Wings Over WaterCanada’s Waterbird

Conservation Plan

Wings Over Water

Robert Milko1

Loney Dickson2

Richard Elliot3Garry Donaldson4

1 Canadian Wildlife Service, Gatineau, Quebec2 Canadian Wildlife Service, Edmonton, Alberta3 Canadian Wildlife Service, Sackville, New Brunswick4 Canadian Wildlife Service, Gatineau, Quebec

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the many contributors to theplan, including members of the National WorkingGroup, the Waterbird Technical Committee(particularly Tony Gaston and Chip Weseloh) and allpartners.They provided invaluable comments on theapproach to the plan, drafts of the plan, the technicalinformation used in the priorization process andphotographs.

For additional copies or information,please contact:

PublicationsCanadian Wildlife ServiceEnvironment CanadaOttawa, Ontario K1A 0H3(819) 997-1095(819) 997-2756 (fax)cws-scf@ec.gc.cahttp://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,represented by the Minister of Environment, 2003.

National Library of Canada cataloguing inpublication data

Main entry under title:Wings Over Water:Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan

Text in English and French on inverted pages.Title on added t.p.:Envolées d’oiseaux aquatiques, Plan de conservation des oiseaux aquatiques du Canada.ISBN 0-662-67101-5Cat. no. CW66-219/2003

1. Waterbirds – Canada.2. Birds, Protection of – Canada.3. Wildlife conservation – Canada.

I. Milko, Robert Joseph, 1953- .II. Canadian Wildlife Service.

QL685.C32W56 2003 333.95’833’0971 C2003-980045-8E

Wings Over Water:Canada’s WaterbirdConservation Plan

Cover photos: Background Razorbills: Bob MilkoTufted Puffin: Moira LemonLeast Bittern: CWS – FileAmerican White Pelican: G.W. Beyersbergen

Inside photos: Background Northern Gannet:John W. Chardine

Common Tern: CWS – AtlanticRazorbill: John W. ChardineHorned Grebe: G.W. Beyersbergen

Footer photo: Gulls: Bob Milko

Common Tern Razorbill Horned Grebe

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SummaryExecutive SummaryExecutive SummaryWings Over Water (WOW), Canada’sWaterbird Conservation Plan, outlines the stepsneeded to conserve the broad array of speciesof seabirds, inland colonial waterbirds,marshbirds and other water-related species thatare addressed in this plan. Of the 93 speciescovered by the plan, 30% show negativepopulation trends while another 10% are notwell enough known to determine their trend.

Waterbird biologists have made a preliminarylist of those species where monitoring, researchand conservation should be a priority(Appendix 1).They have also identified themost important factors affecting waterbirdpopulations in Canada.These include, forexample, habitat change, oil spills, and fisheriesby-catch and competition.

Many waterbird species are shared with othernations, so Canada has chosen to work in abroad continental framework in order toincrease the potential for conservation success.To this end,Wings Over Water forms theCanadian component of WaterbirdConservation for the Americas: NorthAmerican Waterbird Conservation Plan.Accordingly, the Vision of WOW is to ensurepopulations of waterbirds are sustained orrestored throughout their historical range, inCanada and globally.

To attain this Vision,WOW outlines fourConservation Goals that need to be followed.They address population and habitatconservation, information exchange andcoordinated action. More specifically theConservation Goals are:

1. Sustain the natural distribution, diversity andabundance of waterbirds within Canada, andrestore populations of priority species andthose in decline;

2. Secure and enhance sufficient high qualityhabitat to support robust populations ofwaterbirds throughout their ranges inCanada;

3. Ensure that information for the conservationof waterbirds is widely available to decisionmakers, the public, and all those whoseactions affect populations of these birds; and

4. Ensure that coordinated conservation effortsfor waterbirds are guided by commonprinciples, and are in place throughout therange of those species that occur in Canada.

The implementation of WOW and itsConservation Goals will be overseen by aNational Working Group of partners dedicatedto the conservation of waterbirds.They will beassisted by a Science Technical Committee whowill provide the technical support andbackground information needed to makeinformed conservation actions.

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Executive Summary

Introduction 2

Scope of Wings Over Water 3

Conservation Challenges 5

Natural Attributes that Confer Risk 5

Human Related Risks 6

Conservaton Planning 9

WOW Conservation Programs 10

The Planning Context 12

Integrated and Regional Delivery 13

Conservation Goals 15

Goal 1: Population Conservation 15

Goal 2: Habitat Conservation 16

Goal 3: Information Exchange 17

Goal 4: Coordinated Action 18

Plan Implementation 19

Implementation Strategies 19

Implementation Structure 20

WOW National Working Group 20

Canadian Waterbird Technical Committee 20

Adaptive Management and Evaluation 21

Appendices 22

Appendix 1. Species Conservation Ranks and Priority Tiers 22

Appendix 2. NAWCP Conservation Status Assessment Protocol 26

ContentsTable of ContentsTable of Contents

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Wings Over WaterCanada’s Waterbird

Conservation Plan

For the purposes of this plan waterbirds includeseabirds, inland colonial waterbirds, marshbirds andother water-related species.(see Table 1 and Appendix 2)

The Vision of Wings Over Water is to ensurepopulations of waterbirds are sustained orrestored throughout their historical range,in Canada and globally.

The Mission of Wings over Water is, based onstrong science and partnerships, to makeinformed conservation decisions, take actionto maintain and restore species, andcollaborate with other countries that shareCanada’s waterbirds.

Wings Over Water

Thick-billed Murres – Garry Donaldson

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Waterbirds conjure up images as varied as thelandscapes and waterscapes in which they arefound. Images range from waterbirds nesting ontowering seacliffs to views of birds on prairiesloughs or over an expanse of the CanadianGreat Lakes, the largest freshwater lake systemin the world.They include awe-inspiring sights ofhundreds of thousands of seabirds sprawling oncoastal cliffs in Atlantic Canada or the CanadianArctic, or dozens of gannets plunging at dizzyingspeeds to capture prey off Bonaventure Island.Clouds of American White Pelicans lifting offshimmering prairie lakes, or bitterns withrobot-like motion silently stalking their prey inundisturbed wetlands are all part of the vastarray of birdlife referred to in this plan aswaterbirds.

Waterbirds are found throughout Canada. Onthe Pacific Coast, the diversity of seabird life is adraw for birders worldwide.The continentalinterior offers the magnificent sight of flocks ofpelicans, coots and grebes foraging on prairiepotholes. In the Great Lakes, many islands teemwith nesting terns, gulls and cormorants, whileseldom seen rails are detected only by theirnight-time calls. And anyone who has paddledon a northern lake has surely been mesmerizedby the lonely cry of the Common Loon.

In addition to the variety and abundance of avianlife that they represent, waterbirds are importantcomponents of the marine and freshwaterenvironments in which they are found. In manyways, the health of these birds reflects the healthof their aquatic environments.Therefore, ashuman intervention increases, careful vigilance iscrucial to ensure that adverse impacts on thesebirds and their habitats are avoided.

Although waterbirds are frequently quitenumerous, most are sensitive to habitat andpopulation level changes that can rapidlydeplete their numbers.This often occurs beforewe are aware of their plight and before we canreact to attempt to reverse it.Today, waterbirdsare under pressure from a myriad of humanactivities that are harmful to their habitats.Thelogging of Pacific Coast old-growth forestscausing the destruction of nesting habitat is theroot of population declines in the MarbledMurrelet.This species is now thought to bethreatened with extinction in Canada. One ofour seabird species has already suffered theultimate population level impact. In 1852, thelast sighting of a Great Auk occurredsomewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean.Theselarge flightless seabirds were hunted toextinction by mariners who sought them out asan easily acquired source of food on longvoyages and as sources of feathers for mattresses.At the time, the ecological concepts that formthe basis of conservation biology doctrines hadnot yet been developed. Consequently,consideration for the health of Great Aukpopulations was not thought to be importantuntil far along their road to extinction.

IntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Atlantic Puffins: CWS – File

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Non-colonial marshbirds are generally lessabundant and thought to be in decline or havesuffered significant recent decline as wetlandhabitat has been converted to other purposes.In many cases, their nocturnal activity and oftencryptic nature has resulted in there being verylittle information available on many speciesalthough a disproportionately high percentageare already listed as species at risk. Henceinformation on their distribution, abundanceand population dynamics is critical.

