Spring 2004 FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER

President’s message – the year ahead

By Don Eastman and even offering her home as a place The Board has been fortunate in for the Board to meet. Tom Gillespie, having the support of three staff, Last year’s message from our then- without whom, the Friends would President, Peggy Frank, began with the as Membership Secretary, has kept our founder. Saila Hull, a former Director, words: “This year has been an exciting list of members up-to-date, an essential assumed the role of our Office and interesting one for Friends of task for keeping in touch and mailing Manager when Daphne Munroe Ecological Reserves.” And when I look out The Log, as well as collecting realized that she needed to move on back over 2003, the same words come mail for our monthly meetings. to other things. Saila has really to my mind: it has been a challenging Evelyn Hamilton has contributed by continued on page 2 and engaging year, and I hope to reviewing applications for research and convey that sense in this report. providing guidance in making those My message for this year has three difficult decisions about how best to parts. Firstly, I want to extend thanks allocate our research funds. Mary to those who have contributed so much Rannie and Marilyn Lambert continue to this past year. Secondly, I want to to organize field trips, a job that Inside… reflect on our accomplishments over requires great attention to detail and 2003. Thirdly, I want to look ahead to planning. Our field trips are an impor- The Gathering – An Update 5 tant way of offering service to our 2004 and set out some objectives for Obituary 5 the Friends. members as well as helping to raise awareness about the purposes of New Minister Appointed 6 Thanks to all ecological reserves. Lynne Milnes, our Book Review 6 Similar to most volunteer organiza- Vice-president, is our fund-raiser par tions, it is the dedication of a few excellence, and an indefatigable writer Ecological Reserves of Northern 8 of insightful articles and sharp letters Vancouver Island, Part I – the bird people that has enabled us to both islands maintain momentum and make to governments when they lose sight significant accomplishments. Let me of the reasons for Reserves. Alison Trial Island Field Trip 10 Nicholson, our webmaster, has played begin by thanking Peggy Frank, our Salmon-derived Nutrients in 11 Past-President for her unflagging a key role in keeping our wonderful Riparian Food Webs dedication to the purpose of the (and very popular) website up-to-date. Friends. She has worked tirelessly Nichola Walkden, works to keep our Calendar 12 in many ways – writing articles, financial picture in focus, so that we Forest Certification in BC 13 providing counsel to yours truly, make the best use of our funds to helping to organize “The Gathering” further the aims of the Friends. Websites of Interest 16

