Canadian geese meadow buttercup1/5/2024 ![]() ![]() These may be caused by habitat loss and degradation, lack of food availability, warming ocean waters and anthropogenic disturbances. ![]() Confirmed mammal sightings include otters, seals, whales, and two killer whale ecotypes (transient and southern resident).ĭespite the strong return of bald eagles and western purple martins, and the proliferation of (invasive, resident, introduced) Canada geese in recent decades, widespread declines of coastal waterbirds (e.g. golden paintbrush, Victoria’s owl-clover) on the Trial Islands, and suitable habitat for giant Pacific octopus, northern abalone, Olympia oysters, Coho salmon, cutthroat trout and bay pipefish. It features an outstanding assemblage of over twenty rare plants (e.g. ![]() The MBS is also home to western purple martins with nesting boxes installed at seven locations between Cadboro Bay and Portage Inlet. Cormorants are no longer known to nest there possibly due to the return of predatory bald eagles in recent decades. In summer, over one thousand glaucous-winged gulls nest on the Chain Islets with pigeon guillemots and black oystercatchers. ![]() Hundreds of Heermann’s gulls, Bonaparte’s gulls, surf scoters, Pacific loons, common murres, ancient murres and marbled murrelets may also partake in the frenzy. Thousands of birds (Brandt’s cormorants, rhinoceros auklets, glaucous-winged gulls) are attracted to the area when krill and forage fishes abound, creating a giant feeding frenzy. Other noteworthy areas within the Oak Bay region include: the Trial Islands, the Bowker Creek estuary, the Chain Islets, Baynes Channel, and the “Oak Bay Flats” with their large submarine sand dunes. In particular, over 230 species have been recorded along Enterprise Channel, as well as McMicking Point. The Oak Bay area within and near the MBS is known for its importance to birds. Main bird species present in this MBS include: Though this sanctuary is located adjacent to a bustling city, it remains an important roosting and overwintering site for a large number of migratory bird species that use this vital habitat either seasonally or year-round. This sanctuary provides critical habitat and is home for valuable wildlife including birds, fishes, mammals, molluscs, crustaceans, plants and other organisms including several federally designated species at risk. The restoration on the Trial Islands, the cleanup of the Gorge Waterway, Rock Bay and Laurel Point, and the construction of a regional sewage treatment plant are examples of noteworthy initiatives. In recent decades, deindustrialization, cleanups, ecological restoration and wildlife recovery programmes by several governmental, private, non-governmental and volunteer agencies, enterprises and organizations have contributed to the return of clean waters and wildlife not seen in more than half a century, and fueled urban renewal. The sanctuary encompasses all of Victoria Public Harbour, one of the six federal harbours in BC included in the Six Harbours Agreement of 1924. Low numbers of birds, for various reasons, remain a concern today. This sanctuary was established on Octoto control hunting of birds such as Brant at a time when market hunting and rapidly dwindling numbers of geese and ducks were concerns. It also lies next to five municipalities in the Capital Regional District of British Columbia (BC): Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Saanich and View Royal. It lies in traditional Lekwungen (Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations) territory, in “the place to smoke herring”. Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the first bird sanctuary in Pacific Canada, is located along a busy wildlife corridor around the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in Juan de Fuca Strait, in the heart of the Salish Sea. Importance of the sanctuary: migratory birds and other wildlife ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |