RICHLAND, Wash. - DOE gave the Hanford Site ’s avian protection program honorable mention for the 2017 Presidential Migratory Bird Federal Stewardship Award.
“To be recognized for our work is a great honor and a tribute to our partnerships and the employees dedicated to preserving Hanford’s migratory bird population," said H. Boyd Hathaway, who oversees the Hanford Site ecological program for EM’s Richland Operations Office.
The Department recognized the program for monitoring key avian species, evaluating potential impacts from cleanup, taking protective measures, training site personnel about migratory bird protection, and protecting and enhancing important migratory bird habitats.
The program, managed by contractor Mission Support Alliance (MSA), focuses on key species, including ferruginous hawks, burrowing owls, American white pelicans, bald eagles and sage-steppe passerines, including the sagebrush sparrow.
At approximately 580 square miles, the Hanford Site represents one of the largest remaining native shrub-steppe communities. With diverse habitats, the site provides permanent or transitory habitat for more than 200 bird species.
Strong relationships with agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Bonneville Power Administration, helped the site develop monitoring and compliance expectations for migratory birds.
Responsible for ecological monitoring at Hanford, MSA was a major contributor to the 2016 ferruginous hawk and sagebrush songbird survey programs run by WDFW and the Washington Audubon Society. The company also works with local organizations, including Blue Mountain Wildlife, to rehabilitate injured birds, including the in October 2016.
MSA and its partners continue to research and improve migratory bird protection and enhance their understanding of avian behavior at the site.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
