is the largest network of freshwater lakes
in the world and is a prominent and important feature of the
North American landscape. The governments of Canada and the
United States are committed to addressing a variety of ecological
problems in 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). The
focus of this commitment has been on problems associated with
the health of wildlife and their human consumers, nutrient and
other pollution inputs, and economic and aesthetic impacts.
Despite their importance to Great Lakes water quality and fish
and wildlife support, the basin's wetlands have been filled,
polluted, and otherwise degraded for decades. The loss or
degradation of wetland habitats can rednce local or even regional
population levels of many wetland dependent species. Although
some information is available regarding wetland losses and
impacts, almost nothing is known about how these declines in
wetland area and health have affected the populations of most
wetland dependent animals. Wetlands dominated by emergent
vegetation (i.e. marshes), often support the most diverse
=unities of wetland animals in the Great Lakes basin. Marsh
urrds are one of the most species rich groups that breed in Great
Lakes marshes but their habitat requirements and population
trends remain very poorly rrnderstood. Although not as
taxonomically diverse as marsh birds, amphibians of Great Lakes
marshes are critical members of many food webs. Concern for
amphibians has spread globally in recent years as many dramatic
and often rrnexplained population declines have been
documented. As with marsh birds, very little is known about the
population trends and the habitat requirements of amphibians in
the Great Lakes.
Tell me more about the Marsh Monitoring Program
The MMP was larrnched across the Great Lakes basin in 1995 to
provide baseline information on the population status of Great
Lakes marsh birds and calling amphibians (frogs and toads), to
assess their habitat requirements, and to contnbute to evaluations
of AOC recovery. The Marsh Monitoring Program is delivered
by Bird Studies Canada in partnership with Environment Canada
and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The
MMP also receives significant support from Great Lakes United,
the Great Lakes Protection Frrnd and other organisations.
Who are MMP volunteers and what do they do?
Naturalists with an interest in birds, amphibians or both are being
asked to help conserve marshes and their inhabitants by
participating in the MMP. All volrrnteers receive a Training Kit
. 'ontaining: written instrnctions for surveying marsh birds,
amphibians and their habitats; data forms; and an instrnctional
tape with examples of the songs and calls of the birds and
amphibians most likely to be encountered in the Great Lakes
basin. Marsh Monitoring Program participants also receive an
annual newsletter that summarizes survey results and includes
interesting articles on marsh ecology, amphibians and marsh
birds.
Surveys are conducted in the spring and early summer, and
participants may choose to survey amphibians, marsh birds, or
both. Because only 13 species of frogs and toads occur in the
Great Lakes basin and their calls are well described in the
Training Kit materials, the amphibian survey is most suitable
for novice naturalists. Althongh volrrnteers do not need to be
ace-birders to conduct the marsh bird survey, the bird survey is
not suited to beginning birders. As a general guideline,
participants should be able to correctly identify at least 50
species of common birds by sight and sorrnd, especially those
living in and arorrnd marshes. The training tape provided will
help volunteers refresh their memory and fme-tune their
identification skills.
How much time is required?
The program and the surveys are an enjoyable and interesting
experience but there is a time commitment involved. On
average, the total time required to set up the stations, do the
surveys, and tally the results will be about 8 hours. Many
surveyors take a personal interest in their marshes and, although
a long term commitment is not required for participation, the
information provided by consistently done surveys over several
years is extremely valuable in measuring trends in amphibian
and bird popUlations and marsh habitats.
More on rontes
Upon entering the program, volunteers are asked to select
marshes for their surveys and establish a survey route.
Although a particular effort is made to ensure that AOCs and
other coastal wetlands are surveyed, survey routes in marshes
throughout Ontario and the Great Lakes states are needed.
Each MMP survey route consist of as few as I or up to as many
as 8, semi-circular sample stations, each with a radius of 100metres (110 yards). Sample stations must face areas of
emergent marsh vegetation - small numbers of trees or shrubs
can occur within the station but more than half of the area
within the semi-circle must be dominated by non-woody,
emergent plants such as cattail, bulrush, reed, grasses or sedges.
Both the marsh bird and amphibian surveys are conducted
facing the curved portion of the semi-circle and from a focal
point located at the centre of the 200-metre (220 yard) long base
of the semi-circle. Stations are usually accessed along the edge
of marshes, on a dike or trail. However, volrrnteers interested in
monitoring a route accessible only by boat or canoe are
encouraged to do so. In very large marshes, it may be possible
for several different routes to be established by one or more
Page 1 of 1
Diana Teal <[email protected]>
[email protected] < [email protected]>
.>:
Monday, August 14, 2000 1:14 PM
Date:
Subject: Frogwatch-Ontario
lCrom:
,
\OJ It
iU\ AUG
t \) {uuU
,
Hello Darleen,
My name is Diana Teal and I am the Provincial Coordinator of the Frogwatch-Ontario programme. Your
biomonitoring programme in the Bay of Quite sounds wonderful, and Frogwatch-Ontario would be
delighted to receive data collected by your volunteers.
