• Source: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

The Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary or VHMBS is a 30 km protected area on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, in the Greater Victoria metropolitan area. It is located within the traditional territory of the Lekwungen People. The sanctuary is federally recognized as a critical habitat for bird conservation, and is home to an estimated 270 bird species, many of which are migratory. The sanctuary encompasses about 30 kilometres of coastline, an area covering approximately 1841 hectares (4549 acres) in total. Of this total, 31 hectares are terrestrial, and 1810 hectares are marine.




History


The VHMBS was established on October 27 1923 under the Migratory Birds Convention Act in response to a significant decline in bird populations caused by over-hunting. Today, it remains an important area for bird conservation. In 2023, the sanctuary celebrated its centennial anniversary.




Plants and wildlife


The VHMBS contains more than 75 plants and animals that are of both federal and provincial conservation concern. The sanctuary provides habitat for an estimated 270 bird species, fifteen of which are listed under the Species at Risk Act.




= Species at risk

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Birds

Ancient murrelet
Band-tailed pigeon
Barn swallow
Buff-breasted sandpiper
Cassin's auklet
Pacific great blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini)
Horned grebe
Marbled murrelet
Olive-sided flycatcher
Peregrine falcon
Red knot
Red-necked phalarope
Short-eared owl
Besper sparrow
Western grebe



Mammals

Grey whale
Harbour porpoise
Humpback whale
Killer whale (Southern resident population and transient population)
Sea otter
Steller sea lion



Molluscs

Northern abalone
Olympia oyster



Plants

Bear's-foot sanicle
Bearded owl-clover
California buttercup
Coast microseris
Coastal Scouler's catchfly
Dense-flowered lupine
Foothill sedge
Golden paintbrush
Macoun's meadowfoam
Muhlenberg's centaury
Purple sanicle
Rosy owl-clover
Seaside birds-foot lotus
Tall woolly-heads
Victoria's owl-clover
White-top aster




See also


List of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of Canada
Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary
List of protected areas of British Columbia
List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada
List of Canadian protected areas
Endangered species in Canada




References






External links


Government of Canada: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (VHMBS)
Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations
Friends of Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Chain Islets & Great Chain Island Important Bird Area (IBA)
Migratory bird sanctuaries across Canada
News story: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary marks 100 years
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of the Capital Region (CRD)
British Columbia - Wildlife Act
Songhees Nation

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Cadboro Bay
• Christie Islet Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Banks Island
• List of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of Canada
• Machias Seal Island
• Inuvialuit Settlement Region
• Victoria Harbour (British Columbia)