Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship in the Oil Sands Region of Northeastern Alberta – Boreal MAPS in the Oil Sands Region

The Boreal MAPS in the Oil Sands project extended the continent-wide MAPS program into Boreal forest habitats impacted by industrial development and reclamation. Coordinated by the Institute for Bird Populations, it used standardized bird-banding to collect demographic data—productivity, survivorship, and recruitment—for landbird species, including those considered Sensitive or Threatened. The project aimed to improve understanding of avian population dynamics in reclaimed and disturbed habitats, estimate vital rates for Boreal-nesting species, and provide a platform for complementary research. It also supported biodiversity monitoring for regulatory compliance and informed reclamation certification and land-use planning. Following a successful pilot in 2011, the program expanded to 24 stations in 2012, delivering essential data for conservation strategies and environmental assessments.

In 2012, the Boreal MAPS program operated 24 bird-banding stations in Alberta’s oil sands region, expanding from six stations in 2011. These stations were distributed across Natural, Disturbance-affected, and Reclaimed habitats, following the MAPS protocol. A total of 5,088 birds were banded during 7,843.5 net-hours, with 4,452 initial captures and 860 recaptures. Adult Population Size averaged 138.4 birds per 600 net-hours, a high rate compared to other MAPS regions, with Tennessee Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, and Chipping Sparrow among the most abundant species. Productivity varied by habitat type, being highest in Disturbance-affected stations and lowest in Reclaimed sites, suggesting habitat connectivity influences fledging success. Diversity was strong, with 64 species observed, including 15 species of concern and six invasive species. Canada Warbler and Least Flycatcher were captured in sufficient numbers to support initial demographic analysis, though additional years of data are needed for robust survivorship estimates. Preliminary findings indicate that vertical habitat complexity and shrub diversity are key factors influencing bird abundance and productivity in reclaimed areas.