Research studies impact of oil activity on song birds

Posted: June 28, 2013 9:00 a.m.

A new research project has been launched at the University of Regina studying the impact of oil activity on grassland songbirds in southeastern Saskatchewan. The work is being carried out by Biology Masters student Jason Unruh.

“My research will determine the extent to which oil development occurring on Saskatchewan grasslands affects grassland songbird abundance. It will provide land managers and  government departments with critical information to allow them to make more informed decisions regarding the conservation of grassland birds in the context of increasing oil development on grassland pastures,” said Unruh. “In addition, birds are often used as indicator species of ecosystem health. By assessing the health of grassland songbird populations in Saskatchewan it provides an indication of the health of our grasslands.”

The birds in Unruh’s study include: Sprague's Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Baird's Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Western Meadowlark, Bobolink, Horned Lark, Clay-colored Sparrow.

Many of these species are listed as Species At Risk (SAR) within Canada. As a group, grassland songbirds have declined by 70 per cent since the 1960s.

Unruh received a one year National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Scholarship worth $17,500 to carry out the study.