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Prairie Canada Shorebird
Conservation Plan
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Photo: G.W. Beyersbergen, Canadian Wildlife Service
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The three prairie provinces of Canada provide crucially important breeding
and staging habitat for a large number of shorebird species. Of the 40
species of shorebirds that breed regularly in Canada, 25 breed in Prairie
Canada (the prairie, boreal and Coastal Hudson Bay regions of Alberta,
Saskatchewan and Manitoba), including eight species whose breeding range
in Canada is primarily or entirely in the prairies. The region also provides
important staging sites for 31 species of both spring and fall migrating
shorebirds.
Recent analyses of population monitoring schemes over several decades
across North America, including Canada, have shown a negative trend in
nearly 80% of shorebird species.
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Photo: G.W. Beyersbergen, Canadian Wildlife Service
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The Canadian
Shorebird Conservation Plan, a pillar of the North American Bird Conservation
Initiative (NABCI), provides a national overview of the status of shorebirds
in Canada and outlines procedures for cooperative national and international
shorebird conservation. The Prairie Canada Shorebird Conservation Plan
describes the current state of knowledge about shorebird species, biology,
distribution, habitat needs and threats to their populations and conservation
in Prairie Canada. It notes gaps in knowledge, and makes recommendations
for priorities in shorebird monitoring, research and management activities
in the three prairie provinces. Breeding birds are
separated from migrants as priorities, timing of habitat use, and habitat
requirements often differ between the two groups. Under those sections,
the three main ecological areas of the region are discussed separately:
prairie, boreal, and Hudson Bay coastline.
Overall Plan Goals: To sustain and enhance the distribution, diversity,
and abundance of breeding and migrating populations of shorebirds throughout
the Prairie Provinces. This will be done by:
- acquiring sufficient information on population dynamics, population
trends, breeding, migration and staging strategies, and habitat preferences
of Prairie Canada shorebirds to make knowledgeable management recommendations;
- sustaining and enhancing sufficient high-quality habitat to support
healthy populations in Prairie Canada;
- informing the public, decision-makers, and all those involved in land
management in Prairie Canada about the importance of Prairie Canada
to shorebirds, and about the biology, trends and management of shorebird
species; and
- ensuring that coordinated conservation efforts (regionally, nationally,
and internationally) are in place to address the key conservation priorities
for shorebirds in Prairie Canada.
Prairie Canada Shorebird Conservation Plan Drafting Committee
- Dr. Cheri Gratto-Trevor, Canadian Wildlife Service
- Gerry Beyersbergen, Canadian Wildlife Service
- Loney Dickson, Canadian Wildlife Service
- Pauline Erickson, Canadian Wildlife Service
- Bob MacFarlane, Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Dr. Martin Raillard, Chair, Canadian Wildlife Service
- Tom Sadler, Ducks Unlimited Canada.
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