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 1 “President’s message…” continued from page 1 named and unnamed, we could not helped the Board function effectively. exist as an organization. Denise de Montreuil is the new And, of course, we thank the Editor of The Log. Her expertise and Wardens, those eyes and ears of the experience has enabled us to produce ecological reserve system that provide a Log that is both informative and an invaluable service not only to the Spring 2004 easy to read. And last, but certainly provincial government, but also to the The LOG is published 3 times a year not least, Diane Wootton, our citizens of the province. by the Friends of Ecological Reserves to bookkeeper continues to keep our To all of you, thank you for your promote the establishment, management and maintenance of Ecological Reserves in bills paid and books balanced. work and support over the past year!! British Columbia. The LOG is distributed to Just as in 2002, there have been members, volunteer wardens, affiliates, some changes in both the Board and Accomplishments in 2003 supporters, government, friends and the enquiring public. the staff. In September, Syd Cannings, When I look back over the past year, The views expressed in this newsletter are Sue Carr and their two children I like to think of our activities as not necessarily those of the Friends. moved to Yukon. So, while we have consisting of two sorts: a) on-going Articles for publication are invited. The lost them to the Friends, at least for activities in support of ER’s, Wardens deadline for submissions for the next issue the time being, we have not lost them of The LOG is July 1, 2004 and the ER system, and b) special activ- to our cause. We know they will make ities over and above on-going ones. Editor their presence known in the Yukon’s Let’s look at our on-going activities Denise de Montreuil conservation scene. Also, Daphne over the past 12 months: Design and Production Munroe, our Office Manager, had to Indigo Sky Graphic Design 1. We produced three issues of The step down due to the increasing Log that were full of interesting, Directors demands of family, pursuing a Ph. D. Don Eastman, President timely and challenging articles Peggy Frank, Vice President degree and preparing for dragon boat presented in a readable format. Nichola Walkden, Treasurer races in South Africa in June of 2004. Tom Gillespie, Membership Secretary 2. We held two very successful field Saila Hull, Recording Secretary To all three, we wish the best of trips to Trial Island and Race Mary Rannie success and hope they know that they Evelyn Hamilton will always be welcome as Friends. Rocks. On the Trial Island trip, Don Eastman Of course, our success as an organi- our guides, Adolph and Aluna Alison Nicholson Ceska, told us about the critical Lynne Milnes zation depends on many individuals Marilyn Lambert and organizations. Ongoing support importance of this ecological Nichola Walkden from the members of the Friends reserve, and pointed out the wealth Peggy Frank of flowering plants, including the Mike Fenger provides continuity and stability to Stephen Ruttan our organization. Many other individ- tiniest species that participants Bristol Foster uals make a variety of contributions, might have otherwise walked right Peggy Frank, Past President such as Vicky Husband who gives over…or on. On the Race Rocks Honorary Directors us both financial help and moral trip, we were ably guided by Gary Robert Bateman Fletcher and Chris Blondeau from V.C. Brink encouragement. Generous supporters Trudy Chatwin and donors significantly help our Pearson College, and accompanied Vicky Husband research program. The Federation of by several international students Josette Weir BC Naturalists deserves special from the College. Contributors to this issue: Vivienne Calder, Katie Christie, mention for its role in making the 3. We funded five research projects: Ann Eriksson, Peggy Frank, “Gathering” such a success, and for its Tom Reimchen, for his research on Marilyn Lambert, Alison Nicholson, ongoing assistance in heightening the role of salmon in coastal David and Claire Oppenheim public awareness about environmental ecosystems; Jane Watson, for her Memberships are based on a calendar year. issues of mutual concern. The time ecological studies on sea otters Individual: $20, Family/Institutions: $25 and money provided by the provincial and their impact on the marine Students/Seniors: $15 government for the “Gathering” also Charitable BIN #118914597RR ecosystem; Erica Wheeler, for deserves mention. No doubt I have her work on the rare slim-leafed FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES missed out thanking some people and onion (Allium amplectans); Emily PO BOX 8477 STN CENTRAL VICTORIA BC V8W 3S1 groups, and I hope you do not take my Gonzales, for her investigation E-mail: [email protected] absentmindedness as an indication of into the dynamics of Garry Oak Website: http://www.ecoreserves.bc.ca ungratefulness. Quite the contrary! ecosystems; and for Rick Searle and Canada Post Agreement No: 1060163 Without the support from all of you, continued on page 3

2 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 “President’s message…” continued from page 2 his students, for their projects on protected areas in the southern Okanagan (See the next issue of The Log for more details). 4. We continued to involve ourselves with the provincial government, in particular the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. We wrote letters expressing our concern about the working forest and indications about guiding activities in Ecoreserves. In addition to these regular, but important activities, we also completed two other important projects – the Gathering and the Retreat. The Gathering was reported in detail by Peggy in the Winter 2003 Issue of The Log, so I don’t need to go into detail here. It was a great success, and the Friends and the Wardens really got a lift from the meeting. The Gathering Friends of Ecological Reserves Annual General Meeting: spawned some continuing activities, President Don Eastman delivers his annual report. including a revision of the Wardens’ Handbook and the EcoReserve Warden Program acceptable levels of use, and the brochure. need for permits. Our second extracurricular project Wardens are critical to the continuation was the Board Retreat held on of ecological reserves: they are the eyes Continue to keep a watchful eye November 11, 2003 at Abkhazi and ears on the ground and they build on governmental policies, plans Gardens in Victoria. Its purpose was a strong commitment to the purpose and programs that may adversely to reflect on our past accomplishments of reserves. Strictly speaking, Wardens affect ecological reserves, and and more especially to re-focus our provide volunteer services to the communicate our concerns by activities, renew our sense of purpose, provincial government and it is the effective means. government that should support and consider future directions. We Research were ably facilitated by Colin Rankin, Wardens in their efforts to safeguard the Historically, the Friends have dedicated and the results of our retreat figure public interest in ecological reserves. a lot of effort in raising funds to support prominently in plans for the coming That said, the Friends have a role to research in ecological reserves, in other year. play in supporting wardens in the coming year as follows: words, to support one of the primary reasons for having reserves. The need The year ahead Promote recruitment of individuals for research has never been greater, as wardens by posting the applica- When needs are so varied and great, with growing questions about the tion process on the FER website, it’s often hard to choose what to do, impact of climate change, the viability and by working with the wardens to and how much energy to put into each of an ecological reserve system, the update the Wardens’ Handbook and thing we choose to do. Fortunately, we impact of land use activities on lands orientation package. have clear directions and guidance neighbouring reserves. In the coming from our Gathering and our Retreat Promote better communications year, we need to dedicate our efforts in pointing to the need to dedicate our among wardens and government by four main areas: energies in four general categories: creating a Warden contact system, An assessment of the state of wardens, research, outreach and and by supporting annual regional ecological reserves: A “State of ER organizational renewal. I propose four and biannual provincial meetings. major targets in each of these areas – a Report” will provide a long overdue Work with the provincial govern- sixteen-point plant for 2004. review of ecological reserves, and ment to clarify key issues, such as continued on page 4 liability insurance for wardens,

