It’s the most wonderful time of the year, for those keeping track of the annual COSEWIC status reports! COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) is an independent advisory panel that provides information to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Canada. This group of experts is responsible for identifying and assessing the conservation status of wildlife species across Canada.

Each year, these committees meet, assess, and determine the urgency rankings of wildlife species across Canada and rank them into different categories: not at risk, special concern, threatened, endangered, or extirpated. Species are also designated by priority categories of high, mid, and low, prior to COSEWIC assessment. Our last COSEWIC blog update was in 2020, so this post will include any changes in species found in Manitoba that occurred since then.

Short-eared Owl

As of 2021, the status of Short-eared Owls has been changed from Special Concern to Threatened by COSEWIC. This change in status is attributed to loss of nesting and wintering habitat, causing population declines. Observations of Short-eared Owls have been reported in the Oak Hammock Marsh and Saskatchewan River Delta IBAs. There have also been some observations at Delta Marsh and North, East, and West Shoal Lakes IBAs.

Short-Eared Owl Species at Risk Information

Ferruginous Hawk

The Ferruginous Hawk was previously assessed as Threatened by COSEWIC, but was changed to Special Concern in 2021. Recent trends in this species indicate populations are slowly growing despite ongoing habitat loss. Ferruginous Hawks can be seen in grassland areas of Manitoba including the Southwestern Manitoba Mixed Grass Prairie and Whitewater Lake IBAs. A few observations have also been recorded around the Oak Lake/Plum Lakes IBA.

Ferruginous Hawk Species at Risk Information

Ross’s Gull

In 2021, this species was reassessed from Threatened to Endangered by COSEWIC, due to their small breeding population and low breeding success in Canada. Ross’s Gull can be seen around Whitewater Lake IBA during migration. Chances of seeing Ross’s Gull elsewhere in Manitoba are very limited due to their preference for arctic habitats.

Ross’s Gull Species at Risk Information

Bobolink

In 2022, COSEWIC reassessed the status of the Bobolink to Special Concern, from Threatened. This change in assessment is due to a slower rate of population decline than previously believed. Bobolinks can be seen in many IBAs in Manitoba, including the Southwestern Manitoba Mixed Grass Prairie, Oak Hammock Marsh, Whitewater Lake, and Delta Marsh to name a few. Based on eBird, Bobolinks are frequently in many areas across Manitoba.

Bobolink Species at Risk Information

Eastern Whip-poor-will

In 2022, the Eastern Whip-poor-will was reassessed as Special Concern from Threatened by COSEWIC. This change in designation is based on indications that their populations are stabilizing and possibly increasing. Chances of observing this bird are very low, as they are cryptic and nocturnal. However, you are much more likely to hear this bird and its distinctive, repetitive “Whip-poor-will” call. Eastern Whip-poor-wills have been noted around the Delta Marsh and North, East, and West Shoal Lakes IBAs in Manitoba.

Eastern Whip-poor-will Species at Risk Information

Future assessments

The latest round of COSEWIC assessments took place in December 2023. During this round, both the Yellow Rail and Horned Grebe were re-evaluated, and both stayed in their original category of Special Concern.

The next round of assessments is scheduled for April 2024 and will include the Least Bittern (currently Threatened), the Short-billed Dowitcher (not yet assessed), and the Long-billed Curlew (currently Special Concern but considered extirpated in Manitoba). The full schedule can be found here: Status reports in preparation (cosewic.ca)

There are many species listed as candidates for assessment by COSEWIC. You can view the full list here: Candidate wildlife species (cosewic.ca)

 The species found in Manitoba that are considered high priority for assessment are:

• Horned Lark
• Marbled Godwit
• American Tree Sparrow
• Arctic Tern
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Solitary Sandpiper

Current COSEWIC status of Manitoba species

Species in Manitoba currently under COSEWIC designation include the following:

Special Concern:

• Yellow Rail
• Rusty Black Bird
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper
• Red-necked Phalarope
• Western Grebe
• Baird’s Sparrow
• Horned Grebe (Western population)
• Harris’ Sparrow
• Olive-sided Flycatcher
• Evening Grosebeak
• Canada Warbler
• Common Nighthawk

Threatened:

• Sprague’s Pipit
• Least Bittern
• Loggerhead Shrike Prairie subspecies
• Golden-winged Warbler
• Chimney Swift
• Chestnut-collared Longspur
• Bank Swallow
• Lark Bunting
• Hudsonian Godwit
• Lesser Yellowlegs

Endangered:

• Whooping Crane
• Piping Plover circumcinctus subspecies
• Eskimo Curlew
• Burrowing Owl
• Red Knot rufa subspecies Tierra del Fuego / Patagonia wintering population
• Red-headed Woodpecker