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. Initiated
in August of 1999, the Manitoba IBA
program is being delivered and administered
by the Manitoba Naturalists Society.
Goals
of the Canadian IBA Program
The goals 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.
Pipestone
Rocks IBA
Pipestone
Rocks are small islands located in Lake
Winnipeg (north of Deer Island) near
the northeastern end of Hecla / Grindstone
Natural Park. The habitat represents
a significant nesting habitat for colonial
nesting waterbirds and is especially
important for the American White Pelican.
Significant
Bird Species
Pipestone
Rocks represent a "nationally significant"
breeding habitat for the American White
Pelican. It is recognized within the
Canadian IBA congregatory species category.
At one time the Pipestone Rocks represented
the most eastern population of breeding
American White Pelicans.
Pipestone
Rocks are recognized as a priority site
for breeding colonial waterbirds by
Poston et al. (1990) for the American
White Pelican. Within Manitoba, the
American White Pelican is considered
"Uncommon" (defined as between
20 and 100 occurrences in Manitoba and
susceptible to large-scale disturbances)
(Duncan 1996).
Pipestone
Rocks also is home to a diversity of
other waterbirds including Herring Gulls,
Ring-billed Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants
and Common Terns.
Threats
Human
disturbance remains the primary threat
for Pipestone Rocks. Changing water
levels and chemical pollutants such
as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane)
threatened the continental population
of pelicans until the early 1970's.
Habitat degradation, pollution, pesticide
contamination, destruction of food sources
through overfishing, and deliberate
control measures are human activities
are potential threats to the other colonial
waterbirds using Pipestone Rocks.
Existing
Conservation Measures
The
conservation of colonial nesting waterbird
populations breeding on the Pipestone
Rocks as well as protection of the habitat
comprising the Pipestone Rocks will
further contribute to the overall protection
of Manitoba's natural areas and biological
diversity.
Currently, the Pipestone Rocks are afforded
protection by being within the Hecla/Grindstone
Natural Park. Pipestone Rocks are hence
legally protected from logging, mining,
and hydroelectric development by virtue
of designation as a Backcountry Land
Use Category within the Park.
The Ecological Reserves Advisory Committee
has recommended that Pipestone Rocks
be designated as an Ecological Reserve
- Ecological Reserve Status is the highest
level of protection available within
the province of Manitoba.
Conservation
Actions
The
objective of this community conservation
plan (CCP) is to recognize and conserve
the Pipestone Rocks as a breeding habitat
of nationally significance for the American
White Pelican. The American White Pelican
will be recognized as the "Keystone
Species" of this CCP. There are also
large assemblages of other colonial
nesting waterbirds using the habitat.
The two main tenets of this conservation
plan are provisions for monitoring bird
populations and community education.
There is a need to collect basic population
data on the avian assemblages using
Pipestone Rocks. Educational efforts
will increase awareness of Pipestone
Rocks and colonial nesting waterbirds.
It is hoped that by recognizing Pipestone
Rocks as a nationally significant Canadian
IBA site, this document will lend support
to the nomination of Pipestone Rocks
as an Ecological Reserve within the
province of Manitoba.