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 3 “President’s message…” continued from page 3 help both the Friends and govern- ment focus efforts and energies. Themes for the report include: threats facing reserves, current condition of reserves, and adequacy of the current systems. Work is already underway through the efforts of Katie Christie, a master’s degree student in Biology at the University of Victoria who has received funding from the Friends. Friends of Ecological Reserves Expand our way of selecting Annual General Meeting: research, by being more pro-active. Don Eastman chats with new board In other words, we need to ask for member, Mike Fenger. research proposals on topics we feel need attention, as well as evaluate with the Friends (Board member topics submitted by researchers. Marilyn Lambert is a warden for the To develop a more complete aware- Friends of Ecological Reserves Trial Island Ecological Reserve). ness of researchers who are interested Annual General Meeting: Use a committee structure to more in working in ecological reserves, so Katie Christie speaks to the Friends effectively draw upon the interest that we can approach appropriate on her research project. and expertise of Board members researchers directly about topics of and share the workload of the concern to the Friends. Explore opportunities for joint Board. We propose to establish the To explore additional funding to following subcommittees: advance our research program: membership in like-minded organi- zations such as the Federation of Outreach/Communications, Outreach/Member Services BC Naturalists, the Canadian Parks Research, Fundraising, Warden Liaison, and the Executive. The organization known as the Friends and Wilderness Society and various of Ecological Reserves consists of indi- land trusts. Explore additional sources of funding, especially for the State of viduals across the province who know Organizational Renewal that ecological reserves are important. ER report, and ways of building They demonstrate their commitment At the Retreat last November, the effective relationships with donors. Board spent a lot of time exploring why to ER’s by joining the Friends, by The above list of tasks is challenging we belong to the Friends, what we enjoy making donations, and supporting the for the Friends, but I feel it is possible the most about the Friends, and what work of the Board in other ways. In and necessary to safeguard ecological bothers us most. Out of this introspec- 2004, I suggest that the Board support reserves. In closing my report, I want tion we realized that we need to make its membership in the following ways: to once again thank all of those some changes, and the main challenges individuals who contributed to making Develop a communications strategy in the year ahead are as follows: to increase public awareness and 2003 year a year to remember. appreciation of ecological reserves; Recruit new Board members. this includes cooperation with the Presently, the Board is short three Cowichan Valley Wardens to members of its 12-member comple- produce educational material. ment. We need to recruit new Visit www.ecoreserves.bc.ca Board members, considering skill Continue to organize field trips, sets, time available and regional with at least two in the Greater representation (Note: at this Victoria area (Trial Island and Race Annual General Meeting, we Rocks), and at least two elsewhere recruited two new members for the in the province. Board, Mike Fenger and Stephen Produce three issues of The Log, and Ruttan. Welcome!). explore the value of distributing it Consider having another Warden electronically. on the Board to improve liaison

4 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 The Gathering – An Update By Peggy Frank Remember the Gathering… a simple, put into the last newsletter, but there suggest that some good preliminary short interactive meeting of ecological was very little response. While many drafts will be coming out this summer. reserve wardens, potential wardens and wardens choose to be unsung heroes, The Gathering alerted us to the government personnel responsible for one of the strengths of the system is need to have, at the very least, a ecological reserves? There was an the long-term dedication of ecological central registry of wardens. This com- action plan (see The Log – Winter 03 reserve wardens and the Minister munication tool has been facilitated edition). Where are we on carrying out should be aware of this. One way of by information gathered in September. the actions? informing the Minister is to ask them While government needs to keep Several things are happening. We to sign recognition awards. We have current records, the wardens themselves have some informed new wardens in a new Minister and we would like to need to supply current contact infor- the system. It will be interesting to let him know about your years of mation to their area supervisor (see profile some of these wardens in upcom- continued efforts. Please e-mail or The Log – Winter 2003 for information ing issues of The Log. The Ministry has, snail mail us your years of experience on using the Provincial government to the best of their ability, embraced as a warden. website to find area supervisor contact ecological reserves. Regional staff was Eva Durrance and a team of volun- information). informed about the Gathering and their teers have been working on revising This is a great time to reiterate our responsibilities around ecological the Warden Handbook. Initial revisions thanks to other funders: the Ministry reserves, and is aware that a dedicated have been reviewed by central govern- of Water, Land and Air Protection, the team of wardens is watching the ment staff. Revisions are ongoing with a Endswell Fund of Tides Canada reserves. The importance of “gatherings” goal to completing a revised handbook Foundation and the BC Grasslands was apparent and regional meetings this year. Council. Without their help this event should be happening annually. Wardens in the Cowichan area would not have happened. We are While several awards were made have begun working on a general especially grateful to the financial recognizing those wardens with a information/ education brochure for help and our close relationship with volunteer history greater than 10 years, ecological reserves – something war- the Federation of BC Naturalists, a it was obvious that many long-term dens can distribute to the public. So direct result of this event. wardens needed to be added to this far there is nothing prepared in writing list. A call to “identify yourselves” was but ideas that have been circulating

Obituary By Vivienne Calder Long time naturalist Joan King died Dec. 20, 2003 at her home in Oliver. Joan was married for 52 years to Harold King and provided unflagging support to him at all times, most especially in the long years of his work on the Land and Resource Management Plan for the FBCN. Joan was devoted to tending her family and her garden on the farm in Oliver. She was an active member of the Oliver-Osoyoos Naturalist Club and warden of Hayne’s Lease and Field’s Lease ecological reserves for 23 years. Joan was a knowledgeable birder who organized the Christmas Bird Count in Oliver and Osoyoos for 20 years and taught birding and botany to Elderhostellers for 10 years. Joan was a founding member of the Osoyoos Desert Society and volunteered as receptionist at the Centre the last two summers. She was active in the Osoyoos Anglican Church, the Oliver Heritage Society, the Oliver Garden Club, the South Okanagan Hospital Auxiliary and Girl Guides. Her gifts of flowers, produce, friendship, and community involvement will be sorely missed.

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 5 A letter from Friends of the Book Review Stikine Society: By Peggy Frank Dear F.O.E.R. Folks, Please sign up FOSS. Some The Last Island – of the larger ER’s in BC are A Naturalist’s Sojourn in the Stikine watershed. on Triangle Island ’d like to participate more We Written and illustrated by Alison Watt with F.O.E.R. with this Harbour Publishing membership for starters. 192 pages – 49 colour illustrations For all rivers that flow Hardback – $34.95 everywhere in our hearts, Finally, a book about an ecological reserve! Alison Watt writes about an Stan Tomandl, Chair amazing bird sanctuary, located off the Ann Jacob, Treasurer northern tip of Vancouver Island. Triangle Island, the Anne Vallee Ecological Reserve, is number 13 in the ER System. It is accessible only by boat or helicopter in good weather. Alison spent four months on this reserve in 1980 and made a return visit in August of 1996. I don’t know how anyone could help but love this book – especially if that person has an interest in natural history and art. Many times, as I read this book I felt like I was peeking into Alison’s personal diary. She shared the anxiety of being young and isolated on a rock with only one other person. She let us feel the New Minister excitement of returning nesting birds and she let us bear the shame for the death of a young puffin. It is that intimacy which allows us to understand the deep Appointed feelings that Alison had for Anne Vallee, the feelings that separated her from the other researchers who came, after Anne’s death, to carry out research on the On January 26, 2004, Bill Barisoff island. While the relationship between the two women is pivotal to the story, was appointed Minister of Water the bursts of natural history information are as exciting as the daily life of the Land and Air Protection replacing researchers. Alison talks about ocean salinity, early explorers and the adaptations Joyce Murray. Mr. Barisoff is MLA plants and animals make to live in a salt rich environment with such enthusiasm for the riding of Penticton-Okanagan that the reader, too, is filled with a sense of awe. Valley and was born and raised in That awe is enhanced by the watercolour images which dot the pages. Like Oliver, BC Before coming to the the chocolate lily on page 94 and the courting pigeon guillemots on page 79, MWLAP portfolio, Mr. Barisoff all illustrations are great additions to this book. Is this a story or a tribute? served as a committee member and Personally, I think the book is a tribute woven into a tale. But not just a tribute was a critic in the Official to Anne Vallee and her puffin research but also a tribute to all the natural world Opposition. Mr. Barisoff can be that is so important to Alison Watt – and all of us. (See a description and photo contacted by phone at 250 387-1187, of Anne Vallee Ecological Reserve on Page 8 of this issue) by fax at 250 387-1365 or by mail at PO Box 9047, STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC V8W 9E2. Vicky Husband Scholarship Awarded

The 2003 Vicky Husband Scholarship has been awarded to Andre Vallillee. Andre is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Environment Studies and is a strong academic student. He is active in a number of on- and off-campus organiza- tions including the UVic Substantiality Project, Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group, the Student Senate of UVic, and the Campus Development Committee. Congratulations Andre and best of luck in your studies.

6 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 Dear Friends, Memberships We read with horror The Log article about Commercial Guiding in Gladys Lake ER. As Reserve Wardens, we have always understood that commer- cial activity in ERs was forbidden. Indeed we have always felt that the Due Educational component of ERs should be reserved for serious undertakings Just a reminder for those of you that cannot be provided elsewhere in the province. This should be because who haven’t paid up yet that of the unique characteristics of the particular ER that are unavailable elsewhere, for instance the study of a local endemic species. Or because membership dues for this year are nowhere else provides the pristine conditions that ERs can provide. And it payable now. Your dues may not is just this latter that will be eroded if ERs are used for recreational seem like much in the scheme of things yet they represent a major “Education” as is likely to happen with commercial guiding situations. We have a particular interest in Gladys Lake ER, as we have served as source of funds for the activities of the Spatsizi volunteer hosts at Coldfish Lake camp twice. And we have had The Friends and a bargain in terms extensive discussions with the BC Parks staff in Smithers about past abuses of what gets accomplished with of this ER, by them and others. The feeling seems to have been that them. The membership form can because of the large size and low numbers of visitors, there would be little be found on page 15 of this issue. impact. But because human impacts are not officially studied at any ERs Order a set of our beautiful placemats that we are aware of, no one knows what will be missing if Gladys Lake is while you’re at it! once again the site for a follow-up study of the goats and sheep. The intro- duction of sanctioned commercial use, as opposed to the officially ignored use that has been happening for years, will only compound the problems. As ER wardens, we are also very concerned for the ER that we look after. To our knowledge, there has been very little human activity in the Tsitika Mt ER. But if this goes forward in Gladys Lake, there could be an entrepreneur who would want to guide into our area. It is made up of, and was set aside for, a fragile wetland. It would not stand much abuse without being altered and losing its significance for future study. Because of our concerns, we would like to support the effort to prevent commercial use at Gladys Lake. We are enclosing a cheque for the legal fund. Please keep us informed of what is happening, and let us know if more is needed.

Sincerely, David & Claire Oppenheim www.ecoreserves.bc.ca

The website has been up a running for almost two years! If you haven’t visited us please do. We average about 2000 visitors a month from all over the world. Many people seem to come to our site searching for information about specific plant species. Usage is always highest on weekdays.

