jfk/lga meeting summary notes - november 20, 2013
DESCRIPTION
JFK-LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Building 14November 20, 2013 (10am to 2pm)Notes: DEP and USDATRANSCRIPT
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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JFK-LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting
John F. Kennedy International Airport, Building 14
November 20, 2013 (10am to 2pm)
Committee Chair: Christopher A. Nadareski (DEP)
Notes: DEP and USDA
10:10 Introductions
10:15 Review of Minutes from March 13, 2013 Meeting (Hand-out for review)
Correct spelling for Laura’s Name
Page 2 LGA sustained more strikes in October 2012
Minutes approved
10:20 Port Authority (L. Francoeur) - 2013 JFK, LGA, EWR Program Plans and Wildlife Strike
Trends
On-airport damaging strike trends at JFK (January – October 2013): 0.12 compared to 0.13 from
2012. Many more strikes than damaging strikes.
o January 2014: Boeing 767 engine strike, Western Sandpiper (13 carcasses) aircraft taken
out of service.
o January 2014: European Starling strike at 300’ with A320. Aircraft made precautionary
landing and switched aircrafts.
o January 2014: Strike with 14 Horned Larks ingested into Boeing 767 engine; engine
boroscoped.
o A323 struck starlings.
o October 2013: Strike with Canada Geese at 100’ but not sure how many with Boeing
757. Pilot reported seeing a flock of 20-30 geese. Damage to left wing fuel dump nozzle
and engine compressors stages 1-12. Strike at 300 feet is near the airport border?
Off-airport damaging strikes:
o January: Great Black-backed Gull strike at 600 feet. Aircraft made precautionary
landing.
o February: Great Black-backed Gull at 500 feet. Damage to nose wheel assembly and
second strike with Mallard.
Summary:
o Gull strike rate. Started in 1979 with JKF wildlife strike database began. In 2012 it was
the lowest for all gulls combined.
o Striking more raptors than gulls in present day.
o Strikes in 2013 were as follows: 10 Herring Gulls, 9 Barn Swallows, 8 DBTE, 7 Horned
Lark, 5 Mourning Dove, 5 Osprey, 5 Rock Dove, 4 American Robin.
Depredations
o Numbers down in 2013 possibly due to Hurricane Sandy with reduction of gulls
depredated. Height of activity is from May to September. Total 4,341 animals
depredated at JFKIA (below average). Hurricane Sandy may have played a role with the
rabbit depredations; Cottontails and Jackrabbits. Largest number of birds is blackbirds
(starlings, etc.)
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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2,262 gulls depredated (below average)
Birds: 450 European Starlings, 390 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 510 Mourning
Doves, 150 Atlantic Brant, and 60 Canada Geese
Mammals: 5 Black-tailed Jackrabbits, 5 Eastern Cottontails, 2 Opossums, 1
Norway Rat, 1 Muskrat
Future Plans
o Terrapin deterrent installation – 90% completed
o Barn Swallow nest removals – completed
o Summer terrapin intern – completed
o Mute Swan, Canada Goose nest and egg removal off-airport – completed
o Off-airport Canada Goose capture and removal – completed
o Trapping of birds: Rock Dove, European Starling, House Sparrow, and Mourning Dove
trapping – completed
o Volacom testing is postponed. Auditory deterrent equipment proposed for JFK and LGA
– company take-over.
o Research rabbits – necropsy, age size difference research with National Wildlife
Research Center (NWRC)
o Laughing Gull nest survey – NWRC – reproductive status of gulls depredated. Results
by next meeting.
o Significant vegetation removal/trimming, east of runways 4L and 4R, Thurston Basin,
Bergin Basin – completed
o Eliminated gaps in FAA buildings (electrical) to prevent European Starling and Atlantic
Brant loafing – completed
o Shooting and Airfield monitoring program - completed
o Laughing Gull ground truth survey completed in 2013.
o FAA shacks – will require European Starling management
o Breakup of turf grass for Atlantic Brant and Canada Goose management near building 14
and near Airtram, exit off the VanWyck Expressway, Federal Circle, North Boundary
Road (removed fruiting tree species and replaced with others)
10:45 Port Authority (Jeff Kolodzinski) - 2013 LGA Program Plans and Wildlife Strike Trends
On-airport Damaging Strikes at LGA (January – October)
o Only 3 damaging strikes in 2013.
American Kestrel strike caused a precautionary landing. Aircraft was taken out
of service. No damage.
