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Gary, Brianna M (DEC)

Monday, June 29, 2015 8:57 AM
'Neil Habig'; Tim Sullivan
Bill Evans; Mazzocchi, Irene (DEC)
RE: Update from Galloo

All,
I dont see a need for doing point counts at all turbine locations in July,
given the similarity of results to 2008/2009. Grassland-focused surveys,
and monitoring the movements/use of the island by swallows and birds
from Little Galloo should provide the information wed be interested in.
Thanks for the summary Bill!
Brianna
From: Neil Habig [mailto:nhabig@hudsonenergydev.com]
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2015 7:47 AM
To: Tim Sullivan
Cc: Bill Evans; Mazzocchi, Irene (DEC); Gary, Brianna M (DEC)
Subject: Re: Update from Galloo
Thanks Tim.
Brianna and Irene - are you supportive of shifting the last survey date into
July as Bill has suggested?
Thanks,
Neil

On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 2:39 PM, Tim Sullivan

<tim_r_sullivan@fws.gov> wrote:
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the update. I agree with your proposal to complete another
grassland survey in July, swallow surveys and flights to and from Little
Galloo but will defer to NYSDEC. That seems to be a bigger priority to me
at this point. Keep an eye out for a successful upland sandpiper nest!
Tim

Tim Sullivan
US Fish and Wildlife Service
3817 Luker Road
Cortland, NY 13045
(607)753-9334

From: Bill Evans [mailto:wrevans@clarityconnect.com]

Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 3:06 PM
To: Mazzocchi, Irene (DEC); Brianna M (DEC) Gary;
tim_r_sullivan@fws.gov
Cc: Neil Habig
Subject: Update from Galloo
Hi Irene, Brianna and Tim,
Ive completed two bird surveys on Galloo so far this season. I summarize
the results below and request your feedback for the timing and focus of
the third survey.
Surveys have been conducted May 23-25 and June 16-18.
During each survey period, 10-minute point counts were conducted at all
31 proposed WTG sites. Four of the point counts are located in the north
grassland that is managed for hay, two are in the south grassland, and
one is in the southeastern grassland that is also managed for hay in some
years. These grassland areas were subject to thorough walking transects
covering portions of the grasslands not covered by the point counts.
In addition, 1) an evening transect was carried out listening for Whip-poorwill on May 24th making stops every ~1/4 mile along the trail that runs
around the north and west side of the main contiguous woodland on the
island. 2) marshbird playback was carried out at the north and south
marsh areas at dusk in both the May and June surveys. 3) three complete
five point surveys of diurnal movement of Little Galloo Nesting species
were carried out during the June survey.
The results of the breeding bird point count surveys suggest that not much
has changed since 2009. Swallow-wart has encroached further into the
southern grassland from the north, with the mat of dense swallow-wart

advancing further 100-200 meters into the grassland. The site where we
thought the Upland had its nest in 2008 and 2009 has now totally
succumbed to swallow-wart. The map below is from the 2009 Breeding
Bird Survey report and shows the Upland range (Yellow to Orange) with
oranger indicating more Upland usage and the darker orange circle the
area where we thought the nest might be. Overlaid on the old 2009 map
is a black perimeter that roughly indicates the remaining portion of the
southern grassland that is not matted with swallow-wart. The bright orange
oval is the area that elicited alarm calls from an Upland Sandpiper on each
of the three days of the recent June survey.
No grassland birds were detected in the May survey in the southern
grassland. In June, besides the single territorial Upland, two Bobolinks
and a Grasshopper Sparrow were on territory. We found no meadowlarks
or Savannah Sparrows. While there is no pervasive dense mat of
swallow-wart within the noted black perimeter, there are numerous
isolated colonies. The site of the met tower that remains from the previous
wind project is in the center of the orange oval where the Upland was
active. The area in proximity to the met tower (under its supporting wires)
is nearly totally matted with swallow-wart. This suggests to me that
vegetation disturbance during its erection opened the way for swallowwart colonization.
The north grassland is similarly populated with Bobolink as in 2009. In the
May survey we estimated 20-30 singing males. In the June survey we
estimated 25+ males on territory. In addition there were two meadowlark
territories and three Savannah Sparrow territories.
A notable change from the 2008 and 2009 surveys is that the southeast
grassland and vicinity has six territorial male Bobolinks and two Savannah
Sparrow territories. In prior years this region had no SVSP only one
BOBO.
We found no Northern Harriers in the May or June surveys. In 2008 and
2009 the species was easily located but it is also pertinent to note that
voles were commonly seen in those years. I saw no voles in my May and
June visits. I suspect that while the habitat for harriers exists for nesting on
Galloo, they may only attempt to nest on the island when voles are
plentiful (same perhaps for Short-eared Owl). Perhaps related to this
dynamic is that no kestrels were found on the island in this years May or

June visits. In 2008 and 2009 we had at least two pairs nesting on the
island. The caretakers report that there were very fewer raptors than usual
on the island this past winter and they suspect that the presence of mink
on the island the past few years has impacted the vole population.
The surveys of Little Galloo nesters making feeding flights across Galloo
revealed that Ring-billed and Caspian flight patterns and rates of passage
were similar to 2008 & 2009 but Double-crested Cormorants were notable
reduced. No Common Terns were seen crossing the island or feeding
along the shoreline during our recent May and June visits.
So, at this point Im trying to figure out the priority for the next survey. We
added a third survey to conform to the Grassland Bird Survey Protocol for
Surveys on Managed Lands that Irene provided. Im thinking now that a
survey of the grasslands on Galloo in mid-July might be good to re-assess
the documented grassland birds and perhaps turn up late migrants like
Sedge Wren. In addition, in light of the documented impact of the Wolfe Is.
Wind Project on swallows and martins (which begins in mid-July), it would
be prudent to document swallow activity on Galloo then to see if
aggregations are occurring. My recollection from 2008 and 2009 is that
there was no large roost on Galloo, but this would be good to confirm.
I would plan to carry out additional surveys of the transit of Little Galloo
nesters over Galloo on the next visit. If this isnt until mid-July then based
on previous data, the Ring-billed transit will have tailed off significantly but
Caspians and Cormorants will still be actively crossing the island in
feeding flights.
I do not think it would be productive to carry out additional 10-minute point
counts at the 31 WTG sites in mid-July. I think transect surveys of the
grassland should be the focus.
I welcome any feedback, thanks.
Bill
p.s. Btw, strong straight-line winds hit the island and knocked down
perhaps several hundred trees along the west side of the island about ten
days ago.

-Neil Habig
Hudson Energy Development
nhabig@hudsonenergydev.com
V: 609.933.4293