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Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site

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SGin Xaana Sdiihltl’lxa: Night Birds Returning

 

Gwaii Haanas is undertaking a multi-year Action on the Ground project to restore ecologically and culturally significant seabird colonies on remote islands like Murchison and Faraday.

Gwaii Haanas is undertaking a multi-year Action on the Ground project to restore ecologically and culturally significant seabird colonies on remote islands like Murchison and Faraday.
© Parks Canada / Andrew Wright

 

These islands support a significant proportion of the world’s population of Ancient Murrelets, a Species-at-Risk in Canada.

These islands support a significant proportion of the world’s population of Ancient Murrelets, a Species-at-Risk in Canada.
© Parks Canada / C. Bergman

 

The birds breed in underground burrows in the forest and Canadian scientists have gone to great lengths to learn about their habits.

The birds breed in underground burrows in the forest and Canadian scientists have gone to great lengths to learn about their habits.
© Parks Canada / C. Bergman

 

Cassin’s Auklets (shown here) along with Fork-tailed and Leech’s storm petrels, also breed on the islands each spring.

Cassin’s Auklets (shown here) along with Fork-tailed and Leech’s storm petrels, also breed on the islands each spring.
© Parcs Canada / C. Bergman

 

In Gwaii Haanas, introduced rats have had serious detrimental effects on seabird populations as well as those of native small native mammals like dusky shrew (show here) and Keen’s deer mice.

In Gwaii Haanas, introduced rats have had serious detrimental effects on seabird populations as well as those of native small native mammals like dusky shrew (show here) and Keen’s deer mice.
© Parks Canada / C. Bergman

 

Gwaii Haanas has been monitoring seabirds and other wildlife including invasive species on rat-infested islands and rat free islands with specialized acoustic recording units (shown here) and wildlife cameras.

Gwaii Haanas has been monitoring seabirds and other wildlife including invasive species on rat-infested islands and rat free islands with specialized acoustic recording units (shown here) and wildlife cameras.
© Parks Canada

 

Several different species of sea birds are captured by wildlife cameras on rat-free islands.

Several different species of sea birds are captured by wildlife cameras on rat-free islands.
© Parks Canada

 

In 2013, an aerial eradication took place on Murchison and Faraday Islands with the goal of removing all rats from these islands.

In 2013, an aerial eradication took place on Murchison and Faraday Islands with the goal of removing all rats from these islands.
© Chris Gill, Coastal Conservation

 

To help monitor the success of their work, Parks Canada staff radio collared rats on the island.

To help monitor the success of their work, Parks Canada staff radio collared rats on the island.
© Parks Canada

 

The rats were tracked with telemetry equipment. After the eradication was complete all radio-collared rats had died. Monitoring will continue for at least two years to ensure the success of the work.

The rats were tracked with telemetry equipment. After the eradication was complete all radio-collared rats had died. Monitoring will continue for at least two years to ensure the success of the work.
© Gregg Howald, Island Conservation

 

Parks Canada and the Haida Nation worked in partnership with Island Conservation, Coastal Conservation, and other international experts who have been involved in successful eradications worldwide.

Parks Canada and the Haida Nation worked in partnership with Island Conservation, Coastal Conservation, and other international experts who have been involved in successful eradications worldwide.
© Chris Gill, Coastal Conservation

 

Breeding success of shorebirds like these Black Oyster Catchers will also improve as a result of rat eradication.

Breeding success of shorebirds like these Black Oyster Catchers will also improve as a result of rat eradication.
© Parks Canada
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