White-headed Gull? (Smithsonian unable to identify exact species). Small dent
on aircraft wing.
Off-airport Damaging Strikes
o October – Multiple Double-crested Cormorant engine ingestion at 400 feet. Severe
engine damage
o Hermit Thrush – aircraft taken out of service for 60 hours and no damage reported
Summary
o 158 bird strikes on-airport compared to163 in 2012
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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o Gulls (9); White-throated Sparrows (8), American Kestrels (7); Canada Geese (2) did not
cause damage, Yellow-rumped Warbler (5), Red-eyed Vireo (5), Ruby-throated
Hummingbird (2- first time), Song Sparrow (5)
o Off –airport 55 strikes versus 66 in 2012. 3 damaging compared to 2 in 2012. One for
gulls
LGA Bird depredations: Down from 5-year average in 2013 might be due to Hurricane Sandy.
o January 1, 2013 through October 31, 2013
Ring-billed Gulls 143
Herring Gulls 136
Mourning Doves 68
Rock Doves 57
Atlantic Brant 53
Canada Geese 50
Double-crested Cormorants 34
European Starlings 28
Bird Harassment data 2013
o 24,534 harassments; 761 depredations; 97% non-lethal control
2013 Plan
o New USDA biologist trained (Erica Santana) - completed
o Wildlife Hazard Management Plan review – completed. DEP (C. Nadareski requested
new version early in 2014)
o LGA Redevelopment – redesign of parking garages – in progress
o Volacom test - postponed
o Canada Goose and Mute Swan egg and nest treatments (off-airport) – completed
o NYC Canada Goose capture and removal - completed
o Barn Swallow removal - completed
o Rock Dove & European Starling trapping - completed
Newark International Airport (EWR)/NJ update
o Canada Goose egg and nest treatments at JY/NJ Marine Terminals
o Canada Goose management in New Jersey and Staten Island
o No CAGO strikes
10:55 United States Department of Agriculture – 2013 JFK USDA Management by Jennifer
Mastantuono
Canada Goose and Mute Swan egg and nest treatments at off-airport properties
o Gateway – Canada Geese: 4 nests/16 eggs
o Baisley Pond Park – Canada Geese 0 nests/0 eggs; Mute Swan 1 nest/6 eggs
o Milburn Pond Park – Canada Geese 9 nests/37 eggs
o North Woodmere – Canada Geese 0 nests/0 eggs
o No nests found near LGA
Laughing Gull nest count
o Occurred on June 14, 2013
o Aerial flyover was next day
o Results pending; gov’t shutdown delays
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Gull Management Program (May 1 to October 31, 2013)
o 2 stations Monday through Friday, alternating morning and afternoon. One station on
Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon.
o Researching shooting program on weekends.
o Presence of birds and numbers of bird removed was low.
o Hurricane Sandy depredation-related reductions. 118 Atlantic Brant, 79 Double-crested
Cormorants, 1 Mute Swan, 9 Mallards
o Added Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, American Crow, and Fish Crow due to
amount of presence from previous year.
Air-field Monitoring Management Program May 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013 – year-around
monitoring continues.
o 2 trucks operated on field on 2 shifts/day (dawn to dusk), 7 days/week
o 2,107 individuals removed by USDA only
o 15,067 harassed off airfield by USDA only
o European Starling, American Oystercatcher, and Killdeer nest removals
o Rock Dove and Blackbird trapping
o Depredations
Species with increasing presence
o Grackles (boat-tailed)
o Crows (American Crow and Fish Crow)
o Great and Snowy Egrets (1 egret strike in 2013)
Spotlight surveys
o 4 Black-tailed Jackrabbits, 1 rodent, 2 raccoons, 1 Short-eared Owl, 6 Killdeer (check
with Jeff on species and numbers)
Increased observations of adult and juvenile Bald Eagles on LGA and on Riker’s Island in 2013
Martin Lowney (USDA) – USFWS may be revising depredation permits
11:05 2013 NYC Goose Management – DEP/PA Contract CRO-523 (Martin Lowney, USDA)
Objective: Improve aircraft safety for JFK, LGA and EWR stemming from Flight 1549
Goal: Manage resident Canada Geese within 5 miles of airports increased to 7-mile management
around airports in 2010 to reduce bird strike risk.
Overview:
o 5th year of roundups
o NYC owned properties within 7-miles of airport were surveyed for Canada Geese
o Included Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge due to close proximity to JFK – not
included in DEP Contract CRO-523
o Captured Canada Geese are processed by a New York State inspected facility and
donated to Northeast Food Bank. According to the NY Times there is 70% public
support for the goose management program.
2013 Summary
o 57 properties surveyed
o 11 properties were targeted for round-ups of Canada Geese
o 543 Canada Geese removed
281 Canada Geese removed from NYC (parks) through DEP contract CRO-523
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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262 Canada Geese removed from Jamaica Bay
9 Canada Geese had identification bands
A total of 400 lbs. of meat was donated to food banks
Issues
o Geese are local - banding
o 95% of marked Canada Geese stayed within 7-miles from molt location
o 72% of marked Canada Geese stayed within 0-7 miles of the airport
o 28% of marked Canada Geese were found at distances greater than 7 miles from the
airport
o Other issues why there is a need to manage Canada Geese – collateral costs/management
issues
Salt marsh restoration projects – appears to be an increase of Canada Geese and
Atlantic Brant feeding on salt marshes. Approximately 1/3 of the cost of NYC
salt marsh restoration goes towards Canada Goose exclusion.
Exclusion devices
o Issue – Following Canada Geese removals then others will fill void.
Pelham
Since 2009 252 Canada Geese removed (check with Martin Lowney on
data)
o How many geese in NYC?
Begin with NYC-owned lands to answer question
Begin first part survey to begin December 2013
o DEP (C. Nadareski) question: Consider development of
methodology with DEP, DPR, PA with USDA
Port Authority (L. Francoeur) – Suggested obtaining a maximum and
minimum number of Canada Geese seasonally
American Littoral Society (D. Riepe) – where are food banks located?
o Number of Canada Geese on NYC Properties has declined which has resulted in a lower
number of strikes and overall decreased risk to aircraft.
o LaGuardia Canada Geese aircraft strikes down 75%
10:20 Riker’s Island bird management (Erica Santana, USDA)
Currently 9 months in position
Gull management
o Gulls (Herring, Great Black-backed, Ring-billed and Laughing) and Canada Goose most
present and primary species of concern
Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls are most significant hazard due to
breeding on island. Majority are Herring Gulls. Riker’s 1 of 7 off-airport sites
for LGA.
o LGA (RWY22) is 265 feet from Riker’s shoreline
o LGA gulls strikes – mostly Herring Gulls
Downward trend at LGA from 2006 to 2013 – majority of strikes are from
Herring Gulls
o Reproductive Depredation includes Herring and Great Black-backed Gull egg addling.
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Egg depredation 2009 to 2013
Goal to discourage breeding
Increased vigilance
o Reduce colony
o Discourage breeding with a negative reproductive experience, encouraging colony
relocation?? (Check with Erica on this statement)
2013 field season
o Treated a total of 667 nests 1,510 eggs (mostly Herring Gulls). Gull nest preference on
gravel rooftops.
Punctured versus oiling – switched in 2013
Chicks removed
All ten jail complexes treated
o Decrease in number of Gull strikes at LGA possibly due to management (data analysis
ongoing) and actions from airport operations staff on airfield.
o Increase yearly
Access to facilities for gull management has increased
Population increase?
DEP question: 100% treatment? – Erica yes 100%
Don R. – green roof ideas
o Comparing efforts of various locations through the years
Stone substrate/gravel rooftops seemed to be preferred for gull nesting
DEP (C. Nadareski) question: survey schedule – Erica 2 times/season
o Question/comment DEP (C. Nadareski) – early 2000 North Shore Marine Transfer
Station plant closed and gulls strikes at LGA seems to have increased
o USDA (Martin Lowney) question – egg oiling and strikes at LGA for Ring-billed Gulls
o Damaging gull strikes
LAGU
HERG
UNK
Summary:
o Herring Gulls are most significant gull hazard
o Reproductive depredation – data are inconclusive
o Decrease in gull strikes
o 2014 critical year –
o Trash Management/transfer facility on Riker’s
Exclusion options
Comment by DOC (P. Feeney) – please notify department when observations of
bird feeding are conducted
Trash locations do attract large gull feeding
o Comment by FAA (E. Martinez) – Riker’s Management Plan development
o Question by DEP (C. Nadareski) – requested data from USDA on observations conducted
on Riker’s Island for review
o Lethal removal
Comment by DOC (P. Feeney) – cannot occur on Riker’s
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Capture/euthanize – will continue with geese and gulls
o Continue reproductive suppression
o Research Potential
Site fidelity
Dispersal/migration
Local movements
Reproductive suppression techniques
11:50 NYC Department of Corrections update on Riker’s Island contract (Patricia Feeney)
Submitted contract to management
o Question – legal department should PA pay for Riker’s management activities?
