Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary

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Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Canada British Columbia location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in British Columbia
Location Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates 49°29′58″N123°18′07″W / 49.49944°N 123.30194°W / 49.49944; -123.30194
Area0.81 ha (2.0 acres)
Designation Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Established1962
Governing body Canadian Wildlife Service
Website Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary

The Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a small migratory bird sanctuary on the south coast of British Columbia. It was established in 1962 by Environment and Climate Change Canada. [1] Located in Howe Sound just south of Anvil Island, it is a small rocky island where seabirds nest, and Harbour seals roam the surrounding waters. [2] To protect the birds' nesting habitat, public access to the islet is not allowed, however is it possible to observe birds by boat. [2]

Contents

Indigenous involvement

The islet is located on the traditional territory of the Squamish Nation and the Shishalh Nation who have inhabited the land for thousands of years prior to the arrival of settlers. Both Nations speak languages that are a part of the Coast Salish dialect. [3] The territory of the Squamish Nation spans from Western Howe Sound to Roberts Creek in the Sunshine Coast Regional District, and in the Metro Vancouver Regional District includes Burrard Inlet, English Bay, and False Creek. [4] The territory of the Shishalh Nation spans Howe Sound to Queens Beach in Jervis Inlet. [4] Both Nations have been active in biodiversity conservation and restoration activities in Howe Sound and surrounding regions. [5]

Geography

The sanctuary is located on the southern end of Howe Sound, a 42 km long and 21 km wide sound that receives freshwater from the Squamish River on its north end and connects with the Salish sea on its south end. [6] The coordinates of the sanctuary are 49°30’ N, 123°18 W, making it 30 km north of Vancouver. [2] It is 0.81 hectares in size and its surface is a combination of rocks, grasses, and serviceberry. [2] The maximum elevation is about 20 m above sea level. [2] [7]

Environmental issues and restoration

Howe Sound has undergone environmental degradation since industrialization began in the region in the 20th century. [6] Acid mine drainage from the Britannia Mine is responsible for significant amounts of pollution and biodiversity loss in the waters of Howe Sound and the surrounding land. [8] In the 1970s, ongoing conservation and restoration efforts began in the region, [9] as it is an important habitat to a wide variety marine animals and birds. [8]

In 2021, Howe Sound was recognized as a site of ecological importance and is one of nineteen designated UNESCO biosphere reserve s in Canada. [9] The area is also internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area. [9] According to UNESCO, biodiversity and ecological productivity are improving in the region.

Resulting from the UNESCO biosphere reserve designation, a restoration project called Restore the Shore was launched in Howe Sound in 2021. [7] Led by the Squamish Nation, the project focuses on restoring over 144 acres of estuary land that the endangered Chinook salmon depend on for survival. [7]

Species and habitat

Christie Islet is used as a perching, mating, and nesting site by the largest amount of seabirds in the Vancouver area. Oystercatcher seabirds have populated the islet for approximately a century, and other seabirds for a few decades. [6] The islet is not home to any land predators or mammals with the exception of Harbour seals in the surrounding waters. [2]

Seabirds spend the majority of their time in flight, and only stop to mate, nest, or rest. They inhabit rocky cliff areas to prevent interactions with possible predators, and the tall cliffs make it ideal to use wind to take flight. [10] Christie Islet is 75% rock and the rest consists in short grass and shrubs. [2] The crevices, ledges, burrows, shrubs, and cliffs on the rock make it an ideal nesting site for seabirds. [11]

Immature glaucous-winged gull feading Glaucous Winged Gull Feeding.jpg
Immature glaucous-winged gull feading

All the following are the primary seabird species found on the Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Howe Sound: [2] [6] [12]

The following are either federally or provincially listed as species at risk found in Howe Sound and on Christie Islet: [6]

Regulation

Federal laws protect all regularly occurring seabirds, waterbirds (except cormorants and pelicans) and colonies when they are located in Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. [13] [14]

Prohibited Activities in Migratory Bird Sanctuaries: [13] [14]

Possession of firearms and entry into the sanctuary in general are restricted. [14] The only exceptions are residents or persons residing in the sanctuary within their residence or while in transit. [14] These regulations are in place to safeguard the migratory birds and their ecosystems within the sanctuary. [15]

