New Signs for 28 Important Bird Areas in BC

A flood of new signs will be erected in 28 IBA across BC this fall. Two types of signs are being installed: interpretive signs and IBA identification signs (Figure 1), which will increase the profile of IBAs and enhance awareness of birds and conservation amongst visitors.

Two interpretive signs about fish and wildlife habitat values of the Englishman River and Little Qualicum River estuaries will be erected in the Little Qualicum to Nanoose IBA. The signs will mention the IBA, and are being produced with the support of the BC Conservation Foundation and Living Rivers-Georgia Basin.

Interpretive signs for Sidney Channel IBA and English Bay-Burrard Inlet IBA are being funded by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and produced in partnership with Caretakers and the Town of Sidney and Vancouver Parks Board. The signs will profile seabirds like Black Oystercatcher, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, and Heermann’s Gull.

Three interpretive signs for Vaseux Lake IBA, Kilpoola Lake IBA and Osoyoos Oxbow IBA are being produced with funding from the BC Parks Community Legacy Program and will be installed within Vaseux Lake Provincial Park, South Okanagan Protected Area and Haynes Lease Ecological Reserve. These signs will highlight the numerous species at risk found in the area, including Sage Thrasher, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and Flammulated Owl. The majority of the signs will be installed by the end of 2011, so be sure to check them out if you are visiting these IBAs in the future.

Interpretive signs are ideal because they can communicate key messages about birds and conservation to increase visitor interest and respect for birds. However, interpretive signs are expensive and time consuming to produce, and some sites may already have existing interpretive signage about birds or there may not be a suitable high-profile site for such a sign. In these cases, small (12”x18”) IBA identification signs are an inexpensive and simple way to make visitors aware that they are entering a site that is particularly important for birds. Such signs (Figure 1) have just recently been produced by the IBA Canada Committee for installation in IBAs across Canada. BC will be receiving 70 signs this fall, which will be installed in 28 IBAs spread across the province, including the Creston Valley, Chilcotin Junction, Stuart-Tachie-Middle Rivers near Ft. St. James, on Mitlenatch Island, and at three sites on Haida Gwaii, 10 sites on Vancouver Island, and four sites on the South Coast. BC Nature and IBA Caretakers greatly appreciate the commitment of Nature Canada to providing signs for provincial partners this year. Additional signs may be available in future years, depending on demand and funding availability. Alternatively, the electronic file can be provided by BC Nature and these aluminum signs can be produced for less than $50 each at many sign shops.