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. Beginning
in August 1999, the IBA program has
been delivered in Manitoba by the Manitoba
Naturalists Society.
Goals
of the Canadian IBA Program
The
goals of the Canadian 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 an on-the-ground community
conservation plan.
Proven
Lake IBA
Proven
Lake is in southwestern Manitoba near
the southeast corner of Riding Mountain
National Park and just west of Provincial
Highway #10. The IBA is just north of
the Town of Erickson.
Proven Lake, also referred to Proven
Marsh, is a Manitoba Heritage Marsh
and was declared a Wildlife Management
Area by the Government of Manitoba in
1986. The lake is about 2,003-ha in
size containing some nesting islands.
The majority of the Wildlife Management
Area (WMA) consists of 650-ha wetland.
Ducks Unlimited Canada has held a license
to manage water levels since 1981. Waterfowl
hunting has traditionally been the primary
human use of the lake.
The designation of Proven Lake as an
IBA and the development of a community
conservation plan is needed to ensure
the long-term protection of this important
wetland habitat and the Black-crowned
Night-Heron.
Significant
Bird Numbers
Historically,
Black-crowned Night-Herons have had
a breeding colony at Proven Lake. In
a 1966 survey, 200 nests were observed,
and this is the same number of nests
that were reported almost 30 years later
in 1995. This nesting colony represents
4% of the estimated Canadian population
for Black-crowned Night Herons. Based
upon numbers of Black-crowned Night-Herons
Proven Lake is recognized as a nationally
significant IBA.
Proven Lake also attracts large numbers
of migrating birds in the spring and
fall and is thus recognized as an important
staging marsh, especially for waterfowl.
Other bird species found nesting at
Proven Lake have included large colonies
of Eared Grebes (150 nests in 1996),
and Franklin's Gulls (800 nests recorded
in 1966) as well as Great Blue Herons
and American Bitterns. Records from
the 1970's show that up to 8,800 American
Coots, and several thousand Mallards
have been seen on the lake during fall
migration. Canada Geese have recently
begun to nest at Proven Lake.
Past
Conservation Initiatives
The
Proven Lake Wildlife Viewing Project
was an attempt to enhance birding opportunities,
generate additional revenue for Erickson,
and to foster awareness in the local
community on the need to sustain wetland
ecosystems for the use of future generations.
The project was never completed. However,
the present Proven Lake IBA Working
Group may wish to visit portions of
the original conceptual plan as their
IBA activities progress.
Conservation
Goals and Objectives
The
present IBA working group was formed
to develop an IBA community conservation
plan. It is not the intent of the present
community group to in any way change
or restrict traditional hunting activities
within Proven Marsh.
Education.
One
objective of this CCP will be to increase
community awareness of Proven Lake.
This will be achieved by utilizing Proven
Lake as a living classroom by ecology
students from Erickson High School.
Local stakeholder groups including Ducks
Unlimited Canada, Erickson Game and
Fish Association, Manitoba Conservation
and Riding Mountain National Park, will
lend their expertise towards development
and delivery of the ecology course.
Elements
of the ecology course may include students
developing interpretative signage and
undertaking bird surveys.
Monitoring.
Additional
objectives of this Community Conservation
Plan include supporting ongoing management
activities of Ducks Unlimited Canada
(Brandon) as well as to support and
encourage continued bird surveys conducted
by Manitoba Conservation.
