Helping Birds

Pelee Island and the Western Lake Erie Island archipelago supports globally significant biodiversity and important ecological functions. They are a mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial resources, crossing the boundary of Ohio and Ontario. Globally rare shoreline, alvar, forest communities and species occur on most of the islands. The islands and coastal areas provide critical stopover habitat for migratory land and water birds, and breeding sites for colonial nesting waterbirds. The waters of the region are shallow, warm, relatively clear and high in nutrients, making this the most productive aquatic habitat in the Great Lakes. The reefs and coasts provide spawning and nursery habitat for walleye and other native fish.

The Canadian Islands provide some of the most biologically diverse natural habitats in the country and have one of the highest densities of species at risk. The Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre currently tracks over 150 species on the islands, 11 of which are globally rare. This extraordinary number of species at risk requires ecosystem-based approaches to conservation and parallel community oriented approaches to education and stewardship programs. Just as managing the landscape as a whole is essential for effective and efficient protection of these species, the education of the whole person is crucial to all stewardship efforts, and to the survival of humankind and wildlife.