I hopefully will be able to manipulate the database such that I could provide you with a print out of
observations specifically from your area - the web site and data base were redesigned this year and I am
still learning how to access data from the database.
We have a lot of educational resources for volunteers, including Amphibian Identifier guides and Frog
Call Tapes. The Adopt-A-Pond website is an excellent resource, with identification info and frog calls online w\Vw~torpllt9.z;QQ .£om/adojJtapoll.4.._
With our new database, we have records of all Frogwatch-Ontario participants: their mailing addresses
etc. - Every spring, we send out Frogwatch promo materials to remind them to participate again. I also
conduct quite a few workshops and do media promo of the programme in the Spring each year to remind
people that Frogwatching season is beginning.
~1-je
collection of data is not at all time consuming - we ask that volunteers select a wetland in their
Jmmunity and try to monitor for at least five minutes, two times a week at dusk. Volunteers are not
required to make visual contact with the calling frogs or toads, but simply to listen for them, identify the
species (each species has it's own distinct call, so it is pretty easy) and record the approximate
abundance of the species calling.
Feel free to give me a call with any more specific questions for your proposaL As we deal with the entire
province of Ontario and you are dealing with a more localized area, the problems we have encountered
mayor may not apply to you. I could, however, put you in touch with some community groups that are
registered with Frogwatch who would be able to give you some insight ...
Regards,
***********************************************
Diana Teal
Adopt-A-Pond Programme Coordinator
Toronto Zoo
ph. (416) 392-5999
fax (416) 392-4979
8/16/00
Biomonitoring Program Strategy - Bay oj Quinte RAP
,
,
AppendixC
Calculation of the Budget
Quinte Conservation
Estimated Budget
Advertise for Volunteers and/or Orientation Session/Workshop"
Newspapers - The Intelligencer $ 200
Total Combined
$
The County
$ 100
(Radio & Newspaper)
Community Press $ 200
Radio
The Mix
$ 350
1 day @ $ 25/hr
$
Staff Time - Media Release
Notices to Cablevue
Envirominute
TV & Radio Bulletin Boards
525
175
Produce Report of Findings:
Staff Time
2 weeks @ $ 25/hr
$ 1 750
Local Contact with Volunteers:
Staff Time
5 days @ $ 25/hr
$
875
Send Volunteer Names to Parent Programs:
Staff Time
1 day @ $ 25/hr
$
175
Letters to Interest Groups/Schools:
Staff Time
Postage
2 days @ $ 25/hr
$0.48 @ 60 people
$
$
350
30
Volunteer Training if Requested:
Staff Time
2 days @ $ 251hr
$
350
Presentations to Interest Groups:
Staff Time
1 week @ $ 251hr
$
875
Create Maps:
High Priority Routes - Staff Time
All Routes - Staff Time
2 days @ $ 25/hr
4 days @ $ 251hr
$ 350
$ 700
Quinte Conservation
Mail out Monitoring Kits (per year):
Staff Time
Postage
1 day @ $ 251hr
$ 2.00Ikit@60 people
$
$
175
120
Send Data to Parent Programs:
Staff Time
2 days @ $ 251hr
$
350
Track Routes Being Monitored:
High Priority Routes - Staff Time
All Routes - Staff Time
4 days @ $ 25/hr
6 days @ $ 25/hr
$ 700
$ 1 050
Production of Newsletter:
Staff Time
Postage
2 1/2 days @ $ 25/hr
$0.48 @ 60 people
$
$
450
30
4 days @ $ 25/hr
3 days @ $ 251hr
$
$
700
525
Keep Track of Volunteers
(hours, questions/concerns)
2 days @ $ 251hr
$
350
Create Database & Data Analysis
2 weeks @ $ 25/hr
$ 1 750
Call Backs to Volunteers for Data
2 days @ $ 25/hr
$
350
Set Up Stations with Volunteers
1 week @ $ 25/hr
$
875
Practice Surveys with Volunteers
1 week @ $ 251hr
$
875
Additional Staff Time for Training
Sessions, Tours, Guest Speakers etc.
