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HomeMy WebLinkAbout954054001 Eagle Mgmt Plan Bald Eagle Nesting TerrItory Mana~ement Plan Four Corners, Jefferson County Territory #91, Sec. 5. T. 29 N.. R. 1 W. Dect-:r1lt,.,~ \991 qot Dsl Do \ qD( 054 001 Prepared for: qD/ D~q D6~ Broders, I nc . 4503 Old Gardiner Road Port Townsend. WA 98368 Prepared by: Anita McMillan Washington Department of Wildlife 905 E. Heron Aberdeen, WA 98520 --.~ Table of Contents Introduction .......... .0........ Si te Description ............... 0 Eagle Ecology................. Proposed Land Use ... ....... -. Management Terms and Condition8 Monitor and Review.. ......... Comp 1 i anc e .............'..'.- Page # ........................1 ...........................2 ...........................2 ... .....................4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . .. ~ ........................ :) ,......................... :) INTRODUCTION The, bald eagle is listed by the U.S. Department of Interior as a t.hrea tened spec ies in Wash ing t.on. The protec t ion of nesting, roosting, and foraging habitats IS critical to the effort to remove the bald eagle from threatened species status in Washington State. The bald eagle protection rules (WAC 232-12- 292) and the enabling legislation (RCW 77.12.655) were enacted in 1986 to provide protection to important eagle habitats. These rules were developed by a committee of landowners, the realty in- dustry, and conservation organizations. The Washington Department of Wildlife (WDW) is directed by these rules to meet with landowners and state and local agencies to develop manage- ment plans for eagle nest territories . arid roosts that may be impacted by land use changes. Appendix 1 includes these rules and some other laws that provide protection to bald eagles and their habitat. The purpose of the bald eagle protection rules is to protect the habitat and thereby increase and maintain the population of the bald eagle so that the species no longer is classified as t.hreatened or endangered in Washington State. The Pacific Bald Eagle Recovery Plan identifies the delisting criteria as follows: 1) Minimum of 800 pairs nesting in the Pacific recovery area (Washington, Oregon, California, Mont.ana, Wyoming, Idaho and Nevada); 2) average reproduction rate of 1.0 fledged young per p~ir with an average success rate per occupied site of not less than 65% over a five year period; ~3) attainment of breeding population goals in at least 80% of the management zones with nesting potential (there are 47 management zones in the seven states within the Pacific Recovery Area); and 4) stable or in- creasing wintering populations. The Four Corners bald eagle nesting territory IS located in the Washington Coast Recovery Zone - ~l" The Habitat Management Goal for Zone rt] is 101 whi~h is the minimum number of territories needed to sustain secure habitat for the recovered population. WDW has identified 98 occupied territories within this zone during 1990. The habitat wiihin most of these territories has not been secured from potential land use impacts. According to the Pacific Bald Eagle Recovery Plan, ""Habi tat occupied by bald eagles must continue to be protected and managed... Forest stands used by eagles must be managed to manintain the long-term availability of nest sites, roosts, and foraging habitat." Because of rapidly increasing impacts by humans on the Pacific North~est landscapeJ bald eagle recovery hinges upon our ability to identify and properly manage bald eagle habitat. The primary threats to bald eagles in Washington are habitat degradation and human disturbance. This is a cooperative management plan between WDW and Broders, Inc.. The purpose of this management plan is to create site- specific management procedures that maintain a productive bald eagle nesting ~erritory and allow the landowner to harvest some of the timber. SITE.DESCRIPTION Location The Four Corners bald eagle nesting territory is located in Jefferson County, on the east side of Discovery Bay (west side of Quimper Peninsula) approximately one mile south of Four Corners (Figure 1). The nest tree is located east of Highway 20, and the primary foraging area west of the Highway 20 along the Discovery Bay shoreline. Site Characteristics Nest tree ~1 is located on the southern edge of a fairly open conifer stand with scattered mature and old growth conifers (primarily Douglas fir and Western Red Cedar). To the south and west of the nest tree is a younger more dense conifer stand. The understory in the vicinity of the nest tree includes swordfern, rhodedendron, blackberry and elderberry. Nest tree tj1 is a 42" (1.1 m) diameter at breast height (dbh) Douglas fir. The nest tree is approximately 105 feet (32 m) in height with the nest lo- cated at approximately 97 feet (30 m) in height. The nest tree is located at approximately 240 feet (73 m) above sea level, about 1350 feet (412 m) east of the Discovery Bay shoreline. Current Land Use PresenTly the Broder's Inc, ownership includes 92.35 acr'es in the middle half of Section 5 that, is being managed as forestland, and another ,n, '1 acres of tidelands adjacent to the forestland that is being manaBed for shellfish harvesting. North and south of the Broders Inc. ownership, along the shoreline, are residences where much of the forest stand has been removed. EAGLE ECOLOGY Historic Use and Productivity The Four Corners bald eagle nesting territory was first dis- Covered by WDW in 1989. There was one eaglet raised during 1989, two eaglets raised during 1990 and one eaglet raised during 1991. During these years no alternate nest trees were located. There are five nesting territories along Discovery Bay. The prOductiVity history for these territories has been 0.75 young per occupied territory with a success rate of 58% (Table 1).' This is, below the overall recovery goals of 1.0 young per oc- cupied territory with a success rate of 65%. Nesting Biology 2 Few specifics are known about eagle behavior at the Four Corners site. However, information collected at other bald eagle nest sites in the Pacific Northwest provides the following information relevant to management of this site: Nest Chronology- In Washington courtship and nest building ac- tivities occur during January and February. Eggs are laid in late March to early April (usually one or two, but occasionally up to four eggs are laid). Hatching occurs in late-April to mid- May after a 35 day incubation period. After 10 to 12 weeks, the