Environmental Information Management System

Name: Sandhill Crane

Phylum: Craniata

Class: Aves

Order: Gruiformes

Family: Gruidae

Scientific: Grus canadensis

• Roosting/staging areas with level terrain. Shallow water where the shoreline is sparsely vegetated or devoid of vegetation.
• Peace Region migratory staging areas: Nig Creek, Cecil Lake and Liard Hot Springs.
• Confirmed breeder in Fort Nelson Lowlands.
• Nests in isolated bogs, marshes, wetlands and wet meadows on the ground or over water among emergent vegetation or thick shrubs.

• Minimize disturbance during the breeding and migratory season.
• Maintain nesting habitat and migratory staging areas throughout all seasons.
• Maintain desired plant communities and key habitat features.

All Activities

• Identify key habitat features using appropriate measures (i.e. QP direction, desktop review, field confirmation, etc) and plan activities within the operating area accordingly.
• Time works such that they occur outside of the critical timing window.

  

Linear Features:

• Minimize access to breeding and staging areas.

All Activities

• Undertake construction and operation of oil and gas activities in a manner that minimizes impacts to desired plant communities and key habitat features.
• Maintain sufficient distance to avoid flushing birds from occupied staging areas.
    

Timing considerations when working within identified habitat:

• Avoid disturbance and/or clearing activities during the critical timing window from April 1 to September 21.
   
• Note:  Primary spring migratory period late April to early May, and fall migration in second and third weeks of September.

 

Linear Features:

• Avoid creating access and/or disturbance within spring and fall staging grounds.