2003-2004 Community Action Fund BRITISH COLUMBIA SEABIRD SURVIVAL PROGRAM FEDERATION OF BC NATURALISTS ACTIVE PASS, CHAIN ISLETS & GREAT CHAIN ISLAND, SIDNEY CHANNEL, PORLIER PASS, AND SNAKE ISLAND IBAS, BRITISH COLUMBIA The east coast of southern Vancouver Island and associated Gulf Islands represent extremely important habitat for a wide variety of seabirds. Home to nine vulnerable species, the Active Pass, Chain Islets & Great Chain Island, Sidney Channel, Porlier Pass, and Snake Islands were recently designated as IBAs. The unique character of the region, coupled with its close proximity to major tourist destinations and cities, has resulted in a boom of recreational activities, including power boating, kayaking and nature watching; and the number of people participating in outdoor recreation is on the rise. Nature watching is one of the fastest growing activities in the world, and is particularly good for the regional economy. However, human disturbance of seabirds can have serious implications for their survival and productivity including physiological stress, egg and nestling mortality, premature fledgling, and colony abandonment. The Seabird Survival Program, an initiative of the Federation of BC Naturalists, is developing a set of viewing guidelines for islands and marine areas where seabirds congregate and a series of educational programs and materials to raise awareness in the community. Supported by a wide range of government and non-government agencies in the southern Vancouver Island area, this project has great potential to make a difference in the way people interact with seabirds. WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT COMOX VALLEY NATURALISTS SOCIETY COMOX VALLEY IBA, BRITISH COLUMBIA The Comox Valley is renown for the Pacific Trumpeter Swan that over-winters in the area, feeding on discarded vegetables or corncobs, green forage, seedlings, and native vegetation. Wetland and estuary loss through the use of dykes, draining for farming, and infilling for commercial and residential purposes has severely reduced the amount of natural habitat for wildlife in the Comox Valley. While “no net loss” legislation protects coastal wetlands, invasive non-native plant species continue to colonize the remaining wetlands, reducing biodiversity and the quality of habitat. The Comox Valley Naturalists Society (CVNS) has embarked on a program to eradicate invasive plant species and establish diverse, healthy populations of native species in the natural areas of Courtney River and its estuary. Major removal efforts will target three species including Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Flag Iris, Japanese Knotweed, and Himalayan Blackberry. Areas where these species are removed will be planted with native species. THE EAGLE WATCH VOLUNTEER INTERPRETER PROGRAM THE SQUAMISH ESTUARY CONSERVATION SOCIETY SQUAMISH RIVER AREA IBA, BRITISH COLUMBIA The Squamish River, with spawning salmon and dense forest, is recognized as one of the world’s premiere locations to observe bald eagles, with a world-record count in 1994 of 3,769 eagles. The Squamish Estuary Conservation Society (SECS) was formed in 1982, making it the longest-established environmental group in Squamish. With a strong, credible record for promoting environmentally responsible behaviour in the community, members remain at the forefront of community action in the Squamish River IBA, being key players in implementing Eagle Watch, the Eagle Run Shelter, and a myriad of other conservation initiatives in the region. Eagle Watch, a community-based volunteer program with the mandate to educate visitors and residents about wintering bald eagles in the ecosystem, has been running strong for more than eight years. Since 1995, the program has countered the impact of habitat alteration and disturbance by birdwatchers in the Squamish River IBA. The main objective of Eagle Watch is to minimize viewer disturbance to wintering bald eagles (in late October to mid-February) and other migratory birds and to reduce the incidence of trespassing on private property in the IBA. This is achieved by educating visitors about natural history, bird ecology, and non-invasive birdwatching. They also share their expertise with tourist businesses and schools, and participate in the annual Eagle Festival.   WINTERING SWAN EDUCATION PROGRAM KAMLOOPS WILDLIFE PARK SOCIETY SOUTH THOMPSON RIVER IBA, BRITISH COLUMBIA Travellers along the TransCanada Highway near Kamloops speed past what they often mistake as fragments of floating ice along the South Thompson River. Only a few dedicated naturalists are aware that these are no ordinary ice floes and that the area is an important winter destination for the gobally significant trumpeter swan. The calm waters of the South Thompson River provide excellent foraging habitat for this wintering waterfowl and as many as 100 to 400 trumpeter swans, representing approximately 2 per cent of the global population, forage in the region. Kamloops Wildlife Park Society (KWPS) is a non-profit organization committed to exhibiting representative indigeounous species in a natural setting, thereby inspiring and educating people, and evoking a feeling of stewardship. The park offers wildlife and habitat conservation education to the public, as well as a rehabilitation service for injured or orphaned animals. Whenever possible, healthy animals are reintroduced in the wild. To inform the public of the trumpeter’s status, the society will be producing and installing an interpretive map of the South Thompson River IBA within Kamloops Wildlife Park in hopes that visitors will endeavour to become stewards of this magnificent bird.     back to map