o Cas Holloway (Deputy Mayor) said yes but will wait until new mayor makes decision
o Port Authority (L. Francoeur) – suggest to bring to NYC Steering Committee discussions
with new administration in late winter or early spring 2014
o DEP (C. Nadareski) – New 2-year contract being reviewed for CRO-523 which will
include Riker’s Island.
*Reiterate need for USDA to speak to DOC routinely about bird management issues
12:00 – 12:35 Meeting Adjourned for Lunch
12:25 Lowney USDA – Bird Management at Fountain and Pennsylvania Landfill Summary
Goal:
o Measure bird abundance and species to determine if there is a risk to aviation
Preliminary findings:
o Bird surveys
Population trend downwards
Habitat change
Harassment activities
1,004,812 birds surveyed from July 2007 to January 2013.
80% birds along shoreline, 2.5% on landfill, and the rest on roads and structures
Atlantic Brant most numerous 41%
Scaup Spp. 34%
Herring Gulls 7%
Laughing Gulls 6%
Canada Geese 3%
Ring-billed Gulls?
Most common Raptors – Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Osprey, Red-tailed
Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk, and Merlin
o Bird hazing
Protocol: Harass if birds on landfill but if in the water leave alone
Methods:
Car honk 46%
Vehicle present 29%
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Paintball 11%
Clapping/Yelling 8%
Chasing on foot 4%
Rest includes dog chasing, pyrotechnics, effigies
Successful Harassment is measured if the bird flies off the landfill and continues
to fly or land in surrounding Bay
Maturing of habitat – may be largely responsible for hazing reductions over time.
Avian Guilds
# birds hazed – waterfowl and Canada Geese
Blackbirds – starlings
Gulls – mostly flyovers from Bay
About 350,000 hazed at the two landfills from 2007 to 2013
Caught 250 Canada Geese off landfills with culling contract (CRO-523) over the
years
Birds are primarily loafing, some foraging on landfill slopes and roadways.
Habitat types birds using: 48% on landfill slope
o Small Mammal Surveys
Trees dying due primarily meadow voles (about 90% of trees planted were
impacted by voles)
Vole declines in early February – rodenticide applications
Voles may not have attracted any important raptor populations
o Suggest continue monitoring site over the years
o Small Mammal Population Management
Summary: Long-term habitat maturation resulted in the reduction in bird abundance. No longer a
concern at this time to aviation. Continuation of monitoring recommended.
1:00pm USDA/DSNY – Update on Bird Management Activities at North Shore Marine Waste
Transfer Station (Stephan Beffre, USDA)
Status of plant – nearly completed. Currently testing electrical equipment. By Fall 2014 should
be fully operational
Avian Monitoring – 3 point count surveys/week at dawn, midday, and dusk with 5-off-site
properties
o Old flushing airport
o Strip mall
o Home Depot? (Check with Stephan)
o World’s Fair Marina
o City field
o Birds observed for last 6 months
Doves
Starling
Passerines
Gulls
Waterfowl/cormorants
o North Shore Facility has lowest population of all sites surveyed
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Integrated Hazard Management Plan was completed for operational phase– Question: DEP (C.
Nadareski) requested a copy of the plan
Mitigation measures
o Daddi-long legs
o Electric bird wire
o Bird spikes
“Do Not Feed Signs” – consult with PA
Salt shed – attracted pigeons
o Industrial vinyl strips will be installed by end of 2013
o Sound barrier fencing – vertical top protrusion to prevent birds roosting
All permits in place
Methods for bird dispersals
o Firearms
o Pyrotechnics
Stephan will be going on roof to investigate for gull nesting in the near future
North Shore Marine Transfer Station has low populations
DSNY will install all anti-perching equipment
Feral Cat Trapping
o Question: Port Authority (B. Malione) – Are there feral cat problem at the North Shore
facility? Stephan has only conducted 1 week of trapping.
