Volunteer

The IBA Program was initiated in the 1980s by BirdLife International, a global alliance of non-government, grassroots, and membership-based groups in 170 countries and territories. The Canadian co‐partners in BirdLife International are Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada, represented in Manitoba by Nature Manitoba.

Many of Manitoba’s IBAs lack any formal protection, making the active involvement of local communities, landowners, individuals, and organizations critical to ensure the conservation of these special places for birds and biodiversity.

The Manitoba Important Bird Areas Program has a growing team of volunteers! We are keen support all volunteers that dedicate their time to learning about and protecting Manitoba’s birds and have compiled valuable information and resources for volunteers to access below.

BioBlitz/Bird Blitz Volunteers

A “BioBlitz” is a short (usually one day) community-focused biological survey that brings together interested local citizens with experts, such as scientists, conservation workers, and nature enthusiasts, to help determine what species of plants and animals reside in a specific area, and in what abundances.

The Manitoba IBA Program conducts “Bird Blitz” events to learn more about bird populations within IBAs, bringing together citizen scientists to collecting bird species counts and Species at Risk coordinates. Whether you are an experienced naturalist, an enthusiastic beginner, or a member of the general public, we welcome your help – Bird Blitz events simply can’t happen without the help of volunteers!

Check our Upcoming Events page or Follow Us on social media for information on our upcoming Bird Blitz events.

For more experienced naturalists: Depending on your skills and preferred role, you may choose to focus on wildlife recording, public engagement, or a blend of the two. Please let the IBA Coordinator know if you have a specific area of expertise in species identification.

Wildlife Recording

  • Working in small teams to identify species at the site
  • Recording and reporting data

Public Engagement

  • Leading or assisting with wildlife walks for members of the public
  • Talking to members of the public about nature, science, and wildlife recording

For beginner naturalists and community members: You will work with more experienced naturalists to collect bird population data.

Wildlife Recording

  • Working in small teams with experienced naturalists
  • Learning to use keys and guide books to identify species at the site
  • Recording species observed

1–3 days/year from late May to mid-July

We use eBird to enter monitoring data into the national IBA system. For information on how to use eBird for monitoring, read: Using eBird for the Manitoba Important Bird Area program.

To learn more about identification of Manitoba’s shorebirds, grassland birds, wetland birds, nocturnal and crepuscular birds, and much much more, visit the Manitoba IBA Program’s Youtube channel! Visit the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas for detailed species accounts.

Birder’s checklists for different IBA regions of Manitoba:

  • Hudson Bay IBA Birder’s Checklist (MB003-Churchill & Vicinity; MB006-Kaskattama River Mouth; MB008-Nelson River Estuary & Marshy Point; MB013-Seal Bay Estuary)
  • Northern Central IBA Birder’s Checklist (MB004-Gull and Sandhill Island; MB007-Kaweenakumik; MB012-Pipestone Rocks; MB053-Gull Bay Spits; MB055-Saskatchewan River Delta; MB062-Little George Island; MB066-North Channel Island; MB067-Dory’s Reef; MB070-South Long Island; MB081-Sagemace & Coleman Bay; MB082-Kasakeemeemisekak Islands; MB083-Lake St. Martin Islands; MB085-Long Island & Long Island Bay; MB086-Louis Island & Reefs; MB098-Spruce Island Reef; MB099-Balabas Island)
  • Southern and Central IBA Birder’s Checklist (MB001-Delta Marsh; MB038-North, West and East Shoal Lakes; MB009-Netley-Libau Marsh; MB039-Grant’s Lake; MB010-Oak Hammock Marsh; MB087-Marshy Point; MB028-Proven Lake WMA; MB091-Riverton Sandy Bar; MB031-Dog Lake; MB092-Sand Reef Islands; MB032-Duck Island; MB093-Sandy Bay Marshes; MB033-Langruth/Big Grass Marsh; MB100-Kinosota/Leifur)
  • Southwestern Manitoba IBA Birder’s Checklist (MB002-Douglas Marsh; MB011-Oak Lake/Plum Lakes Area; MB015-Whitewater Lake; MB024-Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-Grass Prairie)

For more information on monitoring contact Program Coordinator Mackenzie Glover at iba@naturemanitoba.ca.

Program staff and volunteers participating in a Bird Blitz event at the Whitewater Lake IBA. Photo by Mackenzie Glover

International Shorebird Survey Volunteers

The International Shorebird Survey (ISS) was started by Manomet in 1974 and is a long-term data set of shorebird species and abundances. Long-term datasets are key for monitoring shorebirds as populations have declined 40% since the 1970s, and many shorebirds are designated species at risk in Manitoba and Canada. The Manitoba IBA Program began coordinating the ISS in Manitoba in 2018.

While the Manitoba IBA Program has transitioned away from the ISS protocol for shorebird data collection, we encourage anyone interested to share their shorebird sightings with us via eBird checklists.

Monitoring

  • During spring and fall migration most routes are covered in a vehicle, stopping to conduct counts as needed
  • Survey durations depend on shorebird numbers along each route
  • You may choose to count shorebirds only or all birds present along the route

Monitoring locations: Whitewater Lake, Oak Lake/Plum Lakes, Oak Hammock Marsh, and North, East, and West Shoal Lakes IBAs.

Reporting

  • Submit bird counts to eBird.org and share your checklists to Manitoba IBA or submit paper IBA monitoring forms (available upon request to the IBA Program Coordinator)

2–15 hours/year from April–June and August–October

For more details see the International Shorebird Survey Protocol

Dunlins and Stilt Sandpiper at the Whitewater Lake IBA. Photo by Brooke Bell

IBA Caretakers