Bird surveys (summer 2018) prior to wildlife habitat restoration at six sites near Lake Saint-Pierre – Berthierville-Maskinongé Area

Introduction

Lake Saint-Pierre and its floodplain, which is the largest in Quebec, is one of the major components of the St. Lawrence ecosystem. With more than 288 resident and migratory bird species and 79 fish species (MDDEFP, 2013), the lake offers an exceptional natural environment which has received international recognition for its rich biodiversity (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and RAMSAR site).

Agricultural activities have been carried out on the fertile floodplain of Lake Saint-Pierre for several centuries. However, beginning in the second half of the 20th century, perennial crops were gradually replaced by annual crops, even in the shoreline area (Dauphin and Jobin, 2016). Agricultural practices associated with annual cropping have resulted in degradation of natural habitats and reduced the amount of habitat available for many wildlife species (Latendresse et al., 2008; Rioux et al., 2009). Grassland birds (Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, etc.), whose populations are in decline (NABCI, 2012), and waterfowl are among the species that have been adversely affected by the disappearance of wet meadows and the conversion of perennial crops to annual crops. The loss of plant substrates due to fall tillage promotes soil erosion during high water periods and results in the destruction of key fish spawning and rearing grounds in the spring. This degradation has played a significant role in the decline of the Yellow Perch population in Lake Saint-Pierre (Magnan et al., 2017). To date, roughly 5,000 ha of potential Yellow Perch spawning habitat has been lost (TCRLSP, 2017).

With the aim of balancing agricultural activities and wildlife protection, an approach for restoring wildlife habitats on the shoreline of Lake Saint-Pierre has been developed (Groupe de travail « Intendance en milieu agricole: culture du littoral au lac Saint-Pierre », 2010). This approach involves stream maintenance (bank reprofiling, planting, etc.) and conversion of annual crops back to perennial crops or natural grasslands. To this end, various enhancements have been carried out since 2017 in the Berthierville and Maskinongé areas to help restore the ecological functions of Lake Saint-Pierre.

Bird surveys were conducted in the summer of 2017 in order to obtain a picture of the avifauna present along four watercourses prior to the restoration work as well as in a wildlife habitat management area (agricultural field). Owing to the high water levels in 2017, the surveys were repeated in 2018, a year with more typical hydrologic conditions, with the goal of accurately characterizing the bird communities that use the various sites. Another wildlife habitat management site was also added. The surveys will provide baseline data that can be used to evaluate the potential benefits of the restoration work for the birds that use these sites.

This approach is part of the project to restore the Lake Saint-Pierre shoreline, which is being carried out jointly by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Quebec Department of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP), as part of the 2016-2021 programming for the St. Lawrence Action Plan (SLAP).

Prepared by

Alexandre Nicole et Diane Dauphin
Canadian Wildlife Service
Québec Region
Environment and Climate Change Canada

Full version PDF

For an accessible format of this document, please contact us.