Fri, 27 Jun 2014
Tags: Wildlife

Catching a Glimpse

A radio-tagged female Sooty Grouse on Haida Gwaii. Tagged grouse will provide researchers with information that will help determine the effects of forest conversion, fragmentation or hunter harvest on juvenile recruitment and nest success. Photo courtesy of Barry Wijdeven

The following story was submitted to us by Berry Wijdeven, a biologist working on HCTF project 6-235, Juvenile Sooty Grouse Dispersal and Winter Survival on Haida Gwaii. Berry works for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) as the Species at Risk Coordinator for Haida Gwaii.

The radio receiver, though dialed way down, squeaks loudly, insistently. Somewhere, within 10 meters or so, a radio collared female grouse is hiding. Possibly nesting. We want to find that nest and put a camera near it to see whether the chicks fledge successfully or whether the nest fails. But we don’t want to disturb the bird, potentially flush her off her eggs, so we proceed with great caution. The radio signal originates from a nearby stump, which is surrounded by a dense growth of salal. Entering that growth would surely alarm the grouse, so here we stand, hoping to catch a glimpse of a bird that is likely watching us.

Inventory studies have suggested that the number of Haida Gwaii Sooty Grouse has declined substantially. That’s a problem for the grouse population, but also of concern to the Northern Goshawk, a species listed as threatened, which is having a tough go of it on Haida Gwaii, and for whom grouse is a major prey item. Figuring out why the grouse population has declined could help manage both species.

Thanks to a partnership including MFLNRO, Haida Gwaii District and Coast Area Research, Parks Canada and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, we have been studying grouse for the last three years, looking at habitat use, seasonal movement, juvenile dispersal, survival rates and causes of mortality. As part of this research, we are monitoring nesting success where motion detection cameras have proven to be a cost-effective method of determining what happens at the nest site. But first we have to find the nests. Over the last three years, we have caught some 70 female grouse and equipped them with radio transmitters, each with their own radio frequency. We monitor these transmissions year round to see where the birds are and what habitat they use.

Grouse move between breeding and winter home ranges, so in spring, we increase our monitoring efforts to pinpoint their breeding home range. When the signal stops moving through the landscape, it could indicate that the female has started to nest. For our research, we have chosen an area which is dissected by logging roads, which makes getting around the rugged Haida Gwaii landscape somewhat feasible. Sometimes the hens are kind enough to locate their nest close to one of those roads. At other times we are not so lucky, and a serious crosscountry slog is required. Cedar stands with boggy soils and chesthigh salal stands which suction your boots or tangle them in a web of branches remain my favourite hiking destination. As we follow the radio signal through the forests, trying to compensate for signals bouncing off trees, hills and rocks, we become increasingly vigilant, for the birds have some creative methods to hide their nests.

Grouse are the Rodney Dangerfield of the bird world, often getting little respect. Stupid and tasty are the two adjectives heard most often when discussing grouse. Truth be told, people generally don’t pay much attention to a grouse they see them standing by the side of the road, or worse, in the middle of the road. But once you see a mother hen, mostly defenceless, guard her chickens throughout the summer from a multitude of dangers, you start revisiting your thoughts on grouse, and what she is potentially guarding as she stands motionless in the middle of that road.

Up close grouse are beautiful birds, with delicate and intricately patterned feathers. Males, generally a dark blue, puff themselves into magnificent creatures during the mating season, showing off their bulging yellow air sacks, fanned tail and (when inflated) orange combs. Their size and appearance at this time of year contrasts sharply with their usual look and provide a rare splash of colour amongst the multitude of forest greens.

 

But it’s a hen we are trying to locate, and the females, mostly shades of brown, are blessed with impressive camouflage. We circle the salal, trying to determine from which side the radio signal is strongest, but fail to determine the bird’s location. So we stand there, staring intently at the growth. And then we see something, through a small opening between some leaves. An eye. Staring back at us just as intently. There she is! We quickly determine that the hen is indeed nesting, note the location and deploy the camera. Then we retreat, leaving the grouse to do her thing. Hopefully she’ll be successful in fledging her young. We’ll see.

