Proximity to infrastructure and ecotype influence breeding bird abundance at an Arctic mine, the Hope Bay Project, Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

As the Arctic becomes increasingly accessible to the resource extraction industry, an understanding of the impacts of infrastructure and anthropogenic disturbance on tundra-nesting avian populations is critical. We conducted breeding bird surveys using point counts and Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (PRISM) rapid surveys at the Hope Bay Project, an underground gold mine in Nunavut, Canada, from 2007 to 2015. We examined the relationship between abundance of total birds, songbirds, and shorebirds with distance from infrastructure, anthropogenic disturbance (i.e., activity at the mine site), and environmental covariates. Contrary to our predictions, anthropogenic disturbance showed no significant effect on bird abundance for either survey type or bird grouping. However, total bird abundance was associated with distance from infrastructure for both survey methods. A relationship with distance to infrastructure, with variability in influence, was also present for songbird point count data and shorebird PRISM data, but was not significant for songbirds recorded during PRISM surveys. Habitat type played a vital role in determining avian abundance, with PRISM surveys showing that wet lowland ecotypes supported higher bird numbers, whereas point count data revealed a more nuanced habitat association, likely reflecting the specific habitat preferences of different songbirds. Our study highlights the need for strategic planning of industrial development, incorporating comprehensive monitoring and ensuring the protection of preferred Arctic-breeding bird habitats. By aligning development projects with environmental objectives, we can ensure the coexistence of industrial interests and the future of avian populations in the Arctic.