BIG LAKE IMPORTANT
BIRD AREA
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
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the entire conservation plan (351 KB pdf
file)
The
Canadian IBA program offers opportunities
for local stakeholders to become involved
in identifying and promoting effective conservation
measures. Big Lake, Alberta, a "globally
siginficant" Important Bird Area (Canadian
IBA Database, 2000), can benefit in this
way.
Big Lake is located in central Alberta, adjacent
to the northwest corner of Edmonton. It is
a feature of the Sturgeon River, which flows
to it from the west and northwest, and from
it eastward through the city of St. Albert.
The river eventually drains to the North Saskatchewan
River. The lake is shallow and supports considerable
emergent vegetation. It has been recognized
as a provincially significant waterfowl breeding
and staging area, and some 221 species of
birds have been verified on or around the
lake (Demulder, 2000).
The
identification of Big Lake as a globally significant
Important Bird Area is due to the high numbers
of Franklin's Gulls,Tundra Swans and autumn
migration of waterfowl, but the main attraction
is the great variety of birds of all types
that use this site throughtout the year. There
is a recorded instance of 10,000 Northern
Pintails during spring migration a few years
ago. In recent years, Ospreys have increased
and Eurasian Widgeons are now seen annually.
Nationally threatened Peregrine Falcons, probably
from the government recovery program in Edmonton,
can be seen hunting around the lake.
For decades, interest has been shown in the
proper protection of the lake for recreational
and educational uses. The province is the
owner of the lake proper, as well as two parcels
of crowns land adjacent to it. Most of the
land ownership around the lake is private,
and it is critical that landowners be a significant
part of any management plan.
The
site offers opportunities for long-term usage
by schools and other organizations as an example
of a prairie wetland ecosystem. Some ideas
for eco-tourism have been advanced. Access
to the lake is limited, which is helpful in
terms of protection, but challenging in terms
of usability.
Big
Lake is subject to a variety of threats, including
impacts from adjacent land uses. Appropriate
agricultural, chemical management and intustrial
practices require promotion and acceptance
by landowners. Purple Loosestrife has been
encountered in the area.
The province of Alberta has recently designated
Big Lake as a "Conservation Natural Area",
under its Special Places 2000 (SP2000) program
(Big Lake Local Committee, 1999) This means
that a local management committee will be
formed to guide the processes deemed necessary
for protection and management of the lake.
The IBA program, which is accompanied by no
managerial authorities, can therefore identify
no long-term management recommendations at
this time. It can, however, implement a program
that benefits the profile of the lake without
usurping the future management authorities
of the SP2000 committee.
Initially,
while Alberta is determining the establishment
of its SP2000 management of Big Lake, the
local IBA conservation plan will focus on
education. the objective will be to heighten
local awareness of the values of conserving
Big Lake's bird populations. Family-oriented
programs at the lake will serve to puplicize
the IBA status and entrain the support of
residents. Municipalities will be approached
regarding establishment of appropriate signage
for informing the puplic about the IBA site.
At the same time, the Big Lake Environment
Support Society (BLESS) and partners will
continue to monitor the status of species
the were significant in the identification
of Big Lake as an IBA site.
The numbers of persons attracted to the shore-side
educational programs will determine the success
of the year-2000 IBA projects. The acceptance
of the brochure that describes the IBA objectives
for Big Lake will also help evaluate the program.
INTRODUCTION
Big Lake is
an eutrophic lake bordered by Edmonton on
its southeast. St. Albert on the east, Sturgeon
County on the north and Parkland County on
the southwest. It is recongnized as a major
waterfowl moulting and staging area, and is
also home to a multitude of other bird species.
In
1990, a group of concerned citizens formed
a registered non-profit organization dedicated
to promoting the protection and conservation
of Big Lake. The Big Lake Environment Support
Society (BLESS) has been successful in many
ways, including the establishment of facilities
(shelter, viewing platform, trail), hosting
of festivals and other events, coordination
of cleanup activities, promotional brochures,
collection of field data, advocacy positions
regarding developmental issues, field trips
and lectures, and annual environmental education
programs.
There
is a long history of efforts to determine
how to protect Big Lake. The most recent is
the successful recommendation of a local committee
to have the lake designated a Conservation
Natural Area under the Alberta Special Places
2000 program (SP2000) ( Big Lake Local Committee,
1999). There is an opportunity to influence
the next phase of that program, and to encourage
authorities (such as municipalities) to develop
appropriate long-term conservation plans for
Big Lake.
Many
other stakeholders contribute to the conservation
goals for Big Lake: Ducks Unlimited Canada,
federal and provincial environment departments,
Federation od ALberta Naturalists, Edmonton
Bird Club, Edmonton Natural History Society,
service clubs and both provincial and local
Fish and Game Associations. Landowners are
a vital part of any concerted efforts to achieve
conservation goals, as they are in a position
to voluntary take significat steps.
The
Important Bird Area (IBA) program provides
an opportunity for all stakeholders to build
on the efforts of the past. The IBA Conservation
Plan can provide one of the tools needed by
the forthcoming SP2000 management committee.
It can provide focus for the birds and birding
elements of the total management scenario.
The
numbers of two individual species, and the
autumn migration of waterfowl through Big
Lake, qualify the site as an Important Bird
Area. The two qualifying bird species are
Tundra Swans and Franklin's Gulls. The recorded
number of species have led to the identification
of Big Lake as a "globally significant" Important
Bird Area.
It
is therefore fair to state that birds and
and birding are of highest interest to Albertans.
The conservation of Big Lake for birds and
the multitude of plants and animals within
this area will also benefit Albertans. the
proximity of Big Lake to several large urban
populations should be seen as an opportunity
to provide education and managed access to
a world-class natural site.
