Ontario's Natural Heritage Areas - Ministry of Natural Resources

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5.5 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries Introduction In 1916, Great Britain (on behalf of Canada) and the United States signed the Migratory Birds Convention, a treaty that obliges both countries to preserve migratory birds and protect them from indiscriminate slaughter. And the Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) enables Environment Canada to meet Canada’s obligations outlined in the Convention. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries protect migratory birds against physical disturbance and hunting, a primary threat in the early part of the 20th Century. While the Act does address protection of active nests, it does not address protection of other habitats that are also important to migrating birds. Ninety-two Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, covering approximately 11.2 million ha, are located in Canada. Nine sanctuaries have been established in Ontario (Table 5-3, Fig. 5-4) (CWS and CWF, 2007). Legislation and Policy Basis The Migratory Birds Convention Act provides for the establishment of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. Although the Canadian Wildlife Service administers these areas, the Government of Canada does not always own them. Sanctuaries can be designated by Order-in-Council on private lands with the consent of the landowner. A private land sanctuary can be deregulated should the landowner withdraw consent or the area loses its value to migratory birds (Environment Canada, 1991:7-12). Image by P.A. Gray Ontario’s Natural Heritage Areas 132 Table 5-3. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and associated designations in Ontario. Migratory Bird Sanctuary Area (ha) Beckett Creek, 1969 103.0 Chantry Island (IBA), 1957 81.0 Eleanor Island (NWA), 1971 0.6 Hannah Bay (RS, IBA), 1939 29,500.0 Mississippi Lake (NWA), 1959 430.0 Moose River (RS, IBA), 1958 1,457.0 Rideau, 1957 809.4 St. Joseph’s Island, 1951 940.0 Upper Canada, 1961 2,663.0 Total 35,984.0 RS = also a Ramsar Convention Site. NWA = contains or overlaps with a National Wildlife Area. IBA = contains or overlaps with an Important Bird Area. Protection Goal and/or Objectives A principal goal/objective of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries is to protect migratory shorebird, waterfowl, and seabird populations on their staging and breeding grounds. Secondary objectives include research, habitat improvement, and ecotourism (CWS and CWF, 2003).
Selection Criteria Candidate areas can be nominated by private citizens and staff from the Canadian Wildlife Service, other government agencies, and non-government organizations. Usually, the Canadian Wildlife Service completes inventories, mapping, and assessments of the habitat of a nominated area. To qualify for consideration as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary, an area must meet one of the following criteria: • The area supports concentrated populations, for any part of the year, in order to meet one or many essential needs, and which are vulnerable to site-specific threats. • The area supports populations that occupy habitats of restricted geographical area and are threatened by human disturbance. • The area regularly supports at least 1% of a population of one species or subspecies. • The area is crucial in the requirement for the management of regional populations of migratory birds and/or highly qualifies as an educational or interpretative resource (Environment Canada, 2005a). An area selected as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary requires the consent of the landowner (e.g., other federal departments, the provincial/territorial government, or private landowners) or title to the land. Once designated as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the site is ‘scheduled’ under the Migratory Birds Convention Act sanctuary regulations (CWS and CWF, 2003). Management Objectives and/or Guidelines Migratory Bird Sanctuaries protect migratory birds against physical disturbance and hunting (CWS and CWF, 2003). With the exception of active nests, sanctuaries do not protect habitat. The status of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries is contingent upon landowner consent and retention of the high value of the site for protecting migratory birds. Regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act protect migratory birds from: • Hunting. For example, the regulations forbid a person to carry a firearm in a Migratory Bird Sanctuary or to trap any migratory bird. • Egg harvesting. • Removal of nests. • Pets. Pets are prohibited from running at large (CWS and CWF, 2003; Mosquin et al., 1995; Ward and Killham, 1987). The regulations only control activities within Migratory Bird Sanctuary boundaries when migratory birds are present. Management includes periodic inspection, enforcement of hunting prohibitions and regulations, and maintenance of signs. In some cases, the CWS prohibits visitors during critical periods (e.g., nesting and molting). In some Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, habitat has been enhanced, and in others research is conducted on the birds. Most Migratory Bird Sanctuaries are not staffed and do not have on-site visitor services (CWS, 1994). The Degree of Protection for Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and the Corresponding IUCN Protected Area Management Category: A Preliminary Assessment Some Migratory Bird Sanctuaries qualify as ‘partially protected’ areas because although protection is the primary objective and the commitment is legislated, they are not protected year-round in perpetuity and they do not necessarily exclude industrial activities and large-scale developments. In other cases, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries are ‘fully protected’ because they are located in regulated designations such as National Wildlife Areas. These regulated areas may qualify as IUCN Category Ia, II, III or IV protected areas, depending upon the degree of legal or formal protection offered. Key Contact(s) Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada P.O. Box 490 Lambeth Station London, Ontario N6P 1R1 Phone: 519-472-6695 Website: www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?cid=4&id=231#sid78 Information: EnviroInfo.Ontario@ec.gc.ca 133 Ontario’s Natural Heritage Areas
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Part II Ontario’s Natural Heritag
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Ontario's Natural Heritage Areas - Ministry of Natural Resources

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