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The
Lesser Slave Lake Region, in north central
Alberta, has been classified as a globally
significant IBA because up 2% of North
America's Tundra Swans (Cygnus columianus)
feed and stage on Lesser Slave Lake.
Western Grebe nest in one or more colonies,
with 400 - 650 active nests on Lesser
Slave Lake and greater than 10,000 waterfowl
feed and rest on Lesser Slave Lake during
the spring and fall migration. The Lesser
Slave Lake Region IBA focuses on Lesser
Slave Lake Provincial Park, which is
home to the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory
(LSLBO). The LSLBO is the lead conservation
organization developing the LSL IBA
Region Conservation Plan. Additional
areas in the surrounding agricultural
and residential zones will be included
as landowner approval is secured. Landowner
approval has already been secured for
Hilliard's Bay Provincial Park and Lesser
Slave Lake Provincail Park. The landscape
surrounding Lesser Slave Lake is a mosaic
of agricultural land, homesteads, waterfront
cottages, deciduous and mixed woods,
and seasonal wetlands.
The
Tundra Swans
Tundra Swans have an estimated North
American population of 165,000. The
Lesser Slave Lake Region is a critiacl
staging and feeding area. Swans are
extremely sensitive to loud traffic,
boating and human disturbance. The loss
of riparian vegetation along the lakeshore
of Lesser Slave Lake is a major concern.
The riparian zone provides foraging
areas and escape cover. Another concern
is the death of Tundra Swans due to
poisoning from lead shot deposited in
the lakes and marshes during past hunting
seasons.
Current
Conservation Strategies
The present Lesser Slave Lake IBA committee,
with representatives from the Lesser
Slave Lake Bird Observatory, Lesser
Slave Lake Provincial Park, and Alberta
Environment, was formed to assist with
the development of the IBA conservation
plan.
Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park was
created in 1966 as a natural heritage
site. The Provincial park designation,
however, only conveys protection to
the extreme eastern foreshore and immediate
uplands of the lake and not to the neighbouring
lake and surrounding shorelines. There
are no protective measures in place
to protect shoreline habitat on private
land; however, since Tundra Swans are
listed as a protected species in Alberta,
hunting of the species is prohibited.
The Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory
(LSLBO) began conducting migration-monitoring
activities on neo-tropical migrants
in 1994. The LSLBO, in conjunction with
Bird Studies Canada and the Federation
of Alberta Naturalists, also conducts
a limited census of nesting and staging
watrefowl in Lesser Slave Lake region.
Conservation Goals
and Objectives
The
following conservation goals have been
established for the Lesser Slave Lake
Region IBA:
Education
- Share
information throughtout the Lesser
Slave Lake region about the conservation
of Tundra Swan habitat and the effects
of disturbance on staging swans.
Non-personal media includes an LSL
IBA Region Brochure (completed);
local, regional, and provincial
radio spots and newspaper articles;
- Establish
a landowner stewardship program
to enhance conservation of shoreline
habitat (Driftpile First Nations
has already expressed interestd);
- Provide
ongoing information to the public
on Tundra Swans and Western Grebes
within Leser Slave Lake region;
- Participate
in the annual Songbird Festivsal
Promote the LSL IBA Region.
Habitat Protection/Enhancement
- Work
to ensure mainteneance of undisturbed
Shoreline habitat (including maintaining
natural treed buffers, water levels,
water quality etc);
- Work
with government (Alberta Environment,
Provincial Parks, and Environment
Canada) to secure and enhance nesting
staging habitat. Possible startegies
include ConservationEasements, NAture
Conservancy properties, boater education
campaign at marinas, public boats
launches, joint boater education
programs with AENV Fisheries staff
using government vessels, and joint
program with AENV Fish and Wildlife
staff to survey known and identify
new staging area using fixed wing
aircaft, helicopters, and airboat.
Enforcement
- Support
existing management plans for Lesser
Slave Lake Provincail Park and Hilliard's
Bay Provincial Park and support
any new conservation initiatives
in the parks;
- Support
enforcement of existing regualtions
preventing the hunting or harassment
of protected species;
Research
- Support
ongoing waterfowl population monitoring
of Lesser Slave Lake by the Canadian
Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited,
and Alberta Environment;
- Support
the LSLBO Migration Monitoring and
Monitoring Avian Productivity and
Survivorship (MAPS) programs;
- Partner
with Alberta Environment to build
a Research/Education Centre for
the LSLBO in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial
Park. The Alberta government has
made a major investment as part
of the 2005 centennial celebrations.
Further support by other levels
of government in Canada and the
US, universities, industry, conservation
groups, bird clubs, and other interested
parties is being actively pursued;
- Lobby
stakeholders to support expansion
of the LSLBO research efforts on
surrounding lands and Lesser Slave
Lake.
INTRODUCTION
Tundra Swans have been known historically
as a frequent presence in the Slave
Lake region. In the past they have been
hunted for food and their feathers.
Te region, which contains a moziac of
boreal forest, wetlands and agricultural
land, now supports between 1% and 2%
of the North America population of Tundra
Swans during the spring and fall migration
periods.
The area identified as the Lesser Slave
Lake Region Important Bird Area (IBA)
includes Lesser Slave LAke and its surrounding
watershed. The IBA centers on Lesser
Slave Lake Provincial Park, the home
of Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory.
As word about the IBA spreads throughtout
the region, additional interested stakeholders
will be welcomed into the conservation
planning process.
The two primary goals of the Lesser
Slave Lake IBA Region:
- To
hlep ensure the long-term stability
of this staging area through enhanced
habitat stewardship;
- To
improve public knowledge, attitudes
and behaviour regarding Tundra Swan
nesting and staging lakes through
education programs centered in Lesser
Slave Lake Provincial Park and the
LSLBO.