Canada Goose roundups if necessary
Future Management: lethal control and pyrotechnics
Question: DEP (C. Nadareski) – who is new contact – Dennis Diggins, Assistant Commissioner,
DSNY
Question/Comment DEP (C. Nadareski) – propose to use security camera on Sanitation building
for remote monitoring?
1:15pm Proposed Update of Permits for 2014 (L. Francoeur, PA) – no new update
1:15pm JFK SEIS update and Mute Swan Management by USDA (M. Lowney)
June 2012 published Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for JFKIA
o National Parks Service (NPS) issued permit for Mute Swan egg oiling
o NPS oiled eggs in 2013
o Supplemental to Supplemental of the EIS concerning Rulers Bar Hassock for Mute Swan
management
o Management plan being developed
o Possible Mute Swan adoption program for private ponds
o Received 1,500 comments of which most were a form letter from “GeeseWatch”
Mute Swan plans for 2014
Awaiting to receive information from public
Population reduction/eradication; trap/euthanize
Adoption program in NYS DEP question: suggested by NYSDEC (yes)
Federal gov’t initiative to eradicate swans
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Mute Swan Management by National Parks Service (G. Frame)
East Pond: 9 nests relocated, of which only 3 had eggs. A total of 3 nests with 14 eggs punctured.
No cygnets observed in 2013
Gateway Marina on Flatbush had only 1 successful nest with 5 or 6 cygnets observed.
Comment by American Littoral Society (D. Riepe) – Mute Swan nest observed
nest in Broad Channel. Lots of swans in Sheepshead Bay observed in 2013.
1:25pm Army Corp of Engineers (L. Houstan)
Corps projects in Jamaica Bay: Post Storm Update ACOE wants to solicit input from the JFK
committee for aircraft safety
Ongoing efforts
o Storm Damage Reduction Studies
o Navigation Projects
o Jamaica Bay Ecosystem Restoration Sites
o CAP Restoration Projects
Marsh Island Restoration projects (2014/2017) - Marsh Island Projects in Jamaica Bay – restore
back to pre-1972 state
Elders Point Marsh Island – allowed to restored to 1970’s condition
o Elders East completed 2006 – 43 acres salt marsh – 14 million dollars
o Elders West completed 2010 - 40 acres; 17 million dollars
o Both survived Hurricane Sandy in good condition without major damage
Yellow Bar Marsh Island
o Dredge pumped to develop island. In conjunction with DEC/DEP. Used existing plants
for new habitat
o Completed 2012
o 44 acres; 19.6 million dollars
o Survived storm in good condition
Black Wall and Rulers Bar
o Used sand/graded; DEC/DEP funded NGO’s planted the islands
o Initiated in 2012
o 22.2 acres in Blackwall 1.3million
o 12.2 acres Rulers Bar for 2.1 million dollars
Gerritsen Creek
o Worked with NYCDPR
o Removed old fill and capped with clean material
o DPR wanted coastal grassland developed well
o Completed 2010; 20 acres marsh 20 acres of coastal grassland
o 8 million dollars
Spring Creek (CAP 1135)
o Proposed: removal of Phragmites and other material
o Funding was reduced then Hurricane Sandy occurred and currently in discussion where
plan will go forward
o Proposed for 12 acres salt marsh and 10 acres upland buffer for 6.5 million dollars.
ACOE working with City Parks
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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Plumb Beach Shoreline Protection
o Almost completed when Sandy hit. Some same ended up on Parkway.
Plantings of trees and small shrubs have occurred
o Mostly complete
o 2000 feet beach at 3.5 million dollars
Jamaica Bay Ecosystem Restoration
o Proposed ACOE and DEP
o 203 acres from 8 sites of salt marsh habitat
o 218 acres maritime upland
o 71 acres beach/dune
o 224 acres shallow water habitat
o 250 million dollars
JBERP – mainland restoration sites
o Bayswater State Park
5 acres for 4.8 million dollars
Wetland restoration
o Brant Point
7.5 acres; 7.8 million dollars
o JBERP – Hawtree
2 acres for 1.5 million dollars
o Dead Horse Bay
131 Acres marsh/dune
o Fresh Creek
93 acres at 37.9 million dollars marsh, coastal shrub
o Spring Creek South
152 acres marsh/beach/coastal forest at 60.2 million
o Flushing Bay and Creek Restoration
Complaints about smell from marsh from local community
Build marsh and coastal habitat
o Larger Vision
Hudson-Raritan Estuary
Jamaica Bay Comprehensive Restoration Plan
Feasibility Study to identify recommended plans to implement in 2014
Looking for input on discussion on the plans
Question: DEP (C. Nadareski): can ACOE place link for projects. Len will provide PowerPoint
and link to website
Comment: FAA (E. Martinez) – suggests meeting with Port Authority biologists. Comment: Port
Authority (B. Malione) – works with ACOE
1:55pm Port Authority (L. Francoeur) - Terrapins and Barrier Installation at JFK
June/July females on land nesting and emerge at high tide. Nest in loose sand and above the high
tide mark.
A total of 8 terrapin strikes were recorded at JFK in 2013
Hatchlings live on land for a year or two after hatching
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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May be a gull food source but unlikely
Most predation is from raccoons
Strikes at several airports across the country
o JFK – 37 strikes
o RSW – 24 strikes Fort Meyers, FLA
o TEB – 15 strikes (Tetterboro)
Critical time is summer (June and July). About 1300 flights/day during this time of year.
Terrapins landing on all sides
Gaps under fences
PA/USDA assisting
Data – started in 2009. Working with Russ Burke
Tracking studies. Using microchips/pit tags; filing
Relocation site: east side where habitat is available
Barrier test:
o 2 types based on recommendations Wetlands Institute
o Fencing falls apart in about 2 years
o Corrugated tubing works well
o Installed wildlife cameras to monitor activity
o Flooding is a concern lifting the tubing and terrapins can crawl under
o 2013 installed tubing and installed new fencing partly underground
o 8” diameter tubing
o Gates a problem – working on problem in spring 2014 before nesting season
o Question DEP (C. Nadareski) – could there be a saturation in relocation habitat?
o Recapture rate – only 14% previously marked in 2012 and 46% in 2013.
o 6 inch range at JFK at smaller end.
o Plans for 2014 – complete barrier installation; continue to collect and mark and education
and outreach
o In the Jamaica Bay Refuge raccoons consume about 95% of terrapin nests according to
Don Riepe (ALS)
2:15pm Mudflat Issue Port Authority (J. Kolodzinski)
Data collected during hazard assessment
o Low time and high tide
o Comment DEP (C. Nadareski) suggested overnight roosting data – PA will investigate
o Jeff spoke to USDA to develop a plan
o More detail needed
2:20 Round Robin – from all agencies present
FAA – no new issues
PA – no updates. City Parks to discuss North Brother Island reforestation project propose for
March 2014 meeting. Also access issue for Canada Geese/Mute Swan
DEP – Request copies of monthly report summarizing observations and report from USDA on
City properties including Riker’s Island.
JFK_LGA Wildlife Hazard Task Force Meeting Summary notes 11/20/13
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DOC – no new updates. Question: Address issues/concerns with Riker’s directly to DOC.
DEC – post Hurricane Sandy phase – receiving project proposals. Data for wildlife observations
for pre-storm and now looking for post-storm conditions or data. Send directly to Joe Pane at
Long Island City Office (Region II). Raptor trapping proposal – USDA and PA discussing for
American Kestrel relocation. Put on agenda March 2014 meeting
NPS – Revisions to park management plan and will be finalized by December 2013.
Alternatives: increase camp sites and hiking trails. Might need Environmental Assessment if
developed in bird areas or other sensitive areas. West Pond is intertidal and there will be
soliciting public input on future of West Pond. East Pond is being returned to fresh water system.
80 Mute Swans observed in 2013. May increase swan activity in near future. Aquatic vegetation
killed by salinity. Needs monitoring.
USDA – Need to fill jobs. Albany airport biologist; Jenny resigning at JFKIA; 6 seasonal
vacancies in February 2014. Martin will send postings. USFWS to speak about Bald Eagle
proposed regulations. NYC CAGO.
NYCDPR – no new issues
USFWS – not present
American Littoral Society - Jamaica Bay Task Force meeting December 3, 2013. Refuge at
6:30pm. Gateway has new superintendent and will be speaking.
USACOE – Will provide PowerPoint copy of the presentations
Nassau County/Others – not present
Next Meeting: Proposed: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 10 – 2pm. Changed to: Wednesday, March
26, 2014 from 10am to 2pm. LGA, Hanger 7, Marine Air Terminal.
New Committee Chair: Patricia Feeney, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department of
Corrections. Assistant Chair: Christopher A. Nadareski, Research Scientist IVA, NYC
Department of Environmental Protection
Meeting Adjourned!