At-Risk Raptor Conservation Project

Northern Goshawk and Western Screech-Owl populations are threatened in coastal BC due to the loss and degradation of suitable nesting habitat. Our goal is to assist in the conservation of Northern Goshawks and Western Screech-Owls and their associated habitats to ensure their populations remain viable. Our team conducts surveys around southern coastal BC to search for these elusive species and find evidence of nesting. During the breeding season, we play pre-recorded calls at each survey site and record any Northern Goshawks or Western Screech-Owls that we observe. We also use acoustic monitoring devices to listen for Western Screech Owls calls in areas where we think they might be nesting. If we are able to confirm a breeding territory, we can work to establish Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) on Crown Land or conservation covenants on private land.  

Although the project focus is on two species, it will provide much wider ecosystem benefits since the establishment of Wildlife Habitat Areas for Northern Goshawks and other formal habitat protection for Western Screech-Owls can protect up to 240 ha of forest per nesting territory. Securing habitat for these two birds of prey will benefit many other wildlife species that share their coastal mature forest habitat that is quickly becoming lost to logging and encroaching human development pressures.

Accomplishments:

· Conducted 62 call playback surveys for Western Screech-Owl (WESOke) at 12 sites with 29 established call playback stations with a total of 5 public/partner reports of spontaneous calling, including four in the Upper Sunshine Coast and one in Cheakamus, specifically at two sites -Kelly-Lang Creeks and Cheakamus. Monitoring was conducted through a combination of call playback and acoustic recording units (ARU).

· Set Acoustic Recording Units (ARUs) in 9 locations resulting in 3 new detections of WESOke.at 3 new sites  

· Engaged 1500+ members of the general public at various stewardship events as well as targeted engagement with 26 different stakeholders/landowners throughout the project area. 

· A female Northern Goshawk was observed on Lasqueti Island. We are conducting habitat assessments for this species on a partner (Islands Trust) conservation land parcel.