02/11/2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• HYPOTHESIS #6 Inadequate quantity and/or quality of nesting material ASSESSMENT — It appears likely that this could be a limiting resource for the colony. If nest material is in short supply, herons and egrets may be forced to select materials of lower quality. Nests built with low quality materials may be more prone to destruction_. However, it is hard for me to imagine circumstances under which this would lead to a mass abandonment of a colony. ACTION PLAN — Augment the environment with appropriate nest construction materials early in the season (April) and document whether, and to what extent, the herons and egrets make use of this resource. HYPOTHESIS #7 Noise Disturbance — 35W construction ASSESSMENT — It remains possible that the noise associated with this construction project was partially or even completely responsible for the abandonment of the colony in 2000. However, it clearly cannot be the primary cause of abandonment in 2001. ACTION PLAN —Inform the Minnesota Department of Transportation and other offices of the location of concentrations of sensitive wildlife (e.g., colonial waterbird breeding colonies) and provide advice regarding steps they could take to minimize disturbance to the colony (most notably avoiding construction during the time when birds have eggs and nestlings). HYPOTHESIS #8 Noise Disturbance — motor boats close to the island ASSESSMENT —/t appears likely that this could result in sufficient disturbance to cause a mass abandonment of this colony although we lack information on the • timing and intensity of this activity. ACTION PLAN — Maintain a no -wake zone north of the bog poles. Have a discussion with the community asking them to restrict their high speed activities to the area south of the bog poles. We should also post the community decision, to maintain a no wake zone north of the bog poles, on the poles themselves to ensure that visitors to the lake are aware of this goal. HYPOTHESIS #9 Weather ASSESSMENT —A violent storm that destroys nests is often the cause of mass abandonment in colonies. However, there is no evidence of such a storm and/or of mass nest destruction in this colony in 2000 and 2001. ACTION PLAN —Monitor nesting status at regular intervals during the breeding season and immediately following any storms that are accompanied by with significant wind speeds. •