eaglets will take their first flights. Eaglets usually leave the nest in late-July to mid August, often remaining in the vicinity for an additional month. Bald eagles are extremely sensitive to; .disturbance during the early part of the nesting cycle. Disturbance from activities such as land clearing, logging, helicopter use, vehicle use, and home construction can cause adults to abandon sites prior to egg laying or later may flush them from nests and expose the eggs or eaglets to the elements and predators. As the time ot fledging approaches, these disturbances may frighten young from the nest before they can fly, From late summer until the lo11(.wing January, adult eagles are less sensitive to activities near nests as they tend to occupy peripheral areas of the home range to a greater degree or leave the area entirely. Home Range- Eagles occupy ranges that may cover up to 10 E,guare miles (26 square kilomet~rs), depending on the availability of prey and the quality of nesting, roosting, and foraging habitats. Territories, or core areas of a home range, are defended frc'lD ad- jacent nesting pairs of eagles. Nest and Perch Trees- Eagles usually select large, overly-mature conifers for nest trees. Trees with large gnarled limbs or strong crotches in the upper branches provide ideal platforms for supporting nests. Eagles tend to reuse the same nest from year to year but often maintain at least one alternate nest on the territory. Though alternate nests may appear to be abandoned, eagles often return to use these nests after a few years of non- use. Old-growth and mature conifers, and large snags are also impor- tant for perching, roosting, and foraging. Perching may occur throughout the home range in trees which facilitate food acquisi- tion. and consumption, mating display, terri torialism, nest defenbe and efficient thermoregulation. Such trees are typically in eQevated areas in close proximity to food and allow for good visual access to adjacent habitat. Roosting usually occurs in trees; with well developed canopies or in locations that afford protection from rain and prevailing winds. Foraging trees are located near the food source, which is oftpn the body of water nearest the nest. 3 PreYi Eagle food habits are extremely varied, but typically in- clud~ fish, waterfowl, seabirds, carrion, and occasionally small mammals. Eagles forage opportunistically and diets tend to vary in response to changes in prey availability. PROPOSED LAND USE The proposed land use is to partial cut within the Broders Inc. ownership. MANAGEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS Known aspects of the ecology of bald eagles allow for the deter- mination of an Eagle Management Area (EMA) around the Dungeness nesting territory. The EMA is designed to maintain the integrity of the territory by protecting the existing eagle nest tree, primary perch trees, foraging areas, and potential habitat. Protected Areas- The intent of these areas is.to maintain habitat as it exists. Within this area there will not be any hahitat ~I terations. The tidelands within the Protected Area may maintalli the present level of shellfish harvesting activities. A'V/ '7 r A. . ~// The Protected Area will consist of a minimum of a 500 foot (lj2 m) c--oire:umfprence-:>around the nest tree, and a 1100 foot (335 ml /--s&ip along Discovery Bay west of the old railroad right of wt:.;'.' that begins directl y west of the nest tree and extends noy.t i, (Figure 2). Within the protected area, human activities having permanent ef- fects may not occur. These activities include, but are not limited to, clearing, road building, logging, use of chemicals. Secondary Protected Area- The intent of these areas is to main- tain some habitat components that are important in the foraging activities of the eagles as well as provide for future nest trees. In this area a maximum of 30% of the merchantable timber mN',ib.e harvested, as long as a minimum of 10 trees per 100 feet, of ,shoreline that are retained are;> 28" dbh. The Secondary Protected Area will consist of a 1000 foot (305 m) strip along Discovery Bay west of the old railroad right of way that: begins directly west of the nest tree and extends south (Figure 2). Conditioned Areas- Theintentof~~e~ea:r~asis to minimize di.~.-:c ~\l.:rl:>~nce that could 'disruPt<_~agl~a.ctivities within theEMAt This:may include time and/or activity provisions or recommenda- tions for maintaining large trees at certain locations. The Conditioned Area will consist of a 1000 foot (305 m) distance to the south, east and north of the nest tree that extends west to the north end of the Protected Area and to the south end of the Secondary Protected Area (Figure 2). II -'-- --.---. ---- --- ---.. Human use act.ivities including, but not limited to, hiking, r~a'd, building, timber harvest activities. aircraft use, use of chemi- .~ cals, and vehicle use (off of Highway 20) will not be allowed \ the conditioned area between January 1 and August 15 each \ This is necessary to ensure that human disturbances do not I in nest abandonment or nesting failure. MONITOR AND REVIEW Implementation of the plan as it relates to the property will begin when the landowner agrees to the plan. If the wnw and the landowner cannot agree to the plan, the landowner can refer the plan to the Bald Eagle Oversight Commi tte,e or file a formal ap- peal as outlined in WAC 232-197. The conditions of the plan do not supercede local, county, state, federal, or other regulations that are related to environmental protection (e.g. Shoreline Management Act, SEPA process). It is the responsibility of the landowners to notify the WDW 01 proposed land management activities within the EMA that will at" fect the management plan. The land owners are encouraged t,,) participate in monitoring eagle activities and to keep written records of information that would be useful in refining the plan All bald eagle nests are monitored by WDW. This monitoring 1S generally performed with aircraft to determine eagle presence during April (occupancy) and results of their breeding effon during June (productivity). Monitoring is also used to assess any changes affecting nest sites. including development and Im- pacts to eagles. In sites with management plans, it is also used to assure plan compliance. COMPLIANCE Failure to comply with the plan constitutes a misdemeanor as set forth in RCW 77.21.010. Bald eagles and their habitats ar~ protected by other state and federal laws (Appendix 1). 5