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 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 ensure the conservation of each
site through partnerships with local
stakeholder groups who develop and implement
an on-the-ground community conservation
plan.
Kinosota-Leifur
Shoreline IBA
The IBA
encompasses the west side of Lake Manitoba
from the towns of Leifur to Kinosota,
all within the rural municipality of
Alonsa. Alonsa and the surrounding areas
provide some of the best birding opportunities
in Manitoba such as the Bacon Ridge
Self-Guided Birding Tour, Bluff Creek
Nature Trail, Portia Marsh Interpretive
Centre, Medicine Rock and opportunities
to view rare Lady's Slippers.
Significant
Bird Species
The Kinosota-Leifur Shoreline IBA is
a region used extensively by cavity
nesting birds. The keystone species
are the Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes
erythrocephalus) and the Pileated
Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus).
The Red-headed woodpecker is a species
that is generally uncommon or rare in
Manitoba and listed as nationally vulnerable
by COSEWIC. Each breeding season, at
least 100 birds are estimated to be
present in the area, which corresponds
to 3% or more of the Canadian population.
In the Kinosota area, the preferred
habitat are over-grazed pastures containing
old trees or snags that provide nesting
cavities.
The Lake Manitoba shoreline is also
used by numerous shorebirds such as
Piping and American Golden Plovers,
as well as Ruddy Turnstones during spring
and fall migrations. Colonial nesting
waterbirds also use the shoreline and
coastal islands to nest. A number of
neotropical migrants can be found at
this IBA site. Wetland species including
waterfowl, bitterns, rails, hawks and
blackbirds can be found along the shoreline
and inland marshes.
Conservation
Efforts
Efforts to conserve and manage populations
of breeding Red-headed Woodpeckers will
include monitoring, a landowner education
program, construction of nesting boxes
and interpretative signage.