Comprehensive conservation initiatives areneeded to ensure the well-being of waterbirdsin the future.Wings Over Water (WOW):Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan is acomprehensive effort to provide a frameworkfor partners to take action to ensure theabundance and diversity of these birds andtheir habitats are maintained or enhanced in thefuture.Together with its companion conservationinitiative - Waterbird Conservation for theAmericas: the North American WaterbirdConservation Plan (NAWCP) - for which WOWis the Canadian component, a framework forcontinental planning within the North AmericanBird Conservation Initiative is provided.

The Scope of Wings Over Water Bird conservation in Canada is increasinglybeing implemented through integratedapproaches under the recently developedNorth American Bird Conservation Initiative(NABCI). Under NABCI, conservation actionswill tend to proceed in recognition of the effectsof management actions and development on allspecies in a given area. However, becauseassemblages of species form different groupsthat have similar conservation needs, plans havebeen made and programs are being developedto address the related needs of the differentbird groups. In this regard, the North AmericanWaterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP)addresses conservation of ducks, geese andswans, the Canadian Shorebird ConservationPlan (CSCP) has been created for shorebirds,and the Canadian Partners in Flight (PIF)Framework for Conservation in Canadaoversees landbird conservation.

The Wings Over Water conservation planaddresses seabirds that are found in marine andcoastal areas, inland colonial waterbirds such asterns, gulls and cormorants and other aquaticor wetland related species such as grebes,loons, rails, cranes, coots and bitterns.

Specifically,Wings Over Water includes 93 speciesin 14 families of birds (Table 1); a completespecies list is given in Appendix 1. All of thebirds listed in Appendix 1 occur with somedegree of regularity within Canadian borders orCanada’s 200 mile Economic Exclusion Zone, atsome time during the year.

Eared Grebe – G.W. Beyersbergen

Of the 93 species in WOW 30% are known tohave biologically significant or apparent negativepopulation trends.Additionally, another 10% haveinsufficient data in order to make a determinationof population trend. Many of the latter speciesare difficult to study marshbirds, but thosewhere data is sufficient show a disconcertingtendency of previously un-documented declines.Conservation status of all waterbirds birds alsoshow the plight of these species; over half areof moderate, high concern or highly imperiled,based on criteria used in NAWCP.

In addition to declines, ecological imbalances canalso lead to excessive increases in populationsthat can sometimes lead to problems. Forexample, Double-crested Cormorant populationson the Great Lakes have dramatically expandedin recent years and are the subject of populationcontrol programs at present. Changes inpopulations of one species can affect populationsof other species through increased predationand competition for nesting habitat.Theseimbalances generally need to be addressed, butthey are sometimes self-correcting.

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Table 1.List of the families of birds whose species are included in Wings Over Water*

Family No. of Species Seabirds Inland Colonial Non-colonial Waterbirds waterbirds

Alcidae 14 auks, murres, puffinsDiomedeidae 3 albatrossesProcellariidae 11 shearwaters, petrelsSulidae 1 gannetsLaridae 30 skuas, jaegers, gulls, terns gulls, ternsHydrobatidae 3 storm-petrelsPelicanidae 1 pelicansPhalacroracidae 4 cormorants cormorantsArdeidae 7 herons, egrets bitternsPodicipedidae 6 grebes grebesRallidae 6 rails, cootsGruidae 2 cranesGavidae 5 loons* some waterbirds are viewed as seabirds or inland colonial waterbirds in Canada depending on the habitat/location

Long-tailed Jaegers – Ian MacNeil

Natural Attributes ThatConfer RiskThe biology of many waterbirds renders themvulnerable to stresses in their environment.Most species covered by this plan concentrateat colonies to breed, hence they are vulnerableto events that take place at or near thesenesting areas. As significant proportions ofpopulations may be present at each colony,mishaps such as oil spills, changing wetlandlevels, disease, or introduction of predators canhave significant impacts on a species’ survival.

Many waterbirds also congregate at other timesof the year, when they gather in moulting,feeding, migrating or over-winteringconcentrations. British Columbia’s Strait ofGeorgia, the Niagara River corridor of Ontario,and the shelf-breaks of the outer Bay of Fundyand Grand Banks on the Atlantic coast, playhost to globally significant concentrations ofmany species. Many areas are visited by birdsthat breed in other countries, such as GreaterShearwaters from the South Atlantic, andDovekies from Greenland. Because of the stressimposed by winter conditions, increasedpressure from human threats can havesignificant impacts on birds in these situations.

Many species included in this plan have very lowreproductive outputs, taking up to 4-6 years toreach the age of first breeding, and then onlylaying a single egg or a very small clutch eachyear. Recovery of their populations afterdeclines therefore takes a long time. Many ofthese birds are also very long-lived, with someindividual fulmars, murres and albatrosses

known to have survived at least 30-40 years.This life history pattern makes seabirds andmany other colonial species particularlysusceptible to the effects of high rates of adultmortality. Direct killing of adults, in fishing netsor direct harvests such as the hunting ofmurres, have particularly significant effects onpopulations, which may take many years toreverse. Problems that influence reproductionmay not show up as a population decrease formany years, given the buffering effect of thepresence of large numbers of the populationthat are non-breeding. Population monitoringthat involves an assessment of reproductionand survival is thus important to track theoverall population health of these species.

Many of these birds range over huge distanceseach year. Northern Fulmar, Arctic Tern, andBuller’s Shearwater, migrate across entire oceans,while in the interior, Common Terns andFranklin’s Gulls cross huge continental expanses.Large ranges are often through the jurisdictionsof many countries requiring international andinter-continental cooperation in order to fullyprotect them across their range.

The inland aquatic habitats of most waterbirdsare generally well understood because of theirsmaller sizes and their accessibility.Yet thecomplexities of the aquatic environment andtheir external influences results in limitedknowledge for many aspects of inland waterecology that could affect waterbird survival.Some examples of issues that affect inlandspecies are the effects of pesticides onwetlands, cumulative effects of drought onhabitat, and direct alteration of habitat.

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ChallengesConservation Challenges Conservation Challenges

Human Related RisksAlthough the species covered by this plan aresusceptible to a wide range of effects fromhuman activities, the most significant threats toCanadian waterbirds fall into the following maincategories.

Oil Spills and DischargesDay-to-day operations of the marine transportand oil industry constitute a deadly risk ofexposure to petrochemicals for many species.The most readily visible problem is the releaseof oil from catastrophic shipping accidents atsea. Canada has witnessed several disasters, suchas the oil slick from the grounded Nestuccabarge which drifted onto the coast ofVancouver Island in the winter of 1989-1990,killing many wintering seabirds. However, alarger problem is the chronic release ofrelatively small amounts of oil from illegal bilgeflushing by tankers, and other industrial releases,such as from drilling platforms at sea. Althougheach incident may only release a small amountof oil, the sheer number of occurrences add upto a chronic problem, which to date in Canadahas been far more severe than the effects oflarger spills. Models estimate that about300,000 birds are killed each year in AtlanticCanada by this deliberate chronic oil discharge.

Fisheries Bycatch andCompetitionMost birds covered by this plan are either fish-eating species or they prey on the same foodthat fish do.This places them where the fishare, often directly in the path of commercial fishgear that are fatal to birds. Gill nets, includingabandoned "ghost nets", and long-line fisheriescontinue to take their toll of loons, albatrosses,shearwaters, gannets, gulls and alcids on one orboth coasts each year.

Fisheries often compete directly with birds forthe same stocks of fish, such as capelin orherring, reducing prey availability to levels wherespecies such as Atlantic Puffins and other alcidsmay suffer near or complete reproductive failurein some years.The global trend towards directlyharvesting smaller species that are lower downthe food chain, such as sand lance, capelin orkrill, will further exacerbate this problem forCanada’s seabirds.There is evidence that morefixed gear fisheries, aquaculture and mareculture,may be indirectly affecting the prey base ofbirds located near these industries.

There is also pressure to eliminate or reducecolonial nesters such as cormorants andpelicans at coastal colonies and on large inlandlakes by users of the resources who perceivethem as competitors for the same fishresources.

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Oiled Bird – Jon Stone

Predator IssuesEither predators (introduced or native) orcompetitors whose populations have expandeddisproportionately to their natural levels in theirenvironment are a threat to some populationsof waterbirds. For example, native Great Black-backed Gull populations often increase inresponse to discards from fish-processingplants.These predators in turn may impact onpopulations of other gulls, terns, shorebirds andwaterfowl.

