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Prince Edward County South Shore IBA is loacted between Point Petre and Prince Edward
Point in Prince Edward County along the northeastern shoreline of Lake Ontario. The IBA is
comprised of approximately 26 square kilometres of land and 65 square kilometres of
nearshore waters. About 45 percent of the IBA is publicly owned, including Prince Edward
Point National Wildlife Area, while the remaining land within the IBA encompasses
approximately 60 privately owned properties. The Prince Edward County South Shore IBA
encompasses about 30 kilometeres of shoreline, the only lengthy,
undeveloped strip of shoreline remaining in Prince Edward County - indeed,
one of the few shorelines of Lake Ontario that has remained undeveloped (Ross 1999).
Prince Edward County South Shore IBA has been designated a globally
significant IBA under the congregatory species category and nationally
significant under threatened species category. Threatened species recorded
in or near the IBA include King Rail, Henslow's Sparrow and loggerhead Shrike.
The IBA contains significant amounts of grassland and scrubland habitat.
During spring and fall, the IBA is one of the most important concentration
points for migrant landbirds on the lower Great Lakes. Globally significant
opulations of Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter and Greater Scaup
congregatore in the waters of the IBA during the fall and winter.
Major landowners in this IBA include the Canadian Wildlife Service, the
Ontario Ministry of the Natural Resources, Parks Canada and the Department
of National Defence. There are also approximately 60 private landowners.
Several other organizations and agencies have an interest and stake in
this area, the implementation of this conservation plan.
Major threats to the IBA species and habitats include a several types of
human disturbance, exotic species, natural succession in grasslands,
communication towers and other structures and development resulting in
loss of habitat. This conservation plan has the following vision and goal:
Vision
To conserve, manage and enhance the values of Prince Edward County South
Shore Important Bird Area for all migratory and resident Birds, contribute
to bird habitat conservation, science, stewardship and eductaion, and
maintain, and restore the wild and natural character of the area for
the citizens of Prince Edward County and beyond.
Goal
- undertake habitat mapping and analysis of key features and functions
- develop protection, management, enhancement, and restoration objectives for IBA based upon existing habitat structure and ownership
- establish and support long-term monitoring and research within the IBA
- undertake communications and education activities that support the IBA, promote bird conservation, and benefit the local economy
- develop an infrastructure that enhances visitors' experience within the IBA
Introduction
Try as I might, I just could not rouse either my daughter or son. Morphee,
the goddess of sleep, had them firmly in her grasp. Giving up, I pulled my
coat on and stepped outside into the cold late October air. The sky had
cleared, the blustery northerlies had dropped, and conditions seemed perfect. Orion sparkled in the east sky. I smiled to myself. I loved these moments. The ground crunched under my feet and I pulled my touque down over my ears and turned on the headlamp. To this point, our “big birding trip” to Prince Edward Point had been disappointing to the children. The storm had put the kibosh on banding; no owls Friday night and bad weather most of Saturday. For some reason they were not interested in standing in a gale, watching for black specks over the grey water with almost indiscernible white marks on their wings through their foggy binoculars, or for the strings of loons and scaup.
Now it was 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Our last chance, I thought. Only an
hour before we had been able to open nets for the first time. Now I hoped
that I could return to a surprise. Around the bend, under the tree, and
before me was the first lane with two 40 foot mist nets. Nothing! Along
the trail to a second set of nets and . . . nothing! I started to despair
as I approached the next group of nets. The beam of my light shone down
the linear corridor and cut through the vegetation, illuminating the mesh,
a few caught leaves, and some tattered string. But no -- wait. Something
different caught my eye. I directed the beam to the back part of the
second net. There it was. As I approached, it became clear that the one
owl I’d seen was in fact two, one beside the other. Adrenaline coursed
through my veins as I approached. The first bird was a feisty Northern
Saw Whet Owl. I removed it without difficulty and slipped it into a
carrying bag. Its warmth felt good against my cold hands. The second
bird seemed a bit larger and darker. My heart pounded. As I carefully
grabbed hold of its talons, it squeezed and I grimaced. We looked at
each other. I noticed a different facial pattern, as did it no doubt
on me as I extracted a claw from a tender part of my hand. This was
no Saw Whet Owl.
So run the emotions of owl banders at Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
(PEPtBO), on the remote southeastern tip of Prince Edward County. This
observatory, and particularly the Kingston Field Naturalists, have been
instrumental in documenting the rush of birds through this part of Ontario
each spring and fall. The area is a concentration point for migrating
songbirds and raptors. Diving waterfowl, loons, and grebes congregate in
huge numbers off the coast each fall, winter, and spring. ¹
Beyond Prince Edward Point, moving west along the south shore, is a band
of wild habitat, some grazed at one time, most of it in various stages of
natural succession. This area both historically and potentially provides
habitat for a number of threatened species of birds including Henslow’s
Sparrow, and Loggerhead Shrike, and large numbers of continentally declining
grassland bird species such as Upland Sandpiper. King Rail, Least Bittern,
and Black Tern have been recorded in some of the wetlands.
Prince Edward County South Shore IBA is located in Prince Edward County
along the northeastern shoreline of Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario.
Prince Edward County is an irregularly shaped peninsula surrounded by
the lake to the south and west, and the Bay of Quinte to the north
and east. The IBA has been recognized as globally significant under
the congregatory species category and nationally significant under
the threatened species category.
Bird conservation within the IBA context was introduced to the Hastings
Prince Edward Land Trust, a group of individuals and organizations working
to protect and conserve the natural areas and the wild character of southern
Prince Edward County. During the fall of 2000, an Important Bird Area
Steering Committee was formed, largely from the Land Trust, augmented by
representation from the PEPtBO and Kingston Field Naturalists. The steering
committee has met several times to discuss issues and develop the foundation
for this plan. Plans are works in progress, open to revision and rethinking.
An expedited planning process has meant that not all stakeholders have had
an opportunity to comment and provide input. New thoughts and ideas should
and will be encouraged. It is hoped that this plan will be revised, an
indication that it will have served a purpose.
The Vision statement for the Prince Edward County South Shore IBA is as
follows:
To conserve, manage and enhance the values of Prince Edward County South
Shore Important Bird Area for all migratory and resident birds,
contribute to bird habitat conservation, science, stewardship and
education, and maintain, and restore the wild and natural character
of the area for the citizens of Prince Edward County and beyond.
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