Migratory Birds Benefit From Protection at Hanford

RICHLAND, Wash. — Hanford Site wildlife biologists take great care in protecting migratory birds.

The environmental team with U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) conducts bird nest surveys prior to any work activities on the ground.

The team advises other Hanford contractors on protecting nesting areas for bald eagles, ferruginous hawks and other species. They also monitor migratory birds and work to conserve habitats and prey for sensitive species.

“More than 200 species of protected migratory birds pass through the Hanford Site each year,” said Tammy Maruska, EM Ecological Monitoring Program manager. “Sitewide conservation of these sensitive species is another way we can provide environmental support during the cleanup mission.”

The ferruginous hawk is one of more than 200 migratory birds that visits the Hanford Site.

In 2019, wildlife biologists found only three western burrowing owl breeding pairs remaining onsite. Since then, the environmental team has placed more than 70 artificial burrows, and now there are more than 30 breeding pairs.

Hanford’s Ecological Monitoring and Compliance Program includes partnerships with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Global Owl Project, a collaborative effort to research, track and preserve owl habitat.

“It is important to share the work we do at Hanford,” said Justin Wilde, an HMIS environmental team biologist. “Gaining knowledge and sharing information with other agencies and avian groups benefits the conservation of migratory birds beyond our site boundaries.”

The importance of the work and the accomplishments of the Hanford Site team were recognized in June by this year’s Presidential Migratory Bird Federal Stewardship Award. The annual award presented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds honors groups whose actions are focused on migratory bird conservation.

-Contributor: Melissa Ver Steeg

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