Accidental introduction of predators such asraccoons or rats in colonies on the Pacificcoast, or intentional release of cats and dogshave historically contributed to waterbirdpopulation declines, often proving very difficultto reverse. Recent attempts to removeraccoons from seabird nesting islands on theBritish Columbia coast have only beensuccessful when concerted multi-year effortshave been focused on the task. Other similarprograms, such as rat eradications have provento be very costly.

Habitat ChangeTerrestrial habitats are essential for breeding forall species, but are often also attractive forhuman recreational, residential and urbandevelopment. Depletion of wetlands and thealteration of their water levels has resulted inwide-spread declines in many non-colonialmarshbirds. Many pelagic species only come toland to breed at specific colony sites. For thesebirds, the protection of important terrestrialhabitats, and adjacent marine areas is essentialfor their survival. Species that use lakes, pondsand riparian habitats may be forced to copewith a variety of disturbances or developmentprojects that physically alter important habitats.Without adequate landscape managementpractices, agriculture and forestry have beenmajor causes of wetland loss and degradation.Species such as terns, loons and some heronsrespond to disturbance by abandoning breedingsites and moving to new areas, making habitatprotection difficult, and exposing them to newrisks. For many species, the protection ofimportant terrestrial habitats and adjacent

feeding areas is essential for theirsurvival. Sport-fishing lodges locatednear seabird colonies impairreproductive success through directphysical disturbance and habitatdegradation. Changes to winteringhabitat have also contributed topopulation changes identifying theneed for international cooperation.

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Great Black-backed Gulls – CWS-Atlantic

Tourism and RecreationInterested visitors create a special type ofdisturbance at colonies. Although conservation-oriented and concerned about the birds theyview, visitors in large numbers at some coloniescan have negative impacts. Careful control atheavily-visited sites such as Quebec’s BonaventureIsland, or New Brunswick’s Machias Seal Islandcan limit these impacts and ensure that visitorshave a positive experience, but the risks ofsignificant disturbance makes visits to mostcolonial waterbird colonies undesirable. Evenwhat appears to be relatively benign visits tocliff-nesting birds by kayakers has beendemonstrated to be as disturbing to nestingseabirds as motorized boats. Similarly, negativeeffects were observed on islands in the prairieswhere American White Pelicans nest. In thiscase, regulations restricting access during thebreeding season were established. As well, atboth fresh and salt water locations, birds restingor feeding on water are disturbed or evenkilled by high-speed watercraft.

ToxicsSince many chemicals accumulate in aquatic andmarine food chains, contamination by urbanand industrial pollution continues to affect birdsthroughout many of Canada’s waters. AmericanWhite Pelican populations in Prairie Canada arestill recovering from population declines causedby eggshell thinning, a result of DDT exposure.Mercury in freshwater foods is having populationlevel impacts on Common Loons nesting inNova Scotia. Herons, loons and other fish-eating birds can be poisoned after ingesting asingle lead fishing sinker. Pollution in the GreatLakes, first brought to the public’s attention byreports of deformities in the region’s gulls andcormorants, continues to affect colonial waterbirdpopulations through exposure to industrialorganochlorine residues, although biomonitoringprograms have shown some recent declines asinputs have been reduced. Even species foundin the sparsely populated and largely non-industrialized Arctic are affected by the long-rangetransport of air pollutants, where some speciescontinue to show increasing concentrations ofpesticide and heavy metal residues in their eggs.

HuntingThe legal hunting of Thick-billed and CommonMurres in Newfoundland and Labrador hasresulted in past population declines, and prudentongoing harvest management is essential forthese species because of the inability of theirpopulations to recover quickly. Illegal hunting isalso responsible for the death of an unknownquantity of waterbirds in some locations.

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Northern Fulmar – John W. Chardine

CWS – Atlantic

Wings Over Water provides a strategicframework that outlines the fundamentalrequirements for effective waterbird conservation.It presents the concepts and approaches forplanning and implementation that can be usedat different geographic and political levels. Byassisting in identifying the information necessaryto make informed conservation decisionsWOW will ensure:

• that populations are at ecologicallyappropriate levels;

• that species are not limited by inadequatehabitat quality or availability; and

• that those who interact with waterbirds areaware of the effects of their actions and ofways to interact in a sustainable manner.

Effective conservation planning requiresidentifying priority needs for waterbirds, startingat the level of the species themselves.This isaccomplished by identifying issues that representthe greatest biological concerns and identifying

species that require priority considerations.Being national in scope,WOW has thereforeprioritized waterbirds into different conservationpriority classes based on a national perspective.(See below:WOW Conservation Programsand Appendix 2).

Conservation planning also considers the maintypes of habitats on which waterbirds depend,with a focus on those habitat types that may belimiting populations of birds that use them.Planning also considers conservation needs atspecific locations in each region that are ofparticular importance to waterbirds, or that arenow at risk from specific threats. Nest sites andother areas of concentration warrant specificattention.

Most of the threats that pose a risk to waterbirdscan only be ameliorated through a strong,coordinated conservation effort that identifiesthreats to birds and their habitats, and predictsthe effects of actions on their conservation at

the population level.This requires agood knowledge base upon which tomake management decisions and againstwhich conservation actions can bemeasured.The expanding body ofknowledge that we presently haveconcerning the sensitivities of waterbirdsand the effects of the many threats totheir populations provide ample evidenceof the need to take coordinatedconservation action.

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PlanningConservation PlanningConservation Planning

Franklin’s Gull – G.W. Beyersbergen

WOW ConservationPrograms Conservation of Canada’s waterbirds willproceed through the implementation of programsfor monitoring, scientific research, protection ofimportant habitat, and communications/outreach.These generalized programs, outlined below,should result in similar programs and specificconservation actions at the regional level.

Coordinated monitoring programs are essentialto assess trends in population numbers and in keypopulation parameters to determine distributionsand to provide a basis for future evaluationprograms. Because reliable trend data takes yearsto accumulate, especially for long-lived species,monitoring efforts must build on existing programsand their historic databases. Preferred surveyprotocols, common monitoring objectives, andmethods of sharing monitoring data must beagreed upon in Canada, in cooperation with othercountries, particularly through the continentalwaterbird monitoring program of NAWCP.

Monitoring of the availability and quality ofessential habitats must be conducted togetherwith population monitoring.This will ensure thatadequate high-quality habitat is availablethroughout the annual life cycle of ourwaterbirds, and will identify those locationswhere securement or focused action isrequired to maintain habitat availability.

Species for which monitoring, research andconservation action should be a priority have beenidentified through a prioritization process.Thefirst step in prioritization is an assessment ofconservation status for Canadian waterbirds basedon the methods and criteria used in NAWCP,but analyzed in a Canadian geographic context.As a result, some species in WOW will have adifferent conservation status than found inNAWCP.

The second step entails a determination of theresponsibility that Canada has for the species ina global context. A combination of these factorsis then used to determine species conservationpriorities and the allocation of species into oneof three tiers (see Appendix 1 and its Legendfor results and more detailed explanation).Species in the higher tiers should be a priority atnational levels of planning and conservationimplementation.This should not, however, precludeaction on species in lower tiers. Other speciesof particular concern may be identified withinput from the Canadian Waterbird TechnicalCommittee and regional implementation teams.

Cooperation among conservation plans, bothnationally and internationally, will help focusresearch direction, and ensure that researchresults are applied to continental conservationactions. In North America, particular coordinationis required with the Untied States and Mexicothrough the NAWCP. International cooperationinvolving Canada outside of North America iscoordinated through other arrangements suchas the Circumpolar Seabird Group.

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Northern Gannets – John W. Chardine

Habitat protection programs will require a suiteof options due to the varied waterscapes andlandscapes occupied by waterbirds and thedifferences between colonial and non-colonialnesters’ habits. Except for some of the morecryptic marshbirds, and less studied boreal andnorthern areas, most of the important habitatssuch as nesting sites, the areas used for feeding,resting and chick-rearing, are identifiable.Thetask of actually identifying this habitat will take aconcerted and coordinated effort and achievingtheir protection is often more difficult. Habitatprotection methods could include acquisition,easement, seasonal protection, limitations to accessand other stewardship initiatives depending ondifferent landowner constraints.The goal is to havean underlying base of ecosystem-oriented actionsto maintain the overall quality and communitystructure of the wetland, coastal, and marineecosystems upon which the birds and the otherassociated plants and animals depend.

