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The Important
Bird Area Program
The Canadian Important Bird
Areas Program (IBA) was
established by the Canadian
Birdlife Partners which
include 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.
Goals
of the Canadian IBA Program
The goals of the 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;
- 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 (CCP).
Oak
Hammock Marsh
Oak Hammock Marsh is part of what was once a larger wetland known as St. Andrews Bog. Established in 1973, the Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a restored wetland that is referred to as the flagship WMA in Manitoba (Whaley 1995). Oak Hammock Marsh is also a Ramsar site and is recognized as a site of regional importance for shorebirds by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. The IBA follows the boundaries of the WMA.
Significant Bird Numbers
Oak
Hammock Marsh is one of
Manitoba's top birding
destinations and is recognized
as a globally significant
IBA based upon number
of Short-billed Dowitchers,
Hudsonian Godwits and
staging geese. A total
of 296 species have been
recorded in this relatively
small area.
Up to 5,500 pairs of breeding Franklin’s Gulls have been recorded, representing at least 1.6% of the North American populations. As many as 70 pairs of Black-crowned Night-Herons, which represents approximately 1.4% of the Canadian population breeds at Oak Hammock Marsh.
In the spring, large numbers of shorebirds stop at Oak Hammock with as many as 16,759 birds observed in 1981.
As many as 7,000 White-rumped Sandpipers (1.8% of the global population), 5,000 Short-billed Dowitchers (1.6% of the global population), 600 Hudsonian Godwits (1.2% of global population) and 5,400 yellowlegs (both species) have been recorded here- all globally significant numbers. Numbers of Black Terns and Forster's Terns also meet IBA criteria for national significance.
During fall migration, in excess of 250,000 Lesser Snow Geese have been observed, which accounts for about 8% of the Hudson Bay (Mid-continent) population. An impressive 200,000 Canada Geese have been recorded at the site. As many as four subspecies of Canada Geese were mixed in these flocks (Giant, Eastern Prairie, Short Grass Prairie and Tall Grass Prairie) with each one almost certainly surpassing their respective continental thresholds for IBA significance. Mallards have been recorded in numbers as high as 70,000. American Coots are also extremely well represented at Oak Hammock Marsh with 2.2% of the North American population, or over 30,000 individuals having been found. In 2000, 269,000 ducks and geese were counted during the week of October 7th.
Other species of interest that are reported occasionally (and may breed) at Oak Hammock include the Least Bittern, the Yellow Rail and the Red-headed Woodpecker, all nationally vulnerable species. During the winter months numerous Snowy Owls hunt the fields around the marsh.
Conservation Goals and Objectives
The intent of this conservation plan is to:
- maintain traditional benefits for staging, moulting and breeding waterfowl;
- foster awareness of the unique bird species and overall bird biodiversity at Oak Hammock Marsh; and
- further recognize Oak Hammock Marsh as a resource for public use.
Research/Monitoring. In
an effort to enhance shorebird
habitat, two of the 58
nesting islands originally
constructed for waterfowl
nesting will be leveled/sloped
by Manitoba Conservation
in the spring of 2001.
A monitoring protocol
will be developed to measure
the success of this management
action.
Bird Banding. Efforts
will continue to monitor
song bird migration and
numbers through a mist-netting
program. Canada goose
banding initiatives will
continue using leg bands
and leg collars.
Education. The
IBA working group will
work towards development
of an IBA interpretive
trail highlighting the
bird species unique to
Oak Hammock Marsh. The
trail would utilize the
existing network of trails
and would require 15-20
signs highlighting IBA
species. Manitoba Conservation
will replace the informational
signs.
Habitat Enhancement.
Tall
Grass Prairie.
Habitat
is to be enhanced through
prescribed burns. There
is a need for educational
signs to identify key
prairie plant species,
mowing of the existing
loop-trail, modifying
the loop-trial so that
it passes by key prairie
plants, and developing
a prairie tour.
Willow Bluff Habitat. The
willow bluff habitat is
deteriorating. Willows
planted in the past have
not established. The planting
of willow posts using
such native species as
Peach-leaved Willow to
restore the willow bluff
habitat will be explored.
East Side Oak Bluff. Work
towards improving Oak
Bluff habitat and possible
woodlot demonstration
project.
Native
Grass Plantings.
Manitoba Conservation will plant native grasses on the east side of the marsh.
Noxious Weeds.
Efforts will continue in the control of noxious weeds such as Canada Thistles within the WMA.
Landowner Stewardship. Work
towards establishment
of landuse demonstration
projects. Agricultural
practices outside the
WMA are resulting in the
loss of perennial cover.
Pastureland in the WMA
northside of Wavey Creek
may an provide opportunity
for a managed grazing
demonstration site that
would provide habitat
for shorebirds and other
avifauna.
The Oak Hammock Marsh working group is comprised of individuals from the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Oak Hammock Marsh Manager representing Manitoba Conservation.
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