 

Thu, 19 Jun 2014

Antelope Brush Property Secured

Antelope brush in bloom on the newly-acquired conservation property. Photo: Graham Osborne

The Nature Trust of British Columbia has just announced the successful acquisition of 30 acres of endangered antelope-brush habitat in the South Okanagan . The purchase was made possible by a $500,000 contribution by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation as part of its acquisition granting program.

“Antelope-brush is the latest purchase of conservation land made possible through the contributions of the anglers, hunters, guide outfitters and trappers of BC. In the past two years alone, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has invested $1.3 million of their licence surcharges into the securement of over 1300 hectares of valuable South Okanagan habitat,” said Brian Springinotic, CEO of the Foundation. “The proximity of the Antelope-brush property to other conservation lands will allow wildlife to move between protected areas – a critical feature when working to preserve biodiversity in areas fragmented by development.”

Antelope_Brush_Map.JPGThe property is adjacent to The Nature Trust’s Antelope-brush Conservation Area, home to more than 20 species at risk, including over 50% of the Canadian population of Behr’s Hairstreak butterfly. Other federally or provincially listed species at risk that are known to occur on these lands include Bighorn Sheep, Pallid Bat, Desert Night Snake, Great Basin Spadefoot, and Lewis’s Woodpecker.

a1sx2_Original1_Ponderosa-Pine-Habitat.JPGAdditional support for this acquisition was provided by the landowner, FortisBC, the Habitat Stewardship Program, Sitka Foundation, Grayross Foundation, and the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club. For additional information on HCTF-funded acquisition properties, click here.

 

Tue, 10 Jun 2014

HCTF Announces Funding for Restoration Projects on Burrard Inlet

HCTF has announced it will provide over $200,000 in funding this year for estuary restoration projects on Burrard Inlet. Two North Vancouver sites and another in Stanley Park will be rehabilitated from their current industrialized states back into functional habitats that support many types of native fish and wildlife.

Estuaries, areas where rivers and streams meet the sea, make up only a small percentage of BC’s vast coastline, yet over 80% of coastal wildlife are dependent on them for some portion of their lifecycle. They are critical for anadromous fish as they make the adaptation from fresh to salt water. Estuaries are also gaining recognition for their incredible capacity to store carbon, at rates up to ninety times the uptake of equivalent areas of forest. Unfortunately, these habitats are among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet: in highly industrialized waterways such as Burrard Inlet, they have all but disappeared.

HCTF’s Burrard Inlet Restoration Pilot Program is focussed on recreating at least some of Vancouver’s lost estuaries, using money from a creative sentencing award. This initiative has received a phenomenal response from local governments, corporations, First Nations, and educational institutions, who have come together to support these projects both financially and in-kind. This year’s grant recipients and funding partners include:

  • Seymour River Estuary Restoration: The Seymour Salmonid Society received a $60,000 grant to remove onsite contaminants and re-vegetate the estuary’s intertidal benches and foreshore areas with native plants. Large woody debris will be added to provide cover for juvenile fish, and to deter geese from grazing the site. The project will receive additional funding from DFO, Metro Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver , and the Pacific Salmon Foundation, as well as receiving in-kind support from many local organizations.
  • Mosquito Creek Estuary Restoration : Northwest Hydraulic Consultants and the Squamish Nation received $88,500 for their stewardship and habitat restoration project on Mosquito Creek, an estuary that has been reduced to a 1% of its historical size by encroachment of waterfront industrial development. Activities will include creation of an intertidal reef and benches, including planting of native vegetation. The site offers an excellent opportunity for community outreach as it is located along the newly completed Spirit Trail. Key supporters of this project include the City of North Vancouver, with in-kind support provided by BCIT and the North Shore Fish and Game Club.
  • Restoring Access for Salmonids to Beaver Creek : The Stanley Park Ecology Society received a $55,000 grant to restore salmonid access into Beaver Creek, located within Stanley Park. The project will remove and modify decade-old fish barriers, as well as enhance estuary habitat. The location of this project along Stanley Park’s popular seawall, one of the most highly used recreation trails in Canada, will promote public understanding and participation in conservation. Partners include Environment Canada, HSBC, the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Recreation Fisheries of BC and the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

Together, these three projects will build upon the successes of last year’s $180,000 investment by HCTF in estuarine habitat on the Inlet. You can read more about last year’s completed BIRPP restoration work here.

