"The
rare Yellow Rail is one of the most
sought-after breeding birds by ornithologists
in North America" (Alvo and Robert
1998).
The
Important Bird Area Program
The Canadian
Important Bird Areas program (IBA) was
established by the Canadian Birdlife
partners, the Canadian Nature Federation
and Bird Studies Canada, as part of
an international effort to identify
and conserve sites important to all
bird species worldwide. In Manitoba,
the IBA program was initiated in August
of 1999 and is being delivered and administered
by the Manitoba Naturalists Society.
Goals
of the Canadian IBA Program
The goals
of the Canadian IBA program are to identify
a network of sites that conserve the
natural diversity of Canadian bird species
and are critical to the long-term viability
of naturally occurring bird populations;
to determine the type of protection
or stewardship required for each site;
and to ensure the conservation of each
site through partnerships with local
community stakeholder groups who develop
and implement an on-the-ground community
conservation plan (CCP).
The
Douglas Marsh
The Douglas
Marsh is a very unique wetland dominated
by sedges (Carex spp.) but interspersed
with many wetland plant species that
are highly localized. Noteworthy botanical
features of Douglas Marsh include two
rare gentians, Felwort and Star Gentian.
The Douglas Marsh is a boggy wetland
with little open water except in the
extreme east corner. It is a catchment
basin for the sandy loam lands surrounding
it and has generally shallow water levels.
The east end (to the edge of the Carberry
Sandhills and Shilo) of the marsh is
comprised of willows and shrubs. To
the north, south and west are agricultural
lands, some grasslands, and stands of
trees and shrubs.
Significant
Bird Species
Douglas
Marsh is recognized internationally
for its Yellow Rail populations. The
Yellow Rail is one of the ten most sought
after species on bird watchers' life
lists for North America. It is one of
the most seldom seen nesting birds in
Canada and the U.S.A, usually only heard
“bone knocking” at night in
a breeding location.
The Douglas Marsh is thought to have
the largest concentrations of breeding
Yellow Rails in southern Manitoba, and
perhaps for all the Canadian prairies.
In 1995, a minimum of 500 pairs were
thought to have bred at Douglas Marsh,
representing 11.6% of the global population.
The number of Yellow Rails found in
Douglas Marsh in any given year depends
upon water levels - Yellow Rails prefer
low water levels. For example, in 2000
only a handful of Yellow Rails were
heard in the marsh due to high water
levels, the rails reportedly moved into
more suitable habitats in Manitoba.
Other bird species attracting birders
to Douglas Marsh include Virginia and
Sora Rails, Sedge Wren, Le Conte’s
and Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Waterfowl
also use portions of the marsh.
Threats
Threats to Yellow Rail habitat at Douglas
Marsh include beavers, ecotourism, and
wetland loss.
Conservation
Efforts
The Brandon
Naturalists Society, part of the Douglas
Marsh Working Group, (DMWG) is leading
conservation efforts in the Douglas
Marsh. The initial focus of DMWG will
be the area immediately south of the
town of Douglas, primarily along Provincial
Highway #340.
The DMWG has identified the following
concerns linked to ecotourism - loss
of habitat and trampling of habitat
by birders; trespassing by birders on
private land; and safety issues relating
to vehicles of birders and agricultural
equipment sharing a narrow strip of
Highway #340 during the night. An additional
concern is the deleterious impact of
beavers on the sedge habitat.
The DMWG received a $5,000 grant from
the IBA Community Action Fund in 2000
to complete a vegetation and bird survey,
to produce interpretive signs to be
placed along Highway #340, and to work
towards developing educational materials
to be delivered into the Douglas School.
A accurate survey of the birds of Douglas
Marsh is required.
The working group will investigate the
use of conservation easements, to be
held by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage
Corporation, to acquire habitat to provide
a parking area and potential birding
trail for ecotour groups. Ecotour groups
will be contacted to inform them of
the concerns of the working group that
include habitat trampling and access
to private lands without landowner permission.
Efforts will be made to manage the impact
of beavers.
INTRODUCTION
The
Douglas Marsh
The Douglas
Marsh is the best known location in
southwestern Manitoba, and perhaps all
of prairie Canada, to hear the nocturnal
Yellow Rail. Numerous ecotour and birding
tour groups visit the Douglas Marsh
from across the world to hear, and if
very fortunate see, the Yellow Rail.
Cuthbert et al. (1990) suggested the
best location to hear calling Yellow
Rails is along the road leading south
(Provincial Road #340) from the village
of Douglas - in the evenings and during
the night.
Douglas Marsh is located east of the
City of Brandon, south of the town of
Douglas, and north of the town of Shilo,
Manitoba. It is a large, shallow marsh
(referred to by some as a fen) that
acts as a catchment basin for the sandy
loam land surrounding it. It has little
open water except for Sewell Lake at
the eastern end of the marsh. Epinette
Creek drains the marsh to the east.
Sedges and grasses are the dominant
vegetation types. There are a number
of rare and unusual botanical features
that further highlight the Douglas Marsh.
The marsh is hemmed in on three sides
by sandy agricultural land. On the eastern
side of the marsh lies the willow-shrub
edge of the Carberry Sandhills.
To the north, south, and west is primarily
agricultural land that consists of grasslands
with substantial amounts of trees and
shrubs. For the most part, the dominant
plant species are the sedges. Birds
that can be found in the Douglas Marsh
include Yellow, Virginia and Sora Rails,
Sedge Wren, Le Conte’s and Sharp-tailed
Sparrows. These are birds that are commonly
associated with sedge habitats.
