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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 is being delivered and administered by the Manitoba Naturalists Society. Community conservation planning (CCP) began in Manitoba in August of 1999.
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 on-the-ground community conservation planning.
Langruth
& Rural Municipality (RM)
of Lakeview
Langruth can be found along the west shore of Lake Manitoba along PTH #50 and is located between two significant bird habitats - Big Grass Marsh to the west and Hollywood Beach along the shore of Lake Manitoba to the east. The Langruth area of Manitoba has a long history of birding and has proclaimed itself the "Bird Watching Capital of Manitoba". This is further evident as one drives PTH #50 into Langruth and is greeted by a large silhouette of a Great Blue Heron. Since Langruth, Big Grass Marsh, Stoney Lake, and Big Point are all within the RM of Lakeview, the stakeholder groups will use the RM of Lakeview as the boundaries of this IBA.
Significant Bird Numbers
Big
Grass Marsh.
The Big Grass Marsh is an
important moulting and staging
area for waterfowl including
Mallards, Snow Geese and Canada
Geese. It is recognized as
a globally significant IBA
based upon the numbers of
Snow Geese (>200,000) and
waterfowl (> 79,000) observed
at Big Grass Marsh. The site
also has globally significant
populations of nesting Franklin's
Gulls (>5,000 birds). Mallards
during the fall migration
have exceeded 10,000 birds
exceeding IBA population criteria
for national significance.
As many as 6,500 migrating
Sandhill Cranes (exceeds IBA
criteria for North American
significance) have been recorded
in the Jackfish Lake portion
of Big Grass Marsh.
Hollywood Beach Shoreline.
Hollywood Beach and Big Point
are located east of Langruth
along the Lake Manitoba's
shoreline. Hollywood Beach
is a popular location for
swimming and camping. The
shoreline hosts numerous species
of colonial waterbirds, shorebirds,
and waterfowl during the spring
and fall migrations. The forested
ridge along Hollywood Beach
provides habitat for a variety
of neo-tropical songbirds
as well as excellent opportunities
for viewing various migrating
shorebirds. Piping Plovers
have also been observed along
the beach.
Big Point.
Big Point lies on the west
side of Lake Manitoba and,
as the name implies, extends
far out into the lake. Bird
species common to Big Point
include American White Pelicans,
Ring-billed Gulls, Double-crested
Cormorants, Great Blue Herons,
and American Bitterns.
Stoney Lake.
Stoney Lake is located on
the south side of Provincial
Road #265 approximately 7
km west of Langruth. The lake
is 1.5 km long and approximately
200 meters wide, relatively
shallow with a sand and gravel
bottom. Waterfowl are common
at Stoney Lake.
Current Conservation Initiatives
- Ducks Unlimited Canada has license to control water levels at Big Grass Marsh north of the Provincial Road #265.
- Manitoba Conservation annually conducts surveys for Sharp-tailed Grouse and Piping Plovers (Hollywood Beach) in the RM of Lakeview.
- Big Grass Marsh is a candidate Manitoba Heritage Marsh.
- The Canadian Wildlife Service operates a waterfowl banding station at Big Grass Marsh.
- The Whitemud Watershed Conservation District is developing a detailed management plan for Big Grass Marsh.
- Initiatives are underway to develop the Jackfish Lake Nature Site which will include a self-guided nature trail.
- The RM of Lakeview and the Big Grass Marsh will be further promoted as an ecotourism destination through the efforts of the Westlake Tourism Association.
Conservation Goals and Objectives
The
champion of this IBA community
conservation plan is the Lakeview
Initiatives Community Development
Corporation. The Langruth/Lakeview
IBA Working Group has identified
the following problem statement:
"Bird watchers travel from
around the world to the RM of
Lakeview, (the bird watching
capital of Manitoba), to observe
birds and find no infrastructure
(i.e. self-guided trails, direction,
information, observation area,
etc.) available to assist in
their birding endeavors"
There is a need to promote and
develop birding opportunities
in the RM of Lakeview.
In an effort to address the above problem statement, the following conservation goals and objectives have been identified:
- preservation and restoration of the Hollywood Beach shoreline habitat,
- improve infrastructure (access) to the Jackfish Lake area of Big Grass Marsh,
- develop walking trails and viewing sites at Hollywood Beach and Jackfish Lake,
- develop birding signage and brochures, IBA website,
- foster community education,
- promote ecotourism/birding,
- develop an educational birding slide show.
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