As we enter the last few weeks of 2016, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past 12 months. Rather than a full season review which we did last year, I thought this would provide a great opportunity to share some of the contributions to the program from our volunteers by summarising where volunteers had provided bird data which was of global or North American significance to that species. To do this, it is first important to understand how the IBA Program nationally works. This has been summarised really well on the IBA Canada website and can be accessed by clicking on this link.
A huge amount of data has been added to eBird over the past couple of years. Please note that the data summarised below is that which is either already uploaded on the IBA Canada website or data which we expect to see there in the future. There may also be additional data submitted to eBird which we are currently unaware of.
2015
3rd May 2015, 800 Pectoral Sandpipers recorded by Gillian Richards and Colin and Scott Blyth. This is over 1% of the estimated North American population.
2nd August 2015, 2197 Short-billed Dowitcher recorded by Jo Swarz and Christian Artuso. This is more than 1% of the total estimated global population.
20th August 2015, 67 Buff-breasted Sandpiper recorded by Christian Artuso, Bill Watkin and Carla Church. This is a concentration of continental significance for this globally Near-threatened species.
The globally declining Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
2nd September 2015, 1,500 Short-billed Dowitcher recorded by Colin Blyth. This is more than 1% of the total estimated global population.
MB024 – Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-grass Prairie IBA
June 21st 2015, 41 Sprague’s Pipit, recorded by IBA blitz volunteers. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species
June 21st 2015, 238 Chestnut-collared Longspur, recorded by IBA blitz volunteers. This is a concentration of continental significance for this globally Near-threatened species
October 28th 2015, 68 Rusty Blackbirds counted by Christian Artuso and Callie Bowman. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species
MB038 – North, West and East Shoal Lakes IBA
October 3rd 2015, 223 Rusty Blackbirds counted by IBA blitzers. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species
The internationally threatened Rusty Blackbird in all its rusty glory. Photo copyright Donna Martin
Note also that IBA Caretaker Donna Martin documented breeding Least Bittern in this IBA in 2014.
MB055 – Saskatchewan River Delta IBA
April 19th 2015, 3,204 Tundra Swans counted by Joel Kayer. This is over 1% of the estimated North American population of this species.
Tundra Swans can be counted in high numbers during spring and fall migration. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
2016
August 28th 2016, 1,936 Semipalmated Plover counted by IBA blitzers. This is more than 1% of the total estimated global population of this species
A Semipalmated Sandpiper, one of nearly 2,000 counted at Delta Marsh in August. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
November 2nd 2016, 34 Rusty Blackbirds counted by IBA blitzers. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species
MB003 – Churchill and Vicinity IBA
June 12th 2016, 8 Little Gulls observed by 6 people including Linda Curtis. This is more than 1% of the estimated number found in North America
June 2016, a single Ross’s Gull seen by Bruce di Labio. This would be more than 1% of the total North American population
Not taken in 2016, still taken in Churchill. An unexpected appearance in 2016 was the Ross’s Gull spotted in Churchill. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
October 1st 2016, 609 Rusty Blackbirds counted by IBA blitzers. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species.
August 2nd 2016, 930 Pectoral Sandpipers observed by Christian Artuso and one other person, equating to more than 1% of the North American population of this species
August 2nd 2016, 4,175 Short-billed Dowitcher observed by Christian Artuso and one other person, equating to more than 1% of the global population of this species
August 7th 2016, 629 Pectoral Sandpipers observed by IBA blitzers and one other person, equating to more than 1% of the North American population of this species
Pectoral Sandpipers, another species migrating through Manitoba’s IBAs in large concentrations. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
August 7th 2016, 1,594 Short-billed Dowitcher observed by IBA blitzers, equating to more than 1% of the global population of this species
August 7th 2016, 2,080 Western Grebes observed by IBA blitzers, equating to more than 1% of the global population of this species
August 7th 2016, 1691 American White Pelicans counted by IBA blitzers. This equates to just under 1% of the estimated global population of this species.
Note also that Whitewater Lake was also the location of the only known breeding pair of Black-necked Stilt in Manitoba in 2016.
MB024 – Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-grass Prairie IBA
July 10th 2016, 58 Sprague’s Pipit, recorded by IBA blitz volunteers. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species
July 10th 2016, 180 Chestnut-collared Longspur, recorded by IBA blitz volunteers. This is a concentration of continental significance for this globally Near-threatened species
Chestnut-collared Lonspur in the grassland IBA of southwestern Manitoba. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
Note also the total number of calling Baird’s Sparrow, 21 males, was a notably high count for Manitoba.
MB099 – Riverton Sandy Bar IBA
September 30th 2016, 38 Rusty Blackbirds counted by Joanne Smith and the weed-pulling party. This is a concentration of global significance for this globally Vulnerable species.
Manitoba Important Bird Areas Program 