Improved flow of information between thescientists and managers responsible forconservation of waterbirds, and those whocontrol the human activities that affect them isan essential cornerstone of the Wings OverWater approach. Communication programs caninvolve techniques ranging from the distributionof information brochures and the inclusion ofdecision-makers in implementing conservationactions to building provisions for these speciesinto regulations and guidelines that govern keyindustries such as commercial fishing, shippingand aquaculture. Education and outreachprograms will also be required to inform thegeneral public of the goals and progress ofWings Over Water and to engender supportfor those programs. An informed public canbetter support seabird and colonial waterbirdconservation through an increasedunderstanding of the birds, their sensitivities andthe issues that threaten their survival.

The implementation of such programswill have many benefits for waterbirds,but in many cases, direct conservationaction must be taken. Removal ofintroduced predators from nestingislands, protection of habitats,construction of new islets for herons toreplace those destroyed by humanactivity, wetland restoration andcontrol of legal harvesting and illegalhunting, are but a few examples.

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Caspian Terns – Bruce Szczechowski

The Planning Context There are two other bird conservation initiativesthat were considered when developing WingsOver Water.Wings Over Water is the Canadiancomponent of a continental conservation planfor waterbirds called Waterbird Conservationfor the Americas: North American WaterbirdConservation Plan (NAWCP). Canada has beenworking with partners in the development ofthis plan, and WOW serves to organize anddirect actions specific to Canada while addressingnational needs for waterbirds. Both WOW andNAWCP were developed together in the contextof the North American Bird ConservationInitiative (NABCI) whose role is to provide forco-ordinated conservation action at thecontinental level for all birds. NABCI hasadopted and developed an approach to theconservation of birds by focusing conservationplanning initiatives on different species groupsof birds (waterbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds andlandbirds).

So while NABCI has in the short termstreamlined the approach to planning throughthe different bird groups, its ultimate goal is amulti-species "all birds" approach to deliveringconservation action. NABCI plans to achievethis through regionally-based, biologically-driven,landscape-oriented partnerships across thecontinent. In order to achieve this, NABCI hasdeveloped Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)for North America, based on an ecologicallandscape model.The intent of NABCI is forbiological planning to occur within the contextof these ecological BCR units. Initial mapping ofNorth American BCRs was limited to terrestrial

areas, although many species considered byWOW are influenced more by marine systems.In order to address needs in the marineenvironment,WOW is initially using the "LargeMarine Ecosystem" used by the IUCN, the UNand U.S. NOAA, and now by NAWCP. It isexpected that marine BCRs will eventually bedeveloped which will be adopted by this plan.

Regional planning under WOW also uses thewaterbird planning regions as developed inNAWCP in order to ensure coordinatedefforts in different jurisdictions, particularlywhen collaborating with the United States.Different regions of Canada are involved inthese planning exercises with the United Statesbased on the NAWCP waterbird regions tovarying extents depending on both need andresource availability. Additionally, because of thekey role and legal responsibility that CWS hasfor most waterbirds and to assist in ease ofadministration and planning, plans in some casesare being developed based on CWS regions.But in all cases, the fundamental planning unitsare being linked to the Bird ConservationRegions (BCR) of NABCI.

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American Bittern – G.W. Beyersbergen

In Canada,Wings Over Water joins three otherecosystem-based conservation programs ofNABCI whose roles are to set priorities for thedifferent bird groups, and ensure that these areaddressed.These include:

• waterfowl (through the North AmericanWaterfowl Management Plan – NAWMP);

• landbirds (through the Partners in Flightprogram – PIF); and

• shorebirds (through the Canadian ShorebirdConservation Plan).

Delivery of the resulting conservation actionswill then take place through the partnerjurisdictions, either within each BCR, or withinsome other management unit such as jointventures or provinces, depending on theirmandate, expertise, resources and opportunity.To increase both efficiency and effectiveness,actions which address the conservationpriorities for waterbirds, will be undertakentogether with actions for other species groupssuch as waterfowl, shorebirds, or landbirds

wherever practical.This will enable Canadiannatural resource and bird management agenciesto fulfill their jurisdictional responsibilities whileimplementing the BCR priorities.

Building on its partnerships with NAWCP andfollowing the tenets of NABCI, Canada in turnworks with other countries, such as Greenlandand other circumpolar members of theConservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)program through its Circumpolar SeabirdWorking Group, and southern marine nations, toensure effective conservation over the rangesof Canadian waterbirds.Through formal andinformal conservation agreements, all partners willaddress the conservation priorities of waterbirds,both inside Canada and in other countries.

Integrated and RegionalDeliveryRegional plans are being developed within thebroader national context through the active

participation of organizations withconservation mandates or those thathave expertise or local knowledge.Partnerships with stakeholders willensure that valuable local knowledge,conservation issues, resources andsocio-economic priorities areconsidered. Involving those whoseactivities affect waterbirds, or thosewho regulate these activities, willhelp to maximize the effectivenessand benefits of this plan.

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Arctic Loons – G.W. Beyersbergen

The bird species included in Wings Over Waterdiffer in their geographical distribution across thecountry. Many of the true seabirds are confinedto sea coasts and adjacent offshore areas, whilemost herons, loons, pelicans, rails, cranes andgrebes breed in inland wetlands and lakes, andsome, like cormorants, gulls and terns rangeacross most aquatic ecozones.As a consequence,while planning for all WOW species togethermight be practical in some regions, in others itmay be more practical to develop separateconservation plans for inland and marinespecies in order to work efficiently with thevarying partners. Planning in each region willfollow the approach that best reflects theirlocal circumstances including the principles andConservation Goals outlined in WOW.

This broad ecosystem approach, integrated atthe level of the landscape and seascape, hassignificant benefits when looking beyond theconservation of birds towards the conservationof all biological diversity. Conservation projectsthat protect and improve habitat along withchanges to management practices to helpconserve waterbirds should be conducted in away that benefits all species that share theirhabitats.

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Common Loon – Rob Alvo

Conservation strategies must be based onrigorous science. An underlying foundation ofscientific knowledge about waterbird biologyand the threats facing them form the linksbetween broad conservation goals and thespecific conservation programs needed toprotect bird species and habitats. Effective

conservation of the waterbirds that occur inCanada also requires that the information tomake informed conservation decisions iscurrent, complete as possible, and readilyavailable.To achieve this, continued researchand monitoring will be needed to clearlyidentify important population trends, ecological

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GoalsConservation Goals Conservation Goals

Goal 1:POPULATION CONSERVATION – Sustain the natural distribution, diversityand abundance of waterbirds within Canada, and restore populations of priorityspecies and those in decline.

Strategies:• Obtain and maintain information on the

distribution, status, and trends of seabird and inlandwaterbird populations in a coordinated fashion.

• Identify and understand the natural factors affectingseabird and inland waterbird population dynamics,ecology and components of their annual cycles.

• Understand the diverse and cumulative effects ofhuman activities on waterbirds.

• Synthesize information obtained to identify criticalfactors affecting populations, and implementappropriate conservation actions.

• Monitor, evaluate and build on the results ofconservation actions.

• Identify priority species.

Results:➤ Canada’s waterbirds are monitored with sufficient

intensity and coordination to accurately determinepopulation trends and evaluate their importance.

➤ Factors affecting seabird and colonial waterbirdpopulations are better understood.

➤ Priority species are identified and their populationsare restored to appropriate levels.

Discussion:Sound scientific knowledge is the cornerstone of astrong and effective conservation effort.

Critical to effective conservation is the ability to monitorand detect population changes that vary from acceptablelevels. Integration among monitoring programs willprevent costly duplication of efforts, and ensure thatthe resulting data are available in a standardized format.This will involve international cooperation, reflecting themigratory nature of these birds.

Despite an impressive body of information aboutwaterbirds, much remains to be learned in order toassess population-level concerns and implementappropriate conservation actions.

Of great importance is an understanding of how humanactivities and our changes to the landscapes and seascapesaffect the species within them. Pollution, climatechange, tourism, fisheries, variable water levels and oilreleases are just a few human impacts that affectwaterbirds in ways that are not fully understood.