Guideline to avoid disturbance to birds

Seabirds and waterbirds are highly vulnerable to human disturbance, especially during their breeding season (May–July). [13] [15] Protecting their colonies is of utmost importance, and adherence to guidelines is essential to minimize disruption. [1] [15] Disturbance can lead to the abandonment of nests, wasted energy reserves, and increased vulnerability to predation, environmental conditions. [15] Disturbances may also cause chicks to leave nests prematurely, resulting in chick mortality. [15] The following are things to keep in mind when approaching the bird sanctuary. [1] [16]

On the Water: [1] [15]

From the Air: [1] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seabird</span> Birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment

Seabirds are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations. The first seabirds evolved in the Cretaceous period, and modern seabird families emerged in the Paleogene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tern</span> Family of seabirds

Terns are seabirds in the family Laridae, subfamily Sterninae, that have a worldwide distribution and are normally found near the sea, rivers, or wetlands. Terns are treated in eleven genera in a subgroup of the family Laridae, which also includes several genera of gulls and the skimmers (Rynchops). They are slender, lightly built birds with long, forked tails, narrow wings, long bills, and relatively short legs. Most species are pale grey above and white below with a contrasting black cap to the head, but the marsh terns, the black-bellied tern, the Inca tern, and some noddies have dark body plumage for at least part of the year. The sexes are identical in appearance, but young birds are readily distinguishable from adults. Terns have a non-breeding plumage, which usually involves a white forehead and much-reduced black cap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy cormorant</span> Species of bird

The pygmy cormorant is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae (cormorant) family of seabirds. It breeds in south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia. It is partially migratory, with northern populations wintering further south, mostly within its breeding range. It is a rare migrant to western Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander Islands</span> Russian islands in the Bering Sea

The Commander Islands, Komandorski Islands, or Komandorskie Islands are a series of islands in the Russian Far East, a part of the Aleutian Islands, located about 175 km (109 mi) east of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Bering Sea. Treeless and sparsely populated, the islands consist of Bering Island, Medny Island and fifteen islets and rocks. The largest of the latter are Tufted Puffin Rock (Kamen Toporkov or Ostrov Toporkov), 15 ha, and Kamen Ariy, which are between 3 km (1.9 mi) and 13 km (8.1 mi) west of the only settlement, Nikolskoye. Administratively, the Commanders compose the Aleutsky District of the Kamchatka Krai in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)</span> Subregion of British Columbia in Canada

The Sunshine Coast is a geographic subregion of the British Columbia Coast that generally comprises the regional districts of qathet and Sunshine Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine Coast Regional District</span> Regional district in British Columbia, Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sechelt</span> Town on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada

Sechelt is a district municipality located on the lower Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Approximately 50 km northwest of Vancouver, it is accessible from mainland British Columbia by a 40-minute ferry trip between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, and a 25-minute drive from Langdale along Highway 101, also known as the Sunshine Coast Highway. The name Sechelt is derived from the she shashishalhem word shíshálh, the name of the First Nations people who first settled the area thousands of years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Canada</span> Areas protected for conservation or historical reasons

Protected areas of Canada consist of approximately 12.1 percent of the nation's landmass and freshwater are considered conservation areas, including 11.4 percent designated as protected areas. Approximately 13.8 percent of Canada's territorial waters are conserved, including 8.9 percent designated as protected areas. Terrestrial areas conserved have increased by 65 percent in the 21st century, while marine areas conserved have increased by more than 3,800 percent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howe Sound</span> Sound in British Columbia, Canada

Howe Sound is a roughly triangular sound, that joins a network of fjords situated immediately northwest of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jervis Inlet</span> Inlet in British Columbia, Canada

Jervis Inlet is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast, about 95 km (59 mi) northwest of Vancouver, and the third of such inlets north of the 49th parallel, the first of which is Burrard Inlet, Vancouver's harbour.

shíshálh language Salishan language of the Shishalh of British Columbia

The Sechelt language, sháshíshálh or she shashishalhem, is a Coast Salish language that originates and is spoken within the swiya of the shíshálh Nation, located on the Sunshine Coast in southwestern British Columbia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Asian Flyway</span>

The Central Asian Flyway (CAF), Central Asian-Indian Flyway, or Central Asian-South Asian Flyway is a flyway covering a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic Ocean and the Indian Ocean and the associated island chains. The CAF comprises several important migration routes of waterbirds, most of which extend from the northernmost breeding grounds in Siberia to the southernmost non-breeding wintering grounds in West Asia, India, the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary is Canada's largest federally owned protected area, encompassing some 61,765 km2 (23,848 sq mi) of the Arctic Circle coastline. 6,710 km2 (2,590 sq mi) are marine, and 55,055 km2 (21,257 sq mi) are terrestrial.

Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area is a National Wildlife Area off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Covering an area of 11,570.65 km2 (4,467.45 sq mi), it is the second largest protected area in British Columbia after Offshore Pacific Seamounts and Vents Closure and is the largest national wildlife area in Canada.

shíshálh Nation

The shíshálh Nation is a First Nation located on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Their swiya comprises 515,000 hectares that stretches from xwesam in the southeast, to x̱enichen in the north, to kwekwenis in the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area</span> Wildlife Management Area in British Columbia, Canada

The Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area is a wildlife management area on the south coast of British Columbia. It was established in 2007 for the management of fish species as well as terrestrial wildlife. The wildlife management area is on the traditional territory of Squamish Nation, which is involved in management of the area. The freshwater of the Squamish River mixes with the saltwater of Howe Sound, resulting in a varied ecosystem containing different habitats that support an abundance of wildlife. It also provides natural flood control for the Squamish town sites.

The Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a migratory bird sanctuary on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. More than 40 species of birds are found there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary</span> A migratory bird sanctuary in Canada

The Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary or VHMBS is a 30 km protected area on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, in the Greater Victoria metropolitan area. It is located within the traditional territory of the Lekwungen People. The sanctuary is federally recognized as a critical habitat for bird conservation, and is home to an estimated 270 bird species, many of which are migratory. The sanctuary encompasses about 30 kilometres of coastline, an area covering approximately 1841 hectares in total. Of this total, 31 hectares are terrestrial, and 1810 hectares are marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watshishou Migratory Bird Sanctuary</span> Important Bird Area of Canada

Watshishou Migratory Bird Sanctuary, an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area of Canada, is located on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in the Côte-Nord region, Minganie RCM, Quebec, Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2014-11-13). "Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2014-11-13). "Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  3. ↑ "she shashishalhem, The Sechelt Language | shíshálh Nation, Sechelt, BC". Shishalh Nation. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  4. 1 2 "First Nations". Sunshine Coast Regional District. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  5. ↑ "Grant - shíshálh Nation (Sechelt Indian Band) Phase 3". forests.org. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Butler, Robert W.; MacVicar, Rod; Couturier, Andrew R.; et al. (2018). Status and Distribution of Marine Birds and Mammals in Southern Howe Sound, British Columbia, 2014-2015 (PDF) (Report). Pacific WildLife Foundation & Bird Studies Canada. pp. 1–98.
  7. 1 2 3 "Restore the Shore". Howe Sound Biosphere Region. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  8. 1 2 Zis, Thalia; Ronningen, Vera; Scrosati, Ricardo (2004-06-01). "Minor improvement for intertidal seaweeds and invertebrates after acid mine drainage diversion at Britannia Beach, Pacific Canada". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 48 (11): 1040–1047. Bibcode:2004MarPB..48.1040Z. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2003.12.007. ISSN   0025-326X. PMID   15172809.
  9. 1 2 3 "Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Reserve, Canada". UNESCO. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  10. ↑ Gaston, Tony (2013). "Hinterland Who's Who - Seabirds". www.hww.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  11. ↑ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2018-10-30). "Guidelines to avoid disturbance to seabird and waterbird colonies in Canada". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  12. ↑ Ricker, Karl. "Marine Birds of Howe Sound - their present and change in populations" (PDF). squamishenvironment.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  13. 1 2 3 Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2011-03-08). "Selection and management of migratory bird sanctuaries". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Branch, Legislative Services (2022-09-28). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2023-07-26). "Guidelines to avoid disturbance to seabird and waterbird colonies in Canada". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  16. ↑ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2023-07-26). "Guidelines to avoid disturbance to seabird and waterbird colonies in Canada". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
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