Island Conservation (Oct. 15, 2013) – One Step Closer to Restoring Balance and Safe Seabird Habitat in Gwaii Haanas
Parks Canada and the Haida Nation, with partners Island Conservation and Coastal Conservation, completed a project on Oct. 2, 2013 to remove invasive rats from an island ecosystem to protect and restore critical seabird habitat.
Skidegate, British Columbia, October 15, 2013
The project was implemented in September 2013, on Murchison and Faraday Islands in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site to protect critical seabird nesting habitat by removing invasive black rats. Complete removal of these invasive rats is a significant step toward restoring the ecological integrity of these islands.
Approximately half of the world’s population of Ancient Murrelets, a species at risk in Canada, breeds on remote islands in Haida Gwaii, including in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. The Ancient Murrelet is a culturally significant seabird species to Haida peoples, who used it for sustenance and for ceremonial purposes.
“As a world leader in conservation, Parks Canada is committed to protecting and restoring seabird habitat in Gwaii Haanas—home to a significant proportion of the millions of nesting seabirds on Haida Gwaii,” said Ernie Gladstone, Gwaii Haanas Field Unit Superintendent. “This project will correct an imbalance and allow seabirds and other native species to re-establish their populations and to thrive in intact ecosystems.”
“The introduction of rats to many of the forested islands of Haida Gwaii has meant the demise of several historic seabird nesting colonies,” said Haida Nation president Peter Lantin. “Of particular concern are the impacts that invasive rats have had on the Ancient Murrelet. Also known as SGin Xaana or Night bird in the Haida language, this seabird was once an important food source for our people.”
Launched in 2009, the five-year Night Birds Returning project is a joint effort between Parks Canada and the Haida Nation to remove invasive rats from four islands within Gwaii Haanas and restore nesting habitat throughout the national park reserve – an area of global significance for seabirds. In 2011, a pilot rat removal project was carried out on the smaller Bischof and Arichika islands. The September 2013 removal of rats from Murchison and Faraday Islands was more complex and demanding due to the larger size of the islands and the more complicated terrain. The islands will continue to be monitored over the coming months and years to gauge ecological response of seabirds, songbirds and native small mammals.
“It is important to note that the removal of rats will enhance the breeding opportunities for ravens and eagles, birds which are especially important to the Haida Nation,” said Mr. Lantin. “Our long term objective is to restore our land to its natural state, invasive species have had a tremendous negative impact on our lands and we cannot sit idle and allow our indigenous species to be lost.”
