Ecology and Conservationof Migratory Birds

in Canada

Garry DonaldsonCanadian Wildlife Service

National OfficeGatineau, Quebec

Canada – a summary

Canada – a summary

652 species occur regularly

area - 9,984,670 km2

coastline - 202,080 km

population - 32,507,874

birds we share

Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopusFlesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipesGreater Shearwater Puffinus gravisSooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Blue-winged Teal Anas discorsCinnamon Teal Anas cyanopteraRuddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

birds we share

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Osprey Pandion haliatus

American Kestrel Falco sparveriusPerigrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

birds we share

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarolaAmerican Golden Plover Pluvialis dominicaSnowy Plover Charadris alexandrinusSemipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatusKilldeer Charadrius vociferusGreater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleucaLesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipesSolitary Sandpiper Tringa solitariaWillet Catopterophorus semipalmatusSpotted Sandpiper Actitis maculariaEskimo Curlew Numenius borealis

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopusHudsonian Godwit Limosa haemasticaMarbled Godwit Limosa fedoaRuddy Turnstone Arenaria interpresSurfbird Aphriza virgataRed Knot Calidris canutusLeast Sandpiper Calidris minutillaSanderling Calidris albaWhite-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fusicollisSemipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusillaBaird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdiiPectoral Sandpiper Calidris malanotosWilson’s Phalarope Phalaroups tricolor

birds we share

birds we share

Pomarine Jaegar Stercorarius pomarinusStercorarius pomarinusParasitic Jaegar Stercorarius parasiticusLong-tailed Jaegar Stercorarius longicaudusGreat Skua Catharacta skuaSouth Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki

Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcanSabine’s Gull Xema sbini

Black Tern Chlidonias nigerCommon Tern Sterna hirundoArctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

birds we share

Barn Owl Tyto albaGreat-horned Owl Bubo virginianusBurrowing Owl Athene cuniculariaChimney Swift Chaetura pelagicaEastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannusCliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonotaBank Swallow Riperia riperiaBarn Swallow Hirundo rusticaHouse Wren Troglodytes aedonBobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus

~57 species

Bird Conservation Issues

inadequate knowledge base• research• monitoring

habitat concerns• wetlands• boreal forest• grasslands• climate change• contaminants

wetlands

biodiversity rich

water quality enhancement

cover 15% of Canada

24% of world’s wetlands

wetlands

Goals:

Maintenance of functions and values throughout Canada

No net loss of functions on federal lands

Enhancement and rehabilitation in critical areas

Recognition of wetland functions in federal programs, policies and decisions

Securement of significant wetlands

Wise use of wetland resources by industry

http://www.ramsar.org/wurc_policy_canada.htm

boreal forest

Canada's boreal region is home to one of the largest remaining intact forest ecosystems in the world

53% of Canada30% of Canadian birds

boreal forest

boreal forest

important for biodiversity

carbon sink

partnerships with governments, non-government organizations and industry forming

grasslands

very heavily impacted

17 species of common concern

Grasslands Initiative formed

overarching issues

contaminants• agrichemicals• industry• long range transport to Arctic

climate change• effects on habitat• effects on distributions

Iniciativa para la concervación de las aves de América del Norte

Todas las aves, Todos los hábitats

PROPÓSITO: Cooperar para conservar todas las aves silvestres de Norteamérica en sus áreas de distribución y sus hábitat y finalmente colaborar con otras naciones firmantes con relación a la conservación de las aves silvestres.

Iniciativa para la concervación de las aves de América del Norte

una coordinación eficaz,

basándose en asociaciones regionales existentes, tales como las Empresas Conjuntas

fomentando una mayor cooperación entre las naciones y los pueblos del continente

Las regiones para la protección de las aves

http://www.nabci.net/

NABCI – Canada Council

Emphasizes partnership approach:

• Environment Canada – Chair

• Canadian Wildlife Service

• provincial/territorial wildlife directors

• non-governmental conservation organizations

• industries

Iniciativa de especies migraoriasHemispherio Occidental

contribuir notoriamente en la conservación de las especies migratorias del Hemisferio Occidental por medio de la consolidación de la cooperación entre las naciones, de acuerdos internacionales y de la sociedad civil y acrecentar la participación de las partes interesadas y de la ayuda política

la misión:

http://international.fws.gov/

Iniciativa de especies migraoriasHemispherio Occidental

Se incluye toda la fauna que emigra a través de los países de las Américas:

© Canon Martin Harvey

© Don DesJardin

© Bob Graham © Greg Skomal

© Dave Matilla© Bat Conservation International

Canadian Wildlife Service

Environment Canada:

• Migratory Bird Convention Act• Canada Wildlife Act• Species at Risk Act

CWS Strategic Plan

• migratory birds (as defined in the act)• habitat• species at risk

Bird Conservation Plans

provide the biological information and direction for conservation efforts

four plans for species with common life histories:

• North American Waterfowl Management Plan• Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan• Waterbird Conservation for the Americas• North American Landbird Conservation Plan

Habitat Conservation for Birds

Western Hemisphere ShorebirdReserve Network

Important Bird Areas

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

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Highly Regulatory Regimes Voluntary, Stewardship Models

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Important Habitats for SpeciesShared by Canada and Chile

shorebirds (IBA, WHSRN, Ramsar, others):• Bahia Lomas• Maullin• Chiloe• James Bay• Harry Gibbons Migratory Bird Sanctuary

links with National Parks• Pacific Rim• Wood Buffalo• Ivavik

Species at Risk Act

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

• arms length from government • reviews petitions

recovery team• develops recovery plan• need for greater international efforts

Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus)

Canadian Wildlife ServiceInternational Program

a range-wide strategy for science and conservation for migratory birds originating in Canada

under development

strategic approach for:• habitat • science• policy

Future Collaboration?

establish communication links

through common initiatives• WHMSI• Ramsar• WHSRN• IBA

others?