BEAVERHILL LAKE
IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Download the entire conservation plan (100
KB pdf file)
Beaverhill
Lake was designated as an Important Bird Area
(IBA) in 1997. The IBA program is sponsored
by Birdlife International and is spearheaded
in Canada by its co-partners, the Canadian
Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada.
Its goals are: to identify sites that are
critical to the long term viability of bird
populations
with a focus on bird species that meet IBA
criteria; to develop on-the-ground conservation
plans through partnerships with local stakeholders;
and to maintain ongoing local involvement
in the protection and monitoring of the species
and sites.
Located
8 km east of the Town of Tofield, Beaverhill
Lake is a large shallow alkaline lake. The
IBA includes Dekker and Pelican Islands, the
Beaverhill Lake Natural Area, and the lake
itself. This IBA is used as a spring and fall
migration staging area for globally significant
populations (greater than 1% of the global
population) of Greater White-fronted Geese,
Snow Geese, Pectoral Sandpipers, Black-bellied
Sandpipers, and Dowitcher species. Nationally
significant populations (greater than 1% of
the national population) of American Avocets
breed at Beaverhill Lake. Many species of
songbirds also use the IBA and surrounding
habitats as a migratory stopover site and
breeding area. The endangered Piping Plover
has bred on the shore of the lake in previous
years. Peregrine Falcons are a commonly seen
and deer, moose, and many small mammals can
be found around the lake. The public land
adjacent to the lake is used primarily to
graze cattle under lease dispositions. Cultivation
of crops occurs further away from the shore
on private land. Low impact recreation and
research activities are conducted within the
Natural Area.
Beaverhill
Lake has been recognized by many organizations
and has received designations to protect species
and habitats, and to increase local, national
and international recognition. Designations
include Special Places, Western Hemisphere
Shorebird Reserve Network, Ramsar Site, Natural
Area, and a National Nature Viewpoint. Migrating
geese have been protected through a Seasonal
Sanctuary regulation, and colonial bird nesting
sites on the islands are protected under a
Restricted Wildlife Area regulation.
The
Beaverhill Lake Stakeholders Committee provided
input for this conservation plan. Members
involved in the planning meeting include:
local lease holders, the Town of Tofield,
the County of Beaver, Alberta Public Lands,
Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited,
Tofield Nature Center, the Edmonton Bird Club,
and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory.
The
conservation of Beaverhill Lake will not only
maintain a staging area for bird populations,
it will allow for the continued and cooperative
research to further understand the bird species
and their relationships with their habitats.
The lake provides an excellent opportunity
for educating the public on the natural history
of the region and the importance of maintaining
habitats. Tourism provides economic benefits
for the local community. Hunting opportunities
within the region will remain with healthy
waterfowl populations. Eight conservation
issues were identified that
can affect the IBA species and the habitats
they use:
-
Fluctuating
water levels allows cattle and mammalian
predators to access both Dekker and Pelican
Islands, which disrupts nesting of colonial
birds. Low water levels may increase the
concentration of salts found in the water,
to the point of being toxic to some species.
-
High
concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds
congregate on the lake, increasing the chance
of spreading disease. Botulism outbreaks
have occurred in previous years killing
thousands of ducks, geese, and shorebirds.
-
Grazing
the shoreline vegetation may limit the nesting
and feeding opportunities for some bird
species. Trampled soils provide ideal conditions
for weedy plants to grow.
-
Aspen
and willow groves are dominant within the
Natural Area. Some clearing has been conducted
that may have effects on feeding and nesting
opportunities of some species of birds,
benefiting some but to the detriment of
others.
-
The grasslands and sedge meadows along the
shoreline have become very dense in the
Natural Area. This may affect the grassland
species composition
and poses a fire risk.
-
Ecotourism
is a concern to private landowners and their
property. At times, visitors go off trails,
trample the vegetation, and leave gates
open.
-
Exotic
species are a concern to the ecological
integrity of natural areas. The extent of
any exotic species near the lake are unknown,
-
Cultivation
of lands adjacent to the lake may increase
the risk of wind and water erosion. Agricultural
chemicals may be affecting the water quality
of the lake.
Each
action item within these categories focus
on a specific issue and is prioritized based
on the importance it has to the IBA species
at the lake, and stakeholder activities. These
action plans are flexible and can be revised
to accommodate the dynamic changes that may
occur to the IBA species, lake habitats, and
the views of the stakeholders.
The
Beaverhill Lake IBA conservation plan was
completed while the Special Places management
plan for Beaverhill Lake was in its early
development stages. The IBA conservation plan
was developed from the perspective of the
birding community, and therefore recommends
actions to maintain the bird communities at
Beaverhill Lake. To represent the views of
the birding community as part of the stakeholders
group at Beaverhill Lake, this IBA plan was
submitted to the Special Places Planners for
their consideration to include in the Beaverhill
Special Places Plan.
