Enhance waterfowl nesting habitat in the Dinosaur Watershed
This project, led by Blackbird Environmental Ltd., will use existing research, and newly available predictive wetland and riparian habitat modelling, to identify suitable enhancement areas in the Dinosaur Reservoir Watershed. Results of this review will inform efforts to construct, install, and monitor artificial nesting structures. The Dinosaur Watershed is uniquely suited for this project, as it provides opportunities to engage the public (i.e. Hudson’s Hope school, First Nations communities, volunteer groups) and share information about FWCP’s habitat enhancement efforts.
Update: Community members help install 17 new nest boxes for waterfowl
Families from Hudson’s Hope Elementary-Secondary School in the FWCP’s Peace Region, helped build 17 new nest boxes for waterfowl in the Williston Watershed. Members of the Saulteau First Nation helped monitor the artificial nesting structures, which aim to support bufflehead, common and Barrow’s goldeneye, common merganser, Canada goose, common loon, and mallard, in this project led by Blackbird Environmental with funding from the FWCP.
Final report: executive summary
During the fall of 2020, Blackbird Environmental Ltd. (Blackbird) installed 19 artificial nesting structures aimed to enhance waterfowl habitat within the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program’s (FWCP’s) Dinosaur sub-region of the Williston reservoir. These structures were designed to target waterfowl species within the region including bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), common and Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala clangula, Bucephala islandica), common merganser (Mergus merganser), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), common loon (Gavia immer), and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
The subject project was completed under guidance of the FWCP’s 2014 Peace Region Action Plans. Specifically, this project’s primary objective has been completed under the Peace Basin Riparian and Wetlands Action Plan Objective 2 and Priority Action 2b-2:
- Objective 2: Conserve or enhance the ecological integrity of riparian and wetland ecosystems,
- Priority Action 2b-2: Install artificial nesting or roost structures for wildlife species (FWCP 2014a).
This project had a secondary objective, which aligns with the 2014 Peace Basin Plan’s goal of funding Stewardship and Education programming by involving local communities as much as possible to increase awareness of local waterfowl and waterfowl habitat needs (FWCP 2014b). The secondary objective of this project was to:
- spark community interest in the importance of waterfowl and suitable waterfowl habitat by collaborating with the local community during project execution.
Click the provincial database link below to read the full final report for this project.