Identifying and modeling Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus breeding habitat in the outer Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories

The outer Mackenzie Delta is the site of the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP). Approval of the MGP may impact Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus populations breeding in the area through habitat loss and human disturbance. This study identified Whimbrel breeding habitat, examined the use of IKONOS imagery to identify key Whimbrel breeding habitats within the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary in the outer Mackenzie Delta and analysed the potential impact of the MGP on Whimbrel populations. Wet-sedge low-centred polygon habitat supported the majority of breeding Whimbrel in the study site (87%). Whimbrel were also observed breeding in dry upland tundra habitats (13%). Supervised classification of the IKONOS imagery provided a broad classification of land cover types but was incapable of identifying polygon habitat used by breeding Whimbrel. Construction and operations of the MGP will reduce the amount of available Whimbrel breeding habitat.