A system to identify priority species is essential to focusresearch, monitoring, conservation and managementefforts. Such a system is being developed for all birdswhich reflects various risk factors that affect theconservation status of each species. A preliminaryconservation status assessment for waterbirds, basedon that used in NAWCP but adapted to Canadiandistributions has been used in conjunction withCanadian responsibility for a species to prioritizespecies in Canada (Appendix 1)

sensitivities, and key habitats.These conceptsare encompassed within the four ConservationGoals, their strategies for implementing thegoals and the expected results of theirimplementation.

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Goal 2:HABITAT CONSERVATION – Secure and enhance sufficient high quality habitatto support robust populations of waterbirds throughout their ranges in Canada.

Strategies:• Increase understanding of seabird and inland

waterbird habitat requirements throughout the year.• Identify key marine, freshwater and terrestrial

habitats and sites for waterbirds across their ranges.• Implement management actions that secure

important habitats.

Results:➤ Key factors affecting seabird and inland waterbird

habitat requirements are understood.➤ Important Canadian seabird and inland waterbird

sites are identified and secured through legislationor habitat conservation and stewardship programs.

➤ Best practices are identified to integrate seabird andinland waterbird habitat needs with other uses ofthe landscape/seascape.

Discussion:Uninterrupted access to habitats throughout theirannual cycles is essential to the survival of waterbirdsand the maintenance or restoration of populations atappropriate levels.

Many key marine, freshwater and terrestrial sites forwaterbirds have been identified, and in some cases,some level of protection or recognition has beenconferred. Many of these sites have been specificallyprotected in National Parks, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries,National Wildlife Areas and under provincial andterritorial legislation or indirectly, such as on otherfederal lands.

Stewardship agreements and designation throughinitiatives such as the Important Bird Areas programare important tools in securing recognition forimportant habitats. Although these options offer nolegislated protection, the power of communityinvolvement and ownership in the conservationprocess has proven to be an effective long-termstrategy.

Still, many important sites remain to be identified andsecured in some fashion. Aggregation sites wheremany birds come together during breeding, moulting,foraging at sea, and migration are key examples.

The greatest challenge may be increasing protection forcoastal and marine offshore areas, through newopportunities such as Marine Protected Areas underCanada’s Ocean Act, Marine Wildlife Areas under theCanada Wildlife Act or through the National Parks Act.Although many key sites representing important marinehabitats for birds have been identified, few have anyformal protection.

Arctic Tern – Max Finkelstein

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Goal 3:INFORMATION EXCHANGE – Ensure that information for the conservation ofwaterbirds is widely available to decision makers, the public, and all those whoseactions affect populations of these birds.

Strategies:• Ensure that information on waterbirds and their

conservation is available in forms that are useful forplanning and management purposes.

• Work with users and managers of seabirds andinland waterbird habitats to promote practices andpolicies that reduce negative impacts of humanactivities on the birds.

• Provide information and outreach to influencedecision-makers and to educate the public onconservation and resource management needs andpolicies.

Results:➤ Decision-makers, regulators and industries

incorporate seabird and inland waterbird needs intotheir plans and activities.

➤ Canadians are made more aware of conservationproblems relating to waterbirds and reflect these intheir priorities and actions.

➤ Best practices and policiesfor the conservation ofwaterbirds are developed,accepted and widely used.

Discussion:Information exchange, education and outreach arerecognized as crucial factors contributing to the successof bird conservation initiatives.

Canadians need to become aware of the sensitivities ofwaterbirds and the threats they face. Examples are therelease of oil into marine and freshwater environments,the problems associated with commercial fisheries andmodification of wetlands.

Managers and land-use planners are increasinglyreceptive to accommodating the conservation needs ofwildlife, but often they lack the necessary informationand tools. This information must be accessible in easily-understood forms that can be integrated into theirplanning processes. Developing electronic databasesand documentation on-line is an essential task forWings Over Water.

Broadening partnerships to include land-managers, andindustry representatives will facilitate an understandingof the effects their activities have on waterbirds and ofways to mitigate deleterious effects. Such partnershipsmake for innovative and effective joint ventures, andwill help in resourcing conservation actions.

The participation of volunteers and local communitiescan provide a formidable conservation force.Comprehensive stewardship programs targeted at thelocal level will assist land-use managers in deliveringinitiatives. This will foster sound management practicesand help sustain habitats over the long-term. In return,communities may see economic benefits fromconservation initiatives through ecotourism, the buildingof new infrastructure, or related sustainable-useinitiatives.

Black-crowned NightHerons – Glenn Barrett

Ring-billed Gull – Ryan Zimmerling

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Goal 4:COORDINATED ACTION – Ensure that coordinated conservation efforts forwaterbirds are guided by common principles, and are in place throughout therange of those species that occur in Canada.

Strategies:• Develop cooperative regional waterbird plans in

Canada, integrating them with other bird-conservation initiatives under NABCI.

• Undertake cooperative actions with organizationsconcerned with the conservation, research, andmanagement of waterbirds and their habitats, aswell as other partners such as industry andaboriginal people.

• Influence environmental and land-use policies andprograms that affect waterbird conservation.

• Increase human and financial resources available forwaterbird conservation.

• Exchange information and expertise withinternational partners and develop internationalplans where required.

Results:➤ Common conservation priorities for Canadian

waterbirds are agreed upon nationally andregionally.

➤ Waterbird conservation plans are developed andimplemented at regional levels across Canada, withoverall delivery integrated at regional, national andinternational levels.

➤ Principals that support waterbird conservation areincorporated into federal, provincial andinternational agreements and partnerships.

➤ Non-government groups, industries and aboriginalpeople play an active role in promoting andimplementing seabird and inland waterbirdconservation activities in Canada and othercountries.

➤ Priority conservation action is not hindered throughlack of human or financial resources.

Discussion:Partnerships can make the best use of limited meansby pooling ideas and resources. They also ensure thatcontributing organizations apply their expertise andresources in the most effective way to address acommonly-agreed set of conservation priorities.

As conservation actions under Wings Over Water willtake place mainly at local and regional levels, strongregional plans, encompassing the entire country, willdeliver this initiative.The national plan will provideconsistency and coordination of regional plans, and willprovide a focus for integration with internationalinitiatives.

As Wings Over Water addresses conservation for allwaterbirds and their habitats, it is essential thatpartnerships include all jurisdictions: federal, provincial,territorial, municipal governments and aboriginalpeoples. At the same time partnerships must alsoinclude universities, conservation and naturalist groups,volunteers and those whose activities pose threats towaterbirds, to ensure that all venues for conservationare involved.

Partners in Wing Over Water will collaborate withinternational conservation programs to fostercooperation in addressing concerns for theconservation of shared species. Beginning withcooperative efforts with NABCI partners, especiallythrough NAWCP, international action will extend tocircumpolar countries such as Greenland, as well asother coastal nations in Europe, the Americas and thesouthern hemisphere.

Much of the important conservation work is carriedout by non-government organizations.These groupschampion local conservation issues, and rally supportfor research, conservation projects, education andawareness. As indispensable allies they also influencethe development of sound environmental laws, policiesand programs.

An important objective of Wings Over Water is topromote policies and practices that have a positiveinfluence on bird conservation and to reduce theapplication of those that do not. These efforts will bestrengthened by taking consistent coordinatedapproaches among regions and among countries inidentifying opportunities and influencing policies fromthe perspective of waterbird conservation.

Implementation StrategiesEffective delivery will require a practical andgraduated approach, beginning with thoseprojects that build on existing initiatives andthose that address the highest conservationpriorities. Implementation of these strategicprojects will increase partner confidence,engender further financial and operationalcontributions, and enable partners to move onto addressing other more challenging andbroader-scale priorities.

Implementation will predominantly occur at thelocal and regional level, but coordination isrequired to ensure that all waterbirds areaddressed with the appropriate priority atregional, national and international levels.Thefollowing outlines roles at differentimplementation levels.

National – Implementation of Wings OverWater requires overall direction andcoordination at two levels. A National WorkingGroup will provide direction, oversight, andstrategic guidance, while a Technical Committeewill ensure that the plan progresses on a soundscientific basis. As participation at these twolevels is not mutually exclusive, individuals maycontribute through both committees. Nationaldirection will also facilitate the development ofappropriate international conservation activities,and links to other NABCI conservationinitiatives.