 

Tue, 6 May 2014
Tags: Wildlife

Conservation Connections

Robin Annschild and wetland restoration guru Tom Biebighauser pose with a rough-skinned newt, one of the many species that will benefit from wetland restoration activities at Blackburn Lake.

 

The following article appeared in the May/June edition of Outdoor Edge Magazine.

In the March edition of Outdoor Edge, we talked to the Salt Spring Island Conservancy’s (SSIC) Conservation Director, Robin Annschild, about the Conservancy’s success in creating a partnership with the local Rod & Gun club to manage one of their reserves. This month, we continue the conversation with Robin and learn how building upon connections can equal great things for conservation – and ourselves.

It all started with an invitation to a Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Evaluation Workshop. Each year, the Foundation asks a selection of project leaders to give a presentation on the outcomes of their projects to HCTF Board members, staff and their peers. Not only do these workshops help HCTF evaluate the results of investments, they provide a rare opportunity for grant recipients to get together and exchange ideas about fish and wildlife conservation.

After presenting some of the accomplishments of SSIC’s habitat acquisition project, Robin listened to Neil Fletcher speak about the BCWF Wetlands Institute, currently in its sixth year of funding from HCTF. Neil explained how Wetlands Institute workshops provide participants with the tools to successfully complete wetland restoration projects in their communities.

“I had heard of the Wetlands Institute, but it wasn’t until I saw Neil’s presentation that I realized it might be able to help us with what we wanted to accomplish at Blackburn Lake.’” Robin seized the opportunity to talk with Neil about the Conservancy’s ideas for restoring wetlands on their newest acquisition (which had most recently been operated as a golf course), and soon both of them were excited about the possibility of collaborating on the project.

“I told Neil we were really looking for someone to mentor us through the process,” said Robin. “We had this rough idea of what we might be able to achieve, but none of the technical expertise to get there. Neil suggested having Tom Biebighauser come out to develop a restoration prescription for the property, and offered to loan us some of the necessary equipment. We managed to get Tom up from Kentucky in January, and the experience was phenomenal.”

Tom Biebighauser is a big name in restoration circles: the award-winning ecologist is an expert on the rehabilitation and construction of wetlands, having established over 1,600 of them across the U.S and Canada.

“We learned so much in that week,” recounts Robin. “It completely shifted my understanding of what we needed to do to optimally manage this property. Tom’s explanation of the history of stream modification and drainage let us look at Blackburn Lake- and our other conservation lands – with new eyes.”

The SSIC team learned that they were not only contending with the recent disturbances caused by the construction of the golf course, but a legacy of drainage modifications made by those who had farmed the land, stretching back to the 1800s.

“Tom taught us that anywhere you find a stream in close proximity to agriculture, you can almost bet those streams have been moved,” explains Robin. “As we walked the property, he pointed out where early settlers would have taken the broad, flat creeks running down the middle of a valley bottom and moved them to the base of the hill. This, combined with surprisingly sophisticated drainage modifications, dried up existing wetlands to allow them to be cultivated.”

Unfortunately, the ecological consequences of shifting these streams runs deep: not only did it eliminate important wetland habitats, the repositioned streams cause erosion that continues to deposit silt into the lake today: a concern for fish, wildlife and humans. In this instance, water from Blackburn Lake flows into Cusheon Lake, one of the Island’s major sources for drinking water, and is connected to Cusheon Creek, Salt Spring’s most important salmon run. Restoring these streams and wetlands to their pre-agriculture states will hopefully halt centuries of silting, improving conditions for the juvenile salmon and cutthroat trout in the lake. It will also benefit a myriad of other local species that use wetlands as part of their lifecycle, all while protecting an important source of water for Island residents.

Blackburn_lake.jpg

With the restoration plan nearing completion and funding secured for the first phase, the SSIC hopes to begin work on some of the 30 wetland restoration sites identified by Tom this fall. These activities will rely on yet another vital partnership: the one between the Conservancy and its volunteers. Each year, these dedicated participants contribute over 6000 hours to helping make Conservancy projects a success.