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 7 Ecological Reserves of Northern Vancouver Island PHOTO COURTESY OF BC PROVINCIALAREAS BRANCH AND PROTECTED PARKS PART I – the bird ER 11 Sartine Island islands sea lion rookery occupies rocks just (Draba hyperborea). A 1987 survey outside the reserve. recorded approximately 168,000 Warden: no warden on record nesting seabirds including Cassin’s Potential threats: Environment auklet, tufted puffin, glaucous- Canada weather station (helicopter winged gull, pelagic cormorant, access, pollutants, introduced pigeon guillemot, fork-tailed and species), oil spills, commercial fishing Leach’s storm-petrels. Single pairs of nesting bald eagles and peregrine falcons have been observed as well as abundant fox and song sparrows. Stellar sea lions use Beresford and its adjacent reefs and rocks as rookeries. Beresford is closed to the public and a permit is required to land. Warden: no warden on record ER 11 – Sartine Island Potential threats: oil spills, commer- cial fishing, boating, introduced Located 33 km WNW of Cape species, pollutants, offshore drilling Scott on the Cook Bank between Beresford and Triangle Islands in the Scott Islands ER 13 – Anne Vallee 13 ha PHOTO COURTESY OF BC PROVINCIALAREAS BRANCH AND PROTECTED PARKS (Triangle Island) A rugged island, Sartine rises steeply ER 12 Beresford Island Located 45 km WNW of Cape from a rocky shoreline to several Scott, off northern tip of Vancouver pinnacles and humps. Although Island steep, the upper slopes have deep soil ER 12 – Beresford Island 85 ha favorable for plant growth. There are Located 23 km W of Cape Scott on This island is the subject of Alison no trees and few shrubs but twenty the Cook Bank, between Lanz and Watt’s beautifully illustrated three species of interesting plants Sartine Islands in the Scott group account of her time there entitled have been observed. Seabirds nesting 7.7 ha The Last Island. (See Peggy Frank’s in the reserve include Cassin’s review on Page 6). It is a remote auklet, tufted puffin, common murre, This small rocky island supports the rugged island, with steep outer glaucous-winged gull, pelagic only trees on the three outermost slopes and a rolling central plateau. cormorant and Brandt’s cormorant. islands of the Scott group. On its The soil is well developed with a There is some conjecture that the rounded summit there are several dense plant cover supported by Brandt’s cormorant colony may not very old and battered Sitka spruce. the moist, humid climate and be a breeding site since they are Dominant shrubs include red abundance of bird droppings. Trees known to build and attend “dummy” elderberry and black twinberry. Rare are absent. A wind-pruned mantle nests. Land birds include fox and plants of the rocky slopes are hairy of salmonberry protects associated song sparrows, a pair of peregrine goldfields (Lasthenia minor subsp. species of Pacific crabapple, tufted falcons, and bald eagles. A Stellar maritima) and Pacific whitlow-grass

8 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 Named after Dr. Daniel Charles Solander, a Swedish botanist and pupil of Linnaeus, this reserve is a small steep-sided island with associ- ated offshore rocks and reefs used as a winter haul-out for Steller and California sea lions. Trees are absent although there are some shrubs and grass cover. Burrow-nesting seabirds include tufted puffin, Leach’s storm petrel and Cassin’s auklet. Other nesting seabirds include pelagic cormorant, glaucous-winged gull

PHOTO COURTESY OF BC PROVINCIALAREAS BRANCH AND PROTECTED PARKS and pigeon guillemot. Other ER 13 Anne Vallee (Triangle Island) seabirds observed on or near the

hairgrass, salal and lady ferns which normally grow under a forest canopy. On the high ridges are Alaska saxifrage, Alaska brome, licorice fern, spiny wood fern and lady fern. Triangle Island’s most remarkable feature is the size of its seabird colonies. With up to 400,000 breeding pairs recorded, it holds the record for the BC coast. The Cassin’s auklet colony is the largest in the world and contains 40% of the world population. Other burrow-nesting species include rhinoceros auklet, tufted puffin

(the largest colony on the BC coast) PHOTO COURTESY OF BC PROVINCIALAREAS BRANCH AND PROTECTED PARKS and pigeon guillemot. Cliff nesters ER 14 Solander Island include common and thick-billed murres. Pelagic cormorant, glaucous- tural remains of the 1909–1919 island include horned puffin, winged gull and black oystercatcher lighthouse era. The island is closed rhinoceros auklet, common murre, nest here as well as several pairs of to the public and a permit is blacklegged kittiwake, sooty shear- the rare Peale’s peregrine flacon and required to land. The island provides water and Brandt’s cormorant. Bald the only known ground-nesting bald exceptional opportunities to study eagles and peregrine falcons are seen eagles in the province. Other seabird ecology, small mammal but nesting has not been confirmed. nesters include northwestern crows, evolution, insular biogeography and Solander has the second largest fox sparrows and song sparrows and climatic influences on vegetation. tufted puffin colony on the BC many more land and oceanic birds Warden: no warden on record coast. The island is closed to the visit seasonally. In total, eighty-one Potential threats: oil spills, commer- public and a permit is required bird species have been observed cial fishing, boating, introduced to land. on or near the island. The only species, pollutants, offshore drilling, Warden: no warden on record mammals present are deer mouse people approaching wildlife, anchor Potential threats: weather station, (Peromyscus maniculatus triangularis) damage, research camp (bird- helicopter landing pad, recreational and Townsend vole (Microtus banding operations, vegetation visitation, commercial and recre- townsendi cowani) which have trampling) ational fishing, oil spills, vegetation evolved in isolation for thousands of trampling years and feral rabbits descended ER 14 – Solander Island See “Websites of Interest” on page 16 from introduced domestic rabbits. A of this issue for links to the campaign Steller sea lion breeding rookery of Located 1.5 km W. of Brooks for a Federal Marine Protected Area 600–800 animals is one of only four Peninsula, northwest coast of around the Scott Islands Vancouver Island in BC. Cultural features include continued on page 10 extensive shell middens and struc- 7.7 ha