International – There are several positionsavailable to Canadians on the NAWCPWaterbird Conservation Council whose role isto facilitate coordinated actions at the continentalscale.There is expected to also be moreregional involvement with the United States atthe waterbird planning regions or BCR levels ascross-border planning and implementation isundertaken.

Regional – Implementation will occur at severallevels including BCRs, joint ventures, provincialboundaries and traditional CWS regions. Plandelivery will thrive through regional partnershipsamong major stakeholder groups that participateat management, technical and operationallevels. Each region will develop the minimumadministrative structure needed to effectivelyimplement its plans in cooperation with otherspecies-group initiatives, in a form that reflectsthe specific circumstances of the region.

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ImplementationPlan ImplementationPlan Implementation

Black Tern – G.W. Beyersbergen

Implementation Structure

WOW National WorkingGroup This management-level committee will determinethe plan’s overall priorities and program direction,while maintaining the coherence of initiatives atlocal, national and international levels.The Chairof the National Working Group will serve as theWOW representative on the NABCI-CanadaCouncil. Representatives from major stakeholdergroups, including federal, provincial and territorialagencies as well as non-governmental conservationorganizations, will participate in this body.Membership will initially be composed of thosewho have lead in the development of WOW andwho served as an Interim Steering Committee.Other members will be sought from partnersinterested in the plan. Representation on theNational Working Group will be sought frombiologists, conservationists and management.

The function of the Wings Over WaterNational Working Group will be to:

• facilitate the development and identificationof WOW priorities,

• develop and implement strategies to raisethe national profile of Wings Over Water;

• ensure participation and support from keynational partners;

• provide direct links to the NABCI and theNAWCP;

• provide effective coordination betweenWings Over Water and the other birdconservation initiatives at the national level;

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• address institutional and financial barriers tothe advancement of the plan;

• develop resourcing strategies forcomponents of the plan, including fundingfor national projects;

• maintain effective communication amongplan partners and with other conservationbodies and agencies;

• represent Canadian seabird and inlandwaterbird conservation concerns nationally,continentally and globally;

• facilitate the sharing of information,techniques and results of research andmanagement actions; and

• evaluate progress in implementing the plan,and recommend improvements.

Canadian WaterbirdTechnical CommitteeThis scientific committee will identify nationalconservation issues, monitoring strategies andresearch needs. It will be composed of twochapters and co-chairs: one chapter will addressthe inland waterbirds while the other will bespecific to seabirds. It is expected due to thedistribution and life strategies of some bird speciesthat some species will be addressed by bothcommittees.The Canadian Waterbird TechnicalCommittee will be made up of researchers,biologists and managers with expertise in thebiology, ecology and conservation of waterbirdsand their habitats, from federal, provincial andterritorial wildlife agencies, universities andconservation NGOs. It will provide practicallinks to regional implementation of the plan, asmost of its members will participate in theregional process. As this committee will include

Canada’s experts in the field, the NationalWorking Group will rely on its knowledge baseto move conservation planning ahead in abiologically-sound fashion.

The function of the Canadian WaterbirdTechnical Committee will be to:

• provide technical advice and recommendationsto the WOW National Working Group andto regional implementation teams to helpmeet the goals of the plan;

• ensure the incorporation of WOWpriorities into scientific activities;

• assist in the implementation of national andregional conservation projects; and

• foster partnerships with seabird and inlandwaterbird experts in other nations that sharepopulations of these species with Canada.

Adaptive Management and Evaluation The development of this plan is based on thebest information currently available, as well asthe most appropriate and effective conservationapproaches. However, increased knowledge, andchanging opportunities and availability ofresources, may alter the manner in whichconservation can best be delivered in Canada.Once the Conservation Goals of Wings Over

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Water are tested in the real world, participantswill have a better idea of what can beaccomplished in a given time. As specificobjectives are reached, the plan will evolve toaddress new conservation challenges.

Continued evaluation, to determine ifconservation actions are successful in movingtowards meeting the plan’s Conservation Goalsis critical for gauging the success of the plan inachieving effective conservation.These iterativeassessments will allow for a rethinking of theapproaches being used, and their effectiveness,from a practical, operational perspective.Theyprovide an important opportunity to modifyapproaches, bring in new partners, or re-directefforts, to maximize the likelihood of conservationsuccess on an ongoing basis.

An evaluation of Wings Over Water will takeplace after the first three years of operation toassess its progress and chart new courses ofaction that may be indicated by such a review.This process will be overseen by the NationalWorking Group, with input from the CanadianWaterbird Technical Committee, regionalimplementation bodies, and politicalrepresentatives. Once more firmly established,the plan should be evaluated every five years.These periodic re-assessments will ensure thatWings Over Water can respond effectively tochanging conservation requirements andopportunities, such as increasing interest ininter-jurisdictional planning, management andimplementation, and most importantly, to ensurethe highest priority needs for waterbirds areaddressed.

Black Guillemots – Jean François Rail

Conservation Status Assessment Factor Scores and Categories of Concern5

English Name1 Scientific Name Estimated Canadian Canadian PT PS TB TN BD ND Category Rule Priority CommentsPopulation in as % as % ( Tier)6

North America2 N American3 Global4

Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis not completed >70% >70% 2 1-2 1-2 2 2 3 Not currently 5 3at risk

Whooping Crane Grus americana not completed 100% 100% 1 5 5 5 5 5 High 2b 1Yellow Rail Coturnicops not completed >70% >70% IL IL 1

noveboracensisKing Rail Rallus elegans not completed <10% <1% 4 5 4 4 5 4 high 2b 2Virginia Rail Rallus limicola not completed 10-30% 10-30% IL IL 2Sora Porzana carolina not completed 50-70% 50-70% IL IL 2Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus not completed <10% <10 % 3-4 ? 3 3 4 4 moderate 3b/3c 3American Coot Fulica americana not completed 30-50% 30-50% 2 1-2 2 1 1 2 Not currently 5 3

at riskGreat Skua Stercorarius skua Insufficient >70% 30-50% 3 4 na 2 na 3 Moderate 3c 2

informationSouth Polar Skua Stercorarius Insufficient ? <10% 3 4 na 2 na 1 Moderate 3c IL

maccormicki informationPomarine Jaeger Stercorarius 20,000-40,000 50-70% 30-50% 3 3 3 2 1 1 Low 4a 3

pomarinus breedersParasitic Jaeger Stercorarius Insufficient 50-70% 30-50% 3 3 3 2 1 1 Low 4a 3

parasiticus informationLong-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius >150,000 50-70% 30-50% 3 2 3 2 1 1 Low 4a 3

longicaudus individuals (?)Heermann’s Gull Larus heermanni 350,000 breeders <10% <10% 3 2 4 5 5 4 Moderate 3b 1Mew Gull Larus canus 160,000 - 240,000 30-50% 10-30% 4 2 1 1 2 2 Not currently 5 3

breeders at riskRing-billed Gull Larus delawarensis ~1,700,000 50-70% 50-70% 1 1 1 1 2 2 Not currently 5 3

breeders at riskCalifornia Gull Larus californicus ?414,000 breeders 30-50% 30-50% 3 2 5 2 2 3 Moderate 3b 2Great Black-backed Larus marinus 121,430 breeders 30-50% 10-30% 2 2 2 2 3 2 Not currently 5 3Gull at riskGlaucous-winged Larus glaucescens 380,000 breeders 10-30% 10-30% 3 2 2 2 3 3 Low 4a 3GullWestern Gull Larus occidentalis >77,000 breeders <10% <10% 2 2 2 2 4 4 Low 4b 3Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus 169,200 breeders >70% 10-30% 3 2 1 1 1 1 Not currently 5 3 possible declines

at riskIceland Gull Larus glaucoides >100,000 individuals >70% 30-50% 3 2 3 3 3 2 Low 4a 3Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri <10,000 in Canada >70% >70% 3 3 3 5 3 2 Moderate 3c 1Herring Gull Larus argentatus >246,000 breeders >70% 10-30% 4 2 3 2 1 1 Moderate 3b 2 declines in Nfld,

G. St. Lawrence,Belchers, Great Lakes

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 40 breeders, 400 >70% <10% 3 5 3 3 4 3 Moderate 3d 3 possibly high givennon-breeders small local populations

Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia Insufficient information >70% >70% ? 3 3 3 1 2 Moderate * 1 >100,000 in CanadaFranklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan 315,608 - 990,864 10-30% 10-30% 3 1-2 4 3 2 2 Moderate 3b 3 high concern in

breeders prairies - little boreal info

Little Gull Larus minutus 100-200 breeders <10% <1 % 4 5 3 1 5 4 High 2a 2Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea >2,400 breeders 100% 10-30% 4 4 3 3 4 1 High 2a 1Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea <200 breeders 100% <10% 4 5 2 3 4 1 High 2a 2Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini 200,000-400,000 >70% 50-70% 2 2 2 4 2 1 Low 4b 3

breedersBlack-legged Rissa tridactyla 3,126,000 breeders 10-30% 10-30% 3 1 2 2 2 1 Not currently 5 3Kittiwake at risk

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Appendix 1Appendix 1 Names, Population Statistics,Conservation Status and Priorities of WaterbirdsAppendix 1Appendix 1

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia 66,000 - 70,000 30-50% <10% 2 3 4 2 2 2 Low 4b 3breeders

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii 16,000 breeders <10% <10% 5 4 5 5 3 3 Highly 1a 2imperiled

Common Tern Sterna hirundo 300,000 breeders 50-70% 10-30% 3 2 5 4 2 1 Moderate 3b 2Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Insufficient information >70% 30-50% 4 2 3 2 1 1 Moderate 3b 2 Canadian pop

>100,000Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri 47,000 - 51,500 30-50% 30-50% 4 3 3 2 2 2 Moderate 3b 1

breedersBlack Tern Chlidonias niger 100,000-500,000 50-70% 10-30% 5 2 4 3 2 2 high 2a 1 declines in Great

breeders Lakes, St. LawrenceDovekie Alle alle 1,000 breeders >70% <10% 3 4 2 3 5 2 Moderate 3c 3Common Murre Uria aalge 4,250,000 10-30% <10% 2 1 4 4 3 2 Low 4b 3 trends vary on

individuals location - overall apparently stable

Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia 8,000,000 breeders 10-30% 10-30% 3 1 4 4 2 2 Moderate 3c 2Razorbill Alca torda 76,000 breeders >70% <10% 2 2 4 5 4 4-5 Low 2b 3Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 100,000-200,000 >70% 30-50% 2 2 3 3 2 1 Not currently 5 3

breeders at riskPigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba <69,000 breeders 30-50% 10-30% 4 3 3 2 3 3 Moderate 3b 2Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus 300,000 - 800,000 10-30% 10-30% 5 2 4 2 3 4 High 2a 1

marmoratus individualsXantus’s Murrelet Synthliboramphus 6,000 - 7,000 <10% <10% 4 3 5 4 5 5 High 2a 2

hypoleucus breedersAncient Murrelet Synthliboramphus 1,300,000 breeders 30-50% 30-50% 4 1 5 4 4 3 High 2a 1

antiquusCassin’s Auklet Ptychoramphus 3,200,000-3,570,000 >70% >70% 3 1 4 2 4 3 Moderate 3c 1

aleuticus breedersRhinocerous Cerorhinca 922,000 breeders 30-50% 30-50% 2 1 4 2 3 3 Low 4b 3Auklet monocerataAtlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica 750,000 - 760,000 >70% <10% 2 2 4 4 3 2 Low 4b 3

breedersHorned Puffin Fratercula 1,000,000 breeders <10% <10% 3 5 4 2 3 2 High 2a 2 marginal species in

corniculata CanadaTufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata 2,750,000-3,000,000 <10% <10% 4 2 4 2 2 2 Moderate 4b 3

breedersPied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps not completed 10-30% <10 % IL IL 3Red-necked Podiceps grisegena not completed >70% 30-50% 1 4 3 2 1 2 Not currently 5 3Grebe at riskHorned Grebe Podiceps auritus not completed >70% 30-50% 4 2 3 2 1 2 moderate 3b 2Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 3,500,000 - 4,100,000 10-30% 10-30% 3 1 2 4 2 3 Moderate 3c 2

individuals (fall population)

Western Grebe Aechmophorus >110,000 breeders 10-30% 10-30% 3 2 4 4 3 3 Moderate 3c 1occidentalis

Clark’s Grebe Aechmophorus 10,000 - 20,000 10-30% 10-30% 3 3 3 3 3 3 Low 4a 3clarkii individuals

Northern Gannet Morus bassanus 155, 456 breeders 100% 10-30% 1 2 3 3 4 2 Not currently 5 3at risk

Brandt’s Phalacrocorax 151,200 breeders <10% <10% 4 4 5 4 4 4 High 2a 2Cormorant penicillatusDouble-crested Phalacrocorax >740,000 breeders 30-50% 30-50% 1 2 2 2 2 2 Not currently 5 3Cormorant auritus at riskGreat Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 11,600 breeders >70% <10% 3 3 2 2 4 4 Moderate 3c 3

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Conservation Status Assessment Factor Scores and Categories of Concern5

English Name1 Scientific Name Estimated Canadian Canadian PT PS TB TN BD ND Category Rule Priority CommentsPopulation in as % as % ( Tier)6

North America2 N American3 Global4

Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax <69,000 breeders <10% <10% 4 3 4 4 3 3 High 2a 2pelagicus

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 83,000 breeders 10-30% 10-30% 1 2 2 2 2 3 Not currently 5 3at risk

Great Egret Ardea alba >180,000 breeders <10% <1 % 1 2 2 2 ? ? Not currently 5 3at risk

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1,160,000 breeders <10% <1 % 2 1 2 2 3 3 Not currently 5 3(Texas only) at risk

Green Heron Butorides virescens Insufficient information <10% <10% 2 3 2 3 2 4 Low 4c 3Black-crowned Nycticorax >50,000 breeders <10% <10% 4 3 3 3 2 3 Moderate 3b 3Night-Heron nycticorax (doesn’t include

Central America)Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis not completed <10% <10% 4 4 4 4 2 2 high 2a/2b 2American Bittern Botaurus not completed 50-70% 50-70% 4 2-3 3 3 1 1 moderate 3b 1

lentiginosusAmerican White Pelecanus >120,000 breeders 50-70% 50-70% 3 2 4 3 2 2 Moderate 3c 1Pelican erythrorhynchosRed-throated Loon Gavia stellata not completed >70% 30-50% 3 3 3 3 2-3 ? low 4a 3Arctic Loon Gavia arctica not completed 50-70% 30-50% IL IL 2Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica not completed >70% ? IL IL 2Common Loon Gavia immer not completed >70% >70% 3 2 4 4 1 2 moderate 3c 1Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii not completed >70% 30-50% IL IL 2Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 2,100,000 breeders 10-30% 10-30% 3 2 2 3 3 1 Not currently 5 3

at riskMottled Petrel Pterodrama Insufficient ? <10% IL IL 2

inexpectata informationMurphy’s Petrel Pterodroma ultima ranges off B.C. ? <10% IL IL 2Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris Insufficient information ? ? 3 4 3 3 na 2 Moderate 3c IL

diomedeaBuller’s Shearwater Puffinus bulleri 2,500,000 individuals ? <10% ? 1 na 2 na 1 Not currently ** 2

at riskFlesh-footed Puffinus carneipes 1,500,000 individuals ? <10% 3 1 na 3 na 2 Low 4a 3ShearwaterPink-footed Puffinus creatopus 35,000 - 50,000 50-70% 50-70% 4 3 na 4 na 2 High 2a 1Shearwater individualsGreater Shearwater Puffinus gravis Insufficient information >70% 50-70% 3 1 na 4 na 2 Low 4c 3Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 2,800,000 individuals >50% 10-30% 4 1 na 3 na 1 Moderate 3b 2Short-tailed Puffinus 30,000,000 individuals <10% <10% 3 1 na 2 na 1 Not currently 5 3Shearwater tenuirostris at riskManx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 360 breeders >70% <10% 4 5 3 2 5 2 High 2a 2Short-tailed Phoebastria ~1,300 individuals ? ? 2 4 na 5 na 2 High 2b 2Albatross albatrusBlack-footed Phoebastria 148,000 breeders 30-50% 30-50% 5 2 5 5 4 2 Highly Imperiled 1a 1Albatross nigripesLaysan Albatross Phoebastria 1,100,000 <10% <10% 4 1 4 4 4 2 High 2a 2

immutabilis breedersWilson’s Oceanites 50,000-100,000 <10% <10% 3 2 na 2 na 1 Not currently 5 3Storm-Petrel oceanicus non-breeders at riskLeach’s Oceanodroma 15, 275,000 30-50% 30-50% 4 1 4 3 2 2 High 2a 1Storm-Petrel leucorhoa breedersFork-tailed Oceanodroma 5,000,000 - 6,000,000 <10% <10% 1 1 4 2 3 2 Not currently 5 3Storm-Petrel furcata breeders at risk

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Conservation Status Assessment Factor Scores and Categories of Concern5

English Name1 Scientific Name Estimated Canadian Canadian PT PS TB TN BD ND Category Rule Priority CommentsPopulation in as % as % ( Tier)6

North America2 N American3 Global4

25

1 Common names as used in the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (NAWCP).

2 Population numbers from NAWCP.

3&4Populations and percentages: populations for seabirds are based on best knowledge focusing onestimated population numbers for seabirds and predominantly as percentage of range for inlandwaterbirds due to lack of population data for many inland species.