“The PCAF grant we received from HCTF and the funding from the Vancouver Foundation are both really about involving the community in these projects, by putting on workshops and informational sessions, and by encouraging them to get their hands dirty in the creation of these wetland areas. Talking with Neil and learning about some of the work he’s done around wetland education in communities has really helped me to see that there is a tremendous opportunity at Blackburn Lake to teach others about the value of wetlands, and what we can do to restore and protect them.”

SSIC_Volunteers.jpg

In true biologist fashion, Robin compares the network of partnerships she’s fostered- the links between the Conservancy, funding organizations, the Rod & Gun Club, Wetlands Institute and volunteers- to the interconnectedness of organisms within an ecosystem.

“When we speak about restoration, we tend to restrict our thinking to the repair of environmental components, but working through these projects does much more. It restores our own relationship to the land, and through a common goal of conservation, connects us to a web of resources that together can create something far greater than we could have on our own. Just like an ecosystem, every relationship has multiple functions and benefits for the project as a whole, and for each person involved in it. It’s been really exciting to see these partnerships develop, and witness how we support each other’s work.”

The SSIC wishes to acknowledge the funding contributions of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Public Conservation Assistance Fund, the Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, Wildlife Habitat Canada, the Vancouver Foundation, the Salt Spring Foundation, and the Canadian Wildlife Federation, who, along with other contributors, have made these projects possible. Thank you!

Does your club have a great idea for a project that improves fish or wildlife habitat? HCTF’s Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF) provides small grants for “on-the-ground” conservation projects such as monitoring wildlife, restoring spawning grounds, and building birdhouse and nest boxes. The key requirement is that you must provide at least half of the value of the project in volunteer labour, materials or other allowable donations: click here for further details. Hurry: next application deadline is May 17th.

Interested in learning more about wetland restoration? This year’s BCWF Wetland Institute will be held September 6-12 on East Vancouver Island. Registration (not including food and accommodation) is FREE up until August 16th, but space is limited, so submit your application to attend today.

Mon, 5 May 2014
Tags: Fisheries

Elk Lake Enhancement Project

Elk_Lake_Volunteer_Training.jpgOn Vancouver Island, a local angling club is taking the lead in a project to improve fish habitat conditions at a popular urban lake.

The Victoria Golden Rods and Reels (VGRR)’s Elk Lake Enhancement proposal is one of 116 projects recently approved by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation . VGRR received a $5,000 seed grant to support the creation of a plan that will address the lake’s declining water quality, a problem which has impacted fish and wildlife, along with a broad spectrum of recreational users.

Concerns around Elk Lake’s water quality were most recently publicized in January, when the lake’s annual polar bear swim had to be relocated due to the presence of a toxic algal bloom. The blue-green surface scum was confirmed to be cyanobacteria, a photosynthetic bacterium that thrives in conditions where excess nutrients are present in the water.

Blooms of cyanobacteria have been an ongoing problem in Elk Lake, where phosphorous levels have been elevated through residential and agricultural development of the surrounding land. Since 2009, the lake has seen at least four such blooms, which can cause serious illness or even death in humans, pets, and wildlife. Though the events tend to be short-lived, the mass die-offs of bacteria at the end the blooms can deplete the lake of oxygen, creating dangerous conditions for sensitive fish species such as rainbow trout.

Project leader and VGRR club member Mick Collins says that, despite regular stocking by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC), there are serious concerns among anglers for the future of the Elk Lake trout fishery.

“Anglers who regularly fish the lake know it intimately. They’re among the first people to notice when something isn’t right. It is encouraging to see so much interest and involvement from the fishing and rowing communities and others in seeking solutions to improve water quality and fish habitat.”

Elk Lake remains an important resource for local anglers, with an estimated 14,000 angler days per year, the most heavily fished lake on Vancouver Island. It is also hosts FFSBC’s popular Learn to Fish program, which teaches basic angling skills to youth and adults. And the lake’s appeal is not limited to anglers: it’s popular with swimmers, dog walkers, and is home to Canada’s National Rowing Team. Through their HCTF-funded project, VGRR is committed to bringing together the many stakeholders to find feasible, scientifically-sound solutions for the lake.