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 9 concentration in the province of ER 120 – Duke of Edinburgh Leach’s storm petrels, rhinoceros (Pine/Storm/Tree Islands) auklets and fork-tailed storm petrels are found here. The rhinoc- Located 35 km E of Port Hardy off eros auklet contingent forms one the northern end of Vancouver third of the North American Island breeding population. Other 660 ha (Land 125 ha) resident seabirds include glaucous- This reserve is made up of 20 small winged gulls, pigeon guillemots, islands and surrounding shallows black oyster-catchers and pelagic scattered over a 6 by 14 km area cormorants. Ten pairs of bald and fully exposed to ocean swells eagles are thought to nest in the and storms. The islands are mostly reserve. The shallows around the exposed bare rock without surface islands are rich in plankton due to soil deposits except for soft organic nutrient-rich upwellings and are soils resulting from decomposition an important area for migrating of plant material. The larger islands water birds. Harbour seal pupping are forested with Sitka spruce, occurs on the low rocky islets and western hemlock and western sei whales feed among the islands

redcedar with an understory, if any, in summer. PHOTO COURTESY OF BC PROVINCIALAREAS BRANCH AND PROTECTED PARKS of salmonberry, salal and false lily- Warden: no warden on record ER 120 Duke of Edinburgh of-the-valley. The largest breeding (Pine/Storm/Tree Islands)

Trial Island Field Trip May 1, 2004 The Trial Islands are precious jewels lying just off the Victoria waterfront near the Royal Victoria Golf Course. The most outstanding known assemblage of rare and endangered plant species in British Columbia occur here and have been protected as an Ecological Reserve for many years. The showy stands of spring wildflowers are a feast for the eyes and draw the Friends of Ecological Reserves back year after year for our annual field trip. With our leaders, Adolf and Oluna Ceska we will find many very rare plants that occur in only a few other localities in the province. Such delicate beauties as Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) and the Bear-paw Sanicle (Sanicula arctopoides) will be in full bloom for our visit. Join the “Friends” and spend some time on this most delightful outing. Field Trip – Spring 2004 Saturday May 1, 2004 • Trial Island Ecological Reserve Meet on the Beach at the foot of Transit Road, in Oak Bay at 9 a.m. for a short crossing by Zodiac to this small island with unique plantlife. Wear waterproof clothing, and bring your camera, sketchbook, and lunch. FEE: FER Members – $10, Non-members – $30, Seniors/Students – $25 (includes a 1-year membership to FER) Trip limited to 15 people: call and register by April 20 if you would like to enter the lottery for a place on the 2004 Friends of Ecological Reserves Trial Island Educational Trip TO REGISTER or FOR MORE INFORMATION call 477-5922

10 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 Salmon-derived Nutrients in Riparian Food Webs: Linking spawning salmon to songbird communities in the Pacific Northwest By Katie Christie

Ecological Reserves in British Columbia Dr. Tom Reimchen. Our group has protect areas of special importance conducted extensive research on because they host rare species, particu- salmon streams on the Central Coast, larly threatened ecosystems, or the Queen Charlotte Islands, and biologically diverse communities. The Vancouver Island, including the Megin eco-reserve network in BC protects a River Ecological Reserve in Clayoquot range of habitats, from sub-tidal marine Sound. This research began with a ecosystems to Garry Oak woodlands to focus on bear-salmon interactions, and alpine meadows, and this reflects the lead to findings such that up to 70% of biological diversity intrinsic to the the total salmon run can be transported province, a result of geological into the forest by black bears and that complexity and the juxtaposition of bears regularly forage for salmon at marine and terrestrial environments. night. Our research has broadened The flow of nutrients between to include the role of salmon in main- marine and terrestrial environments