5 Based on Conservation Status Assessment Protocol from NAWCP; presented in Appendix 2.Included are definitions for factor scores [Population Trends (PT), Population Size (PS),Threats toBreeding (TB),Threats to Non-breeding (TN), Breeding Distribution (BD), Non-breedingDistribution (ND)], and conservation concern categories. Factor scores, Categories and Rules thatdiffer from NAWCP are in bold.

6 Priority Tiers: the prioritization should be viewed as an ongoing process to be refined as moreinformation and time is devoted to gathering data and re-assessment.

Priority tiers are delimited by the following:Tier 1Globally listed (Birdlife International) for which Canada has >10% global populationHighly imperiled or high concern conservation status, >10% global populationModerate concern conservation status, >50% global

Tier 2Other highly imperiled or high concern conservation status, or globally listed Moderate concern conservation status and >10% global populationInformation lacking but responsible for >30% of global population

Tier 3All others for which information is sufficient to make a determination

Other SymbolsIL Information Lackingna not applicable: species does not breed in plan area? unknown* reflects range due to unknown factor score** recommended by specialist group

LEGEND FOR APPENDIX 1

Double-crested Cormorant – CWS, Ontario

26

Assessment Process

A committee of the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan developed a process for assigning colonialbirds to categories of conservation concern. This protocol was adapted from the Partners in Flight and U.S.Shorebird Conservation Plan guidelines and accommodates the special conservation issues of species thataggregate during breeding season and/or utilize extensive marine habitats. Conservation status wasdetermined by evaluating six factors that reflect vulnerability to population decline. These factors were scoredand each species was assigned to a category of conservation concern using a step-wise categorizationprocess. All factor scores were derived within the spatial context of the Plan area (e.g., they do not reflectglobal status for those species occurring outside of the Plan area). Moreover, factor scores are relative toeach other and are not benchmarks, meaning that species will occur in all categories, including those oflower conservation concern.

Factor Scores

Six factors were considered when evaluating the conservation status of a species at the continental scale.Three factors are based on quantitative information (Population Size, Breeding Distribution, Non-breedingDistribution) and three on qualitative information (Population Trend, Threats to Breeding Populations, Threats toNon-breeding Populations). All factors are scaled from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating greatest vulnerability. Eachspecies was assigned to a category of conservation concern based on these factor scores.

Population Trend (PT):

This factor reflects estimated population trends based on existing information. The time period over whichtrend was estimated for most species was 1970 to present.

5 biologically significant population decline4 apparent population decline3 apparently stable population2 apparent population increase1 biologically significant population increase

Population Size (PS):

This factor provides information on the current (1990-present) abundance of each species within NorthAmerica. Log-transformed population data produced a normal distribution, and the 1 to 5 scale representsquintiles of the range of log-transformed values.

5 up to 480 individuals4 480 – 5,800 individuals3 5,800 – 69,200 individuals2 69,200 – 832,000 individuals1 832,000 – 10,000,000 individuals

Appendix 2Conservation Status Assessment Protocol for ColonialWaterbirds in North AmericaAppendix 2Appendix 2

Black-legged Kittiwakes – CWS-Atlantic

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Threats to Breeding (TB):

This factor rates the threats impacting most or all of the total North American population of each speciesduring their breeding season. The importance of vulnerability due to concentration (coloniality) wasconsidered when scoring this factor. Species that do not breed in North America received a Not Applicable(NA) for this score.

5 Known threats are actually occurring and can be documented; concentration results in actual risk4 Significant potential threats exist, but have not actually occurred; concentration results in high potential risk3 No known threats, or information not available; concentration not a risk2 Threats assumed to be low from all factors including concentration1 Demonstrably secure

Threats to Non-breeding (TN):

This factor rates the threats known to exist for each species during their non-breeding season. The scores arethe same as for the Threats to Breeding factor, but without the additional risk due to concentration duringbreeding.

Breeding Distribution (BD):

This factor reflects the vulnerability to population loss due to a small breeding distribution. Total land-basedbreeding area in North America was estimated in square kilometers. Breeding ranges were determined usingrange maps (primarily from Harrison, P. Seabirds: an identification guide. Boston: Houghton MifflinCompany; 1985. 448 p. and from the American Ornithological Union’s Birds of North Americaaccounts).The 1 to 5 scale was created with log-transformed data. Species that do not breed in NorthAmerica receive a Not Applicable (NA) for this score.

5 highly restricted (up to 450,000 km2 )4 local (450,000 km2 – 1,500,000 km2 )3 intermediate (1,500,000 km2 – 5,000,000 km2 )2 widespread (5,000,000 km2 – 16,000,000 km2 )1 very widespread (16,000,000 km2 – 52,500,000 km2 )

Non-breeding Distribution (ND):

This factor reflects the vulnerability to population loss due to small non-breeding distribution, that is, the total area occupied by non-breedingbirds (including wintering, migratory, and in some cases breedingareas) in North America. Non-breeding ranges were determined usingthe standardized procedures and the sources described above.

5 highly restricted (up to 1,300,000 km2 )4 local (1,300,000 km2 – 4,200,000 km2 )3 intermediate (4,200,000 km2 – 13,600,000 km2 )2 widespread (13,600,000 km2 – 44,000,000 km2 )1 very widespread (44,000,000 km2 – 140,000,000 km2 )

Thick-billed Murres – Garry Donaldson

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Categories of Conservation Concern

Five categories of conservation concern were developed, and species were assigned to them using a categorical approach. The categories and the series of categorization rules are presented below. Some species could not be categorized because inadequate data were available to assess risk.

1. Highly Imperiled: This includes all species with significant population declines and either lowpopulations or some other high risk factor.

Rule 1a. PT = 5 and either PS, TB, TN, or BD = 5

2. High Concern: Species that are not Highly Imperiled. Populations of these species are known orthought to be declining, and have some other known or potential threat as well.

Rule 2a. PT = 4 or 5 and either PS, TB, TN, or BD = 4 or 5; or

Rule 2b. PS = 4 or 5 and either TB or TN = 4 or 5

3. Moderate Concern: Species that are not Highly Imperiled or High Concern. Populations of thesespecies are either a) declining with moderate threats or distributions; b) stable with known or potentialthreats and moderate to restricted distributions; or c) relatively small with relatively restricted distributions.

Rule 3a. PT = 5 and either PS, TB, TN, BD, or ND > 1; or

Rule 3b. PT = 4 and either PS, TB, TN, BD, or ND > 2; or

Rule 3c. PT = 3 and either PS, TB, TN, BD, or ND = 4 or 5; or

Rule 3d. PS = 4 or 5 and either BD or ND >3

4. Low Concern: Species that are not Highly Imperiled, High Concern or Moderate Concern. Populationsof these species are either a) stable with moderate threats and distributions; b) increasing but with knownor potential threats and moderate to restricted distributions; or c) of moderate size with known or potentialthreats and moderate to restricted distributions.

Rule 4a. PT = 3 and either PS, TB, TN, BD, or ND = 3; or

Rule 4b. PT = 2 and either PS, TB, TN, BD, or ND = 4 or 5; or

Rule 4c. PS = 3 and either TB, TN, BD, or ND = 4 or 5

5. Not Currently At Risk: All otherspecies for which information wasavailable.

Rule 5: Does not meet any previous rule

Information Lacking: If bothPopulation Trend and Population Sizecould not be estimated, species were notranked.

American White Pelicans – G.W. Beyersbergen