Volunteers from the club have already began working with the Ministry of Environment to carry out a regular water quality monitoring program to provide the data necessary for deciding on the best course of action (watch the video of highlights from the volunteer training session below). VGRR is also planning to establish a lake stewardship group and organize a public meeting to allow stakeholders to come together to discuss the issue – and explore potential solutions.

 

The water quality problems facing Elk Lake are not unique: there are numerous examples of relatively shallow, nutrient-loaded lakes in BC that have faced similar issues and overcome them. The project team will be looking at these case studies when designing the plan for Elk Lake. Restoration options that will be considered include weed cutting, reduction of nutrient inflows, and lake aeration. Once the initial planning stage is complete, the club will be able to put forward a full proposal to HCTF and other potential partner organizations requesting funding to execute the plan.

The Victoria Golden Rods and Reels club is a great example of anglers working to protect the trout fishery resource, to the benefit of other species and recreational users. If your club or organization is interested in working on a conservation project, visit our Grant Overview page to learn more about available funding.

 

Tue, 1 Apr 2014
Tags: Fisheries

60+ Reasons to Renew Your Licence

Bonaparte_Fishway.jpg

Today marks the first day of a new fishing season, and that means licence renewal time. You may already be aware that your licence fees pay for lake stocking programs, but did you know that your licence purchase also provides funding for fish conservation projects across BC? Almost all freshwater fishing licences sold in the province include a conservation surcharge directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. HCTF invests angling surcharge revenue into science-based conservation projects working to maintain and enhance BC’s freshwater fish and their habitats. Last year, angling licence surcharges provided approximately $2.5 Million in funding for 60 different fish conservation projects. These include:

Conference Creek Watershed Restoration Project (Vancouver Island, Approved for $42K):

Coastal cutthroat trout are a species of special concern in BC, having become locally extinct in areas of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland where their populations once flourished. The main reason for the species’ decline is habitat loss and degradation caused by forestry, agriculture and urbanization. The Conference Creek project is working to restore degraded cutthroat trout habitat by reconnecting creeks to their historical channels. This partnership of NGOS, government and local First Nations has identified the most productive streams in the area, and undertaken a number of restoration initiatives. These include removal of collapsed culverts, addition of cover logs, and creation of pools below the adjacent highway to provide refuge and spawning habitat for cutthroat trout and other species.

Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring and Assessment Program (Approved for $61K): This program uses trained volunteers to apply thousands of PIT tags (similar to the implanted microchips used for pets) to white sturgeon. Regular monitoring by volunteers provides reliable estimates of sturgeon numbers in the lower Fraser River, while simultaneously increasing awareness around the conservation of this endangered species. HCTF also funds sturgeon research on the mid-Fraser River ($16K, Cariboo), with a goal of protecting important sturgeon habitats and key migration routes from development.

Bonaparte_Fishway.jpg

Bonaparte Dam & Fishway Operations & Maintenance (Thompson Region, Approved for $24K): The impressive Bonaparte fishway enables steelhead and rainbow trout to traverse the otherwise impassible falls of the Bonaparte River. Dam operation helps ensure drought effects on fish production are avoided or minimized. Together, this infrastructure dramatically increases the amount of available spawning and rearing habitat available to these fish, opening up over 100km of stream. On average, it is estimated that this site supports ~20% of the production of steelhead for the Thompson Steelhead catch and release sport fishery.

8-391-ORRI-Side-channel-evaluation_1.jpgOkanagan River Restoration Initiative Okanagan River Restoration Initiative ($30K): The initiative restored the dyked, straight-flowing main stem of the Okanagan River to its historic (pre-channelized) pathway over its wider, natural floodplain. The restored riverside channel, bordered by fast-growing shade forestation, follows a more meandering course with deep feeding and resting pools, and oxygenating riffles – measures which greatly improve the spawning and rearing habitat for trout and salmon. You can read more about this project here.

 

These are only a few examples of the conservation work made possible through licence surcharge revenue. Learn more about our projects and programs here.