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The purpose of this conservation plan is to facilitate the collection
of observations of the endemic Vancouver Island White-tailed Ptarmigan
(Lagopus leucurus saxatili), via the formation of a volunteer
Ptarmigan sighting program, and to help generate outreach and educational
material appropriate for the conservation of this subspecies both within
and outside the bounds of the two White-tailed Ptarmigan IBAs. It is also
hoped that the establishment of these two IBAs and the development of this
plan will also help raise the profile of this subspecies such that planned
development in the alpine areas take White-tailed Ptarmigan habitat
requirements into consideration.
What
is an Important Bird Area?
An Important
Bird Area (IBA) is a site providing
essential habitat for one or more
species of breeding or non-breeding
birds. These sites may contain threatened
species, endemic species, species
representative of a biome, or highly
exceptional concentrations of birds.
The
goals of the Canadian IBA program
are to:
- identify a network of sites that conserve the natural diversity of
Canadian bird species;
- ensure the conservation of sites through partnerships of local
stakeholders who develop and implement appropriate on-the-ground
conservation plans.
The White-tailed Ptarmigan IBAs
There are two White-tailed Ptarmigan IBAs on Vancouver Island:
Strathcona Provincial Park and Mt. Arrowsmith Area Mountains. Strathcona
Provincial Park is located in the central mountainous area of Vancouver
Island and is Vancouver Island’s largest and oldest park. The Mt.
Arrowsmith Area Mountains IBA is further to the south and encompasses the
alpine areas of Mt. Arrowsmith, Mt. McQuillan, Mt. Cokely, and Mt. Morairty.
These two IBAs represent core areas for the White-tailed Ptarmigan on
Vancouver Island. Both IBAs are national level IBAs on the basis of
holding a crucial part of a subspecies with a restricted range.
Furthermore, both are in close proximity to major urban centres on
Vancouver Island and receive a considerable amount of use by the public.
These areas are also used extensively for fall migration for a wide range
of birds and represent potential habitat for the Vancouver Island Marmot.
Why
the White-tailed Ptarmigan deserves
conservation attention
Vancouver Island is known to be home to the endemic Vancouver Island
Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis), arguably the world’s most
endangered mammal species. Like the Vancouver Island Marmot, the
subspecies of White-tailed Ptarmigan found on Vancouver Island (Lagopus
leucurus saxatili) is found nowhere else in the world. This
subspecies is presently Blue-listed by the Provincial Ministry of
Environment due to its limited distribution and therefore deserves
similar attention that is afforded to the Vancouver Island Marmot.
Current
Conservation Activities
Strathcona Provincial Park represents a significant portion of potential
White-tailed Ptarmigan habitat. Like most provincial parks in BC, Strathcona
Provincial Park plays a dual functional role of providing valuable wildlife
habitat while also providing recreational opportunities. Significant
portions of the park are presently and will likely remained zoned in
ways that are likely compatible with White-tailed Ptarmigan biology.
Furthermore, current management directions of the park suggest that
wildlife values will be considered in future development activities in
the park.
Portions of the Mt. Arrowsmith Area Mountains IBA fall within the
boundary of the Mount Arrowsmith World Biosphere Reserve. Since inclusion
in this reserve, the Mt. Arrowsmith Area Mountains IBA, and issues
associated with it, may now receive greater status than previously
afforded to the area. This biosphere designation will hopefully provide a
framework to promote a co-ordinated, sustainable approach to the management
of the region’s ecosystem.
Conservation Goals and Objectives
The conservation goals and objectives for the Vancouver Island
White-tailed Ptarmigan IBAs are relevant to all alpine areas on Vancouver
Island. At present, two broad categories are being considered: outreach
and education, and research and monitoring. The following goals and
objectives have been established for these IBAs.
Outreach
and education. Develop interpretative
material that informs Strathcona Provincial
Park visitors of the unique biology
of Vancouver Island White-tailed Ptarmigan
and the role that the park plays in
the conservation of this endemic subspecies.
This material will also be geared
for use in schools, other recreational
areas, and for extension to those
businesses that operate in alpine
areas of Vancouver Island.
Research
and Monitoring. Work with the
researchers at the University of BC
to develop a formal mechanism for
the recording of White-tailed Ptarmigan
observations by members of the public.
This would include the development
of material that would facilitate
the proper identification of White-tailed
Ptarmigan, the proper reading of leg
bands, the recording of appropriate
biological indicators present at sighting
locations (e.g., the presence of predators
of White-tailed Ptarmigan) and the
recording of appropriate habitat features.
Support and encourage research on White-tailed Ptarmigan including
the following research areas/initiatives:
- a detailed inventory of known sites to determine relative densities and
estimate total populations size ;
- an assessment of habitat use during the breeding season;
- an examination of dispersal and mortality of both adults and juveniles;
- habitat selection and winter habitat/migration. In particular it will
be important to investigate the potential impact of timber harvest on
winter habitat;
- the development of a long-term monitoring program to track abundance
and relative densities in representative areas.
INTRODUCTION
Birds are key components in Canada’s
ecosystems and bird populations are often used as indicators of overall
ecosystem health. The conservation of an area to benefit bird life will
also conserve other plants and animals present. The loss and fragmentation
of habitat throughout the Americas over the last several decades has
resulted in measurable population declines in many bird species in Canada.
The future of Canadian wildlife depends on our commitment to provide
adequate and good quality habitat throughout their ranges.
Vancouver Island is home to two notable endemics (those species or
subspecies that are found in only one area of the world): the Vancouver
Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) (Nagorsen 1987) and the
Vancouver Island White-tailed Ptarmigan (Fraser et al. 1999). The
Vancouver Island Marmot is arguably one of the world’s most endangered
mammals. This population is well studied and research on its status
and recovery is well funded. Conversely, the status of the Vancouver
Island White-tailed Ptarmigan is largely unknown. A broad-scale
inventory and research project was begun in the late 1990’s but has
suffered from inconsistent funding. As a result, critical aspects of
the biology of this subspecies are poorly understood. As recreational
use of alpine areas on Vancouver Island grow and commercial forestry
impinges upon the high elevation montane forests, the impact of these
activities on White-tailed Ptarmigans remains largely unknown.
There are two identified White-tailed Ptarmigan IBAs on Vancouver
Island: Strathcona Provincial Park and the areas in the vicinity of Mt.
Arrowsmith and Mt. McQuillan. These locations are considered national
level IBAs since they represent core areas for the Vancouver Island
White-tailed Ptarmigan, a restricted-range subspecies (a subspecies with
a range of <50,000 km2). However, Ptarmigan occur in numerous alpine
locations on Vancouver Island, and consequently its long-term persistence
is contingent upon healthy populations across Vancouver Island.
There are large gaps in what we currently know about the biology
of White-tailed Ptarmigan on Vancouver Island. The gaps include a
detailed knowledge of where on Vancouver Island this species exists,
the status of the population (increasing, decreasing or stable), how is
this species using the alpine areas (what are the differences in habitat
use in summer versus winter), and how development (recreation and/or
resource extraction) is affecting population status. The purpose of this
plan is to facilitate the formation of a volunteer Ptarmigan sighting
program that would involve the hiking and natural history clubs on
Vancouver Island and to help generate outreach and educational material
for dissemination, both within Strathcona Provincial Park, and within the
community in general, that emphasizes the responsible use of alpine areas
in order to further White-tailed Ptarmigan and alpine conservation. These
activities will be planned and executed with the cooperation of both
government and non-government agencies on Vancouver Island including BC
Parks, BC Ministry of the Environment, Lands, and Parks, the University
of British Columbia, and the Strathcona Wilderness Institute.
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