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The Matchedash Bay Important
Bird Area (IBA) contains
a great variety of habitats
from open water to oak savanna
woodland. It boasts large
numbers of Least Bittern,
a Species of Concern nationally
and Vulnerable provincially,
and one of the reasons why
Matchedash Bay qualifies
as a nationally significant
IBA. The Black Tern, a species
that is listed as Vulnerable
in Ontario, nests at Matchedash,
and summer records of the
King Rail suggest that it
may also nest there. This
latter species is both federally
and provincially Endangered.
Important Bird Areas are
recognised around the world
as the most important sites
for protecting bird diversity.
Matchedash Bay is one of
approximately 1,200 IBAs
recognised in Canada.
This plan is the product
of a collaborative effort
of numerous stakeholders,
particularly the MTM Conservation
Association, the non-profit
organization responsible
for management of the Matchedash
Bay Provincial Wildlife
Area. Discussion of IBA
species, and the significance
of the IBA and its natural
features, takes place in
Chapters 4 and 5. The results
of valuable monitoring work
undertaken by volunteers
are presented in Appendices
2 and 3. This plan should
be considered a work in
progress. The national and
provincial IBA partners
encourage the stakeholders
of the Matchedash Bay IBA
to revise and rework the
plan as needed, but most
importantly, to implement
it.
The
vision and goals of the IBA
follow:
Vision
The Matchedash Bay Important
Bird Area will be conserved
and managed to protect,
restore, and enhance its
significance for resident
and migratory birds, as
a place where birds can
be monitored, studied, and
enjoyed for the ecological,
educational, and economic
benefits to the people of
Severn Township and beyond.
Goals
- protect
and conserve significance
of Matchedash Bay for
Black Tern, Least Bittern,
King Rail, and other marsh
birds.
- undertake
monitoring and research
on species of concern.
- protect
adequate habitat in sanctuary
for waterbirds and waterfowl.
- develop
communication strategies
and actions to promote
bird conservation among
partners, stakeholders,
and the public.
- assess
and address the issue
of habitat degradation,
and develop a plan to
mitigate losses and restore
habitat.
- facilitate
public opportunities and
access to appropriate
sites for observation
of waterbirds, waterfowl,
and landbirds.
Introduction
A vast expanse of open water
and marsh to the east caught
her eye as we motored north
on Highway 400 near Port
Severn. “Do we have time
to explore that bay?” she
asked. I obligingly turned
off at the first exit past
Waubaushene, trying to guess
which road to take and what
she had in mind. As luck
would have it, her keen
eyes spotted a Ducks Unlimited
sign signalling an access
to the expansive wetland
area.
The sun was just setting
as we set out on the small
trail. A cacophony of sounds
emanated from the wetland
– a Sedge Wren chorus punctuated
with the insect-like buzzes
of LeConte’s Sparrow from
the sedge meadow, and an
amazing mix of grunts, coos,
and cackles from numerous
marsh birds in the cattails.
We were able to distinguish
Least Bittern, American
Bittern, Sora, and Common
Moorhen before the mosquitoes
changed our plans.1
This wetland complex is,
of course, Matchedash Bay,
the largest coastal wetland
on Georgian Bay. The Matchedash
Bay Important Bird Area
(IBA) is made up of a great
variety of habitats from
open water to oak savanna
woodland. It boasts large
numbers of Least Bittern,
nationally a Species of
Concern and provincially
Vulnerable, and one of the
reasons why Matchedash Bay
qualifies as a nationally
significant IBA.
Important Bird Areas are
recognised around the world
as the most important sites
for protecting bird diversity.
Matchedash Bay is one of
approximately 1200 IBAs
recognised in Canada. In
addition to Matchedash’s
significance for Least Bittern,
Black Terns nest there,
and summer records of King
Rail suggest that it may
also nest in this area.
This latter species is both
federally and provincially
Endangered.
This conservation action
plan lays out the framework
for bird conservation action
in the Matchedash Bay IBA.
It is intended to be a “work
in progress.” Sections of
the plan describing the
site, its birds, and the
institutional arrangements
are presented in Chapters
3 to 7. Chapter 8 is about
the stakeholder activity
in the area, while Chapters
9 and 10 explore opportunities
within the Important Bird
Area (IBA) for conservation
as well as threats to the
IBA species. Chapter 11
elaborates the conservation
action plan, presenting
the vision, goals, objectives,
and strategies.
The Vision of the Matchedash
Bay IBA follows:
The Matchedash Bay Important
Bird Area will be conserved
and managed to protect,
restore and enhance populations
of resident and migratory
birds, as a place where
birds can be monitored,
studied, and enjoyed for
the ecological, educational,
and economic benefits of
the people of Severn Township
and beyond.
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