Blackie Spit Park: Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Plan - City of Surrey

3.3.3 Management Priorities
First priority: management units whose management goals will be most affected by lack of action
because of the growth of invasive species, or from encroachment by native species.
This priority may apply to only portions of these MUs, or it may apply in addition to other priorities;
therefore, an MU may appear in two categories. Because invasive species removal has been
undertaken recently, this priority may not be as high as it once was in some MUs, but as the long-term
effectiveness of the broom (Cytisus scoparius) removal programs is as yet unknown, MUs that had
a recent problem are included.
MU 8, MU 9, MU 10, MU 11, MU 12, MU 14
Second priority: management units whose management goals will not be realized until habitat
management activities are completed.
MU 2, MU 4 (north part), MU 5, MU 15, MU 16, MU 17, MU 19
Third priority: management units whose management goals are currently being realized, at least in
part, but will be enhanced through management activities (in addition to any required invasive species
removal).
MU 6, MU 8, MU 9, MU 10, MU 11, MU 12, MU 13, MU 14,
Fourth priority: management units that require little or no action.
MU 1, MU 3, MU 7, MU 18
3.3.4 Wildlife Use Monitoring for Blackie Spit
Establish baseline wildlife use data for birds, voles (in MU 4 old-field), larger diurnal mammals
(coyotes, deer), and amphibians (in MUs 6 and 8). To be most useful, the data should be collected
in a systematic manner so summary statistics can be calculated for comparison with future surveys.
There is also value in recording incidental observations of wildlife occurrences.
3.3.4.1 Incidental Records and Surveys
Incidental observations need only record date, observer, MU, habitat (from a predetermined list of
options), species, and number of individuals. Park employees and visitors could be provided with
cards for completing incidental records, which could be in the form of a single observation of interest,
or of a day’s birding. A sample survey card (below) could form the basis of a card design. Data
entry, preferably into a dBase compatible program such as dBase V, Paradox, or Access, (or in a
database accessible format in a spreadsheet such as Lotus 123, Quatro Pro, or Excell), would
facilitate the use and summarization of the data. Perhaps a volunteer group, such as the White Rock
and Surrey Naturalists could be custodians of the database.
Blackie Spit Park: Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Plan – PART 1: Background and Summary 16