Ecoroofs in Multnomah County: Oregon as habitat for the Oregon vesper sparrow and common nighthawk
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Date
2016
Authors
Lewis, Alison
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This project uses spatial analysis to identify existing buildings in Multnomah County, Oregon, that, if
retrofitted with an ecoroof, could serve as breeding and stopover habitat for the Oregon vesper sparrow
and common nighthawk. Both bird species have experienced population declines in recent years as
a result of urban development, pesticide use, and predation. This project explores a new approach to
habitat restoration, where suitable sites for bird habitat are identified on buildings themselves, rather
than the land surrounding buildings. Through this exploration, the project deviates from more standard
approaches to ecoroof design, which conceives these vegetated spaces with little consideration for
the wildlife habitat they could provide, or the larger green matrix within which they exist. The over
arching premise is if ecoroofs are adjacent to suitable habitat, the Oregon vesper sparrow and common
nighthawk are more likely to use them for breeding and stopover habitat. The results identified a total of
49 buildings suitable for ecoroofs to support Oregon vesper sparrow breeding habit and 188 buildings
suitable for ecoroofs to support common nighthawk breeding and Oregon vesper sparrow stopover
habitat. With suitable buildings identified, this project presents an ecoroof design on one building in
Portland that details the layout of grasses and forbs, all of which support the Oregon vesper sparrow’s
breeding life history needs.
Description
78 pages. Examining committee chair:David Hulse
Keywords
Ecoroofs, Green roofs, Bird habitat, Biodiversity, Green matrix, Corridors, Spatial analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ArcGIS, Sustainability, Conservation, Habitat