4 days @ $ 25/hr
Associated Expenses
$
$
700
200
Recruit New Volunteers:
Recruit Yearly - Staff Time
Recruit for abandoned/neglected
high priority routes only - Staff Time
Additional Staff Time:
Quinte Conservation
Host Spring Orientation! Training Workshop:
Staff Time
Lunch - catered
1 week @ $ 25/hr
$ 7.00/perso·h @25 people
$
$
875
175
Mail Letters to Past Volunteers for Upcoming Season:
Staff Time
2 days @ $25/hr
Postage
$0.48 @ 60 people
$
$
350
30
Create a HandoutlManual for Volunteers:
Staff Time
1 week @ $25/hr
$
875
Mail Certificates ofAppreciation to Volunteers:
Staff Time:
Postage:
2 days @ $251hr
$0.48 @ 60 people
$
$
350
30
$7.00/person @ 50 people
4 days @ $25/hr
$
$
350
700
1 week @ $ 25/hr
$ 875
Host Annual Luncheon:
Cater Lunch
Staff Time
(organize, invite volunteers)
Recognition Program:
Staff Time
(gifts, pins, thank-yous, Christmas cards,
hats, shirts etc.)
Quinte Conservation
Estimated Cost:
Combination Approach outlined in the RecommendedStratltgy, pgs. 12-13.
Advertise for Volunteers and/or Spring Orientation
SessionIWorkshop
$
700
$
875
Letters to Interest Groups/Schools
$
380
Mail Letters to Past Volunteers
$
380
Send List of Volunteer Names to Parent Programs
$
175
Host Spring Orientation SessionIWorkshop
$ 1 050
Create HandoutlManualfor Volunteers
$
875
Create a Map ofHigh Priority Routes
$
350
Keep Track of High Priority Routes Being Monitored
$
700
Abandoned Routes
$
525
Produce Report ofFindings
$ 1 750
Production & Mail out ofNewsletter
$
480
Recognition Program
(certificates, thank-yous, hat/shirt)
$
760
Total Cost
$ 9 000
Quinte Conservation
Estimated Cost:
Minimum Approach outlined in the Recommended Strategyipgs. 13-14.
Advertise for Volunteers and/or Spring Orientation
SessionIWorkshop
$
700
$
875
Send List of Volunteer Names to Parent Programs
$
175
Abandoned Routes
$
525
Produce Report ofFindings
$ 1 750
Total Cost
$4025
Quinte Conservation
,
,
AppendixD
Other Biomonitoring Programs
Quinte Conservation
Forest Bird Monitoring Program - Canadian Wildlife Service
The Forest Bird Monitoring Program began in 1987 tq co'mpile a habitat-specific baseline
inventory of forest songbirds to describe changes over time in numbers of birds in relation to habitat
and landscape characteristics, This information can contribute to the understanding of population
trends and habitat associations of birds that breed within the forest interior. Large, mature forests,
with little or no active forest management are chosen for monitoring, Volunteers monitor for birds by
song or sight for 10 minute counts at each station (a 100 m radius circle) within the forest. The
monitoring is conducted twice a year during the breeding season, from May 24 to July 10, at each
station within a woodland,
Volunteers are required to have fairly good bird identification skills to participate in this
program, Ifvolunteers are recruited to survey for specific species of birds only, then novice birders
could participate, which would open up the resource base of people to choose from. Within the Bay
of Quinte area, monitoring could include woodlands on conservation lands and crown lands, unless
permission was granted from private landowners to conduct monitoring on private woodlands. It may
be possible to recruit volunteers for this program through the local field naturalist group, which has
, participants in this program already. The local field naturalist groups may be interested in recruiting
and organizing volunteers for this program as they are involved with the Christmas Bird Count in this
area.
Christmas Bird Count - Birdsource
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) first took place in 1900 in Ontario. Birdsource organizes all
the data received from individual areas. Local naturalist clubs organize the actual one day count
where participants are organized into parties to count the total number of each species seen within a
24 km diameter circle. This data is then sent to Birdsource, which incorporates it into a national
database. There is a $5 fee to participate and this program is ideal for beginner and experienced
birders.
The CBC is a running database on early winter bird populations across North America. The
data provided gives insights into the shifting patterns, distributions and population trends of bird
species counted during the period of December 14 to January 5. Birdsource receives data from local
CBC coordinators and combines this data with data from other programs, such as the Forest Bird
Monitoring Program, Project Feeder etc., to determine how the populations of bird species has
changed over time and space in the last 100 years. Local trends in winter bird distribution and
abundance can indicate habitat fragmentation or environmental threats to an area. A copy of the data
for any given year is available from Birdsource for a fee of $ 10. Locally, there are CBCs conducted
at Waupoos Island, Napanee and in Belleville (unofficially).
Quinte Conservation
Both these monitoring programs could be incorporated into the Biomonitoring Program at
Quinte Conservation if local naturalist clubs were involved in rec~iting and organizing of volunteers
and monitoring. These groups could work with Quinte ConserVation, who would act as a local
contact and resource, and indicate specific areas where coverage is needed (on conservation land or
crown property). The information gathered from these programs could be incorporated into the
Natural Heritage Strategy and used to determine the impacts of forest maintenance, loss or gain on
the populations, distributions and species of birds etc. within the Bay of Quinte area.
Quinte Conservation

this document - Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan

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