B-AMBI-American Bittern
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
- Phylum: Craniata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Pelecaniformes
- Family: Ardeidae
The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a wading bird in the heron family, breeding in Canada and northern U.S., and wintering in the Gulf Coast, Florida, Caribbean, and Central America.
General Information
Key Habitat Features
Freshwater marshes, including lake and pond edges of cattails, sedges or bulrushes.
Also occur in shrubby marshes, bogs and wet meadows.
Wetlands >2.5 ha support breeding.
Nest on platforms of reeds, sedges, cattail or other emergent vegetation on the ground, in a tussock, or floating and surrounded by water with dense overhead cover, or in grassy uplands.
Objectives
Minimize disturbance during the breeding season.
Maintain nesting habitat throughout all seasons.
Maintain desired plant communities and key habitat features.
Planning and Operational Measures
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.
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.
Timing considerations when working within identified habitat:
Avoid disturbance and/or clearing activities during the critical timing window from May 1 to July 31.