Species at Risk Survey at the Connaught Ranges and Primary Training Centre
Retained by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of the Department of National Defense (DND), Ottawa, Ontario, 2012-2014
Dr. McKinley completed a large scale Species at Risk (SAR) survey for all potential SAR present at a Department of Defense site in western Ottawa. In total, the survey targeted more than seventy (70) species, including all potential Species at Risk taxa. The site is 1200 hectare in size and surveys were conducted in all seasons for one full year.
Fish surveys were completed using electrofishing, minnow trapping, and fyke netting following the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP). Terrestrial surveys included amphibian call surveys, basking surveys for turtles, snake thermal board surveys, breeding bird point count surveys, overnight Whip-poor-will call surveys, mammal winter track and sign surveys, mammal spotlighting surveys, passive acoustic monitoring surveys for bats, rare plant transect surveys, and insect swipe net surveys. All survey methods followed the recognized Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) protocols, or best available protocols from other jurisdictions.
The study documented the occurrence and breeding behavior of twenty two (22) Species at Risk within the Site. Habitat mapping was completed for all twenty two (22) Species at Risk. Dr. McKinley was the prime consultant and project manager, and managed all aspects of the project planning, fieldwork, and reporting.
from left: Bat Passive Ultrasonic Recorder, Bald Eagle (Special Concern) in Flight
Role: Senior Project Manager/Senior Field Biologist (with DST Consulting Engineers)