Regional sites 
As part of a regional bird deterrent and monitoring program for the Athabasca oil sands region, Hatfield has conducted tailings pond monitoring for migratory waterbirds. Oil sands operations are required through the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (AEPEA) and the Canada Migratory Birds Convention Act to take reasonable measures to prevent birds from coming into contact with oil sands process-affected water.
Hatfield has conducted tailings pond monitoring for migratory waterbirds for a number of oil sands companies. Hatfield monitored and surveyed on-site tailings ponds and recorded all birds observed flying over and/or landing on tailings ponds. Data were analyzed to determine directionality of movements and species composition of sightings. A total of six ponds in two separate mines were monitored. In peak migration periods, up to 1500 geese and other birds were observed daily.
Information obtained from these observations are being used to better understand bird movements in the Athabasca oil sands and to improve measures implemented to deter birds from harmful mine areas and oil sands process-affected waters. Monitoring migration paths of migratory birds allows oil companies to avoid developing and/or erecting infrastructure that may obstruct migration paths as well as to avoid areas with heavy bird use that may continue if a tailings pond was created.
