Form ProjStat (Rev. 5/2013)
(RTI)
Research Project Statement 18-301FY 2018 Annual Program
Title: / Daily and Seasonal Movements of Brown Pelicans in the Bahia Grande Wetland Complex
The Problem: / The Bahia Grande Wetland Complex in Cameron County, Texas was acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as part of the Laguna Madre National Wildlife Refuge in 2000. Efforts to restore this area from a dry, barren basin to a functional coastal estuary have been underway since that time. Widening of and improvements to SH 48 were completed in 2009. As part of this improvement project and in anticipation of USFWS Bahia Grande restoration, two new bridges were constructed. One replaced an existing bridge at San Martin Cut and the other was over the then proposed Bahia Grande Restoration Channel. In 2005, a small pilot channel with a 15-foot bottom width was dug to reestablish a tidal connection between the Bahia Grande and the Laguna Madre via the Brownsville Ship Channel. Upon completion in 2009 of the new SH 48 bridge, culverts were removed and the pilot channel was widened. Current plans in the ongoing restoration efforts call for the expansion of the pilot channel to a main channel with a 150-foot bottom width to increase tidal exchange and reduce the hyper-salinity of the Bahia Grande Wetland Complex.
The USFWS-coordinated project has resulted in a marked increase in use of the area by resident and migrant waterfowl, shorebirds, and seabirds. Along with the increased use by birds, there has been an increased incidence of wildlife-vehicle interactions along SH 48 in the vicinity of the San Martin Cut (Jaimie Zapata Bridge) and the Bahia Grande Restoration Channel (Carl "Joe" Gayman Bridge); most notably, large numbers of Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) have been reported killed in this area. Collisions with Brown Pelicans create immediate safety issues for individual drivers and traffic hazards and delays for the wider traveling public. It also impacts local populations of the Brown Pelican, a species removed from the Endangered Species List only since 2009.
Reports of pelicans being killed go back to at least 2011. Incidental reports and observations indicate that mortality events have ranged from several individuals to dozens of birds killed, which occur in geographically discreet locations and under certain weather conditions: those being strong (>20 mph) north winds, cold temperatures, and overcast or rainy conditions. "Pelican poles" were installed on the two bridges in January 2015 as a means to encourage the birds to gain more altitude while traversing the bridges. A systematic roadkill study conducted in 2015 and 2016 seemed to indicate the poles were working to some degree but may have been deflecting the birds around, instead of over, the poles.
Several incidents in December 2016 and January 2017, one with up to 80 individuals killed, show the problem is not resolved. Informal reports and observations present a confusing picture of what is causing the pelican collisions with moving vehicles. It has been suggested that the aerodynamics of the roadway, the visual presentation of the roadway to the birds, the visibility of the birds to drivers, and traffic control and speed regulation - or some combination of these factors - need to be adjusted to reduce or prevent future incidents. Prior to investing in a solution, it is important to understand the daily and seasonal movements of Brown Pelicans and how daily or seasonal weather events affect these movements.
Technical
Objectives: / This project will determine the daily and seasonal movements of Brown Pelicans in the Bahia Grande/Laguna Madre vicinity, how those movements are affected by weather events, and determine what factors are causing pelican-vehicle collisions. Observation of pelican populations including mark-resight and GPS tracking methods shall be used to determine daily and seasonal movements. Demographic data such as age, sex, and reproductive status shall be recorded, when determinable. Weather data shall be recorded and tracked to determine what factors are causing or not-causing vehicle interactions. Video recordings of pelican behavior near the bridges, and investigations of methods for the safe removal of dead, stranded, and injured birds shall be made.
Desired
Deliverables: / 1. Technical memorandum for each task completed.
2. Monthly progress reports, due on the 3rd business day of the following month.
3. Value of Research (VoR) that includes both qualitative and economic benefits.
4. Research report, including movement data for individual pelicans derived from observations of unmarked, marked, and GPS location-tracked birds; identification of weather conditions, which are likely and not likely to trigger vehicle interactions; video records of pelican behaviors near the bridges; and recommendations for actions that could be implemented to reduce or prevent possible vehicle collisions.
5. Project Summary Report
Proposal
Requirements: / 1. Utilize the deliverable based templates (see the appendices provided or in the University Handbook)
2. Proposals will be considered non-responsive and will not be accepted for technical evaluation if they are not received by the deadline or do not meet the requirements stated in RTI’s University Handbook.
3. Proposals should be submitted in PDF format, 1 PDF file per proposal. File name should include project name and university abbreviation.
Pre-Proposal Meeting Information: / Monday, March 27, 2017 4:00 – 4:30PM
Austin Riverside Campus
118 E. Riverside Dr.
RTI Conference Room, 1st Floor
Webex Information:
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Teleconference information:
Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call:
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Conference Code: 735 262 478
Notifying RTI of Intent to Propose: / In order to be notified if additional project information is distributed by TxDOT, you must contact RTI, at (512) 416-4730 or by April 3, 2017, if you plan to propose.
Proposal
Deadline: / Proposals are due to RTI by 4:00 p.m. Central Time, May 11, 2017. Email submissions should be sent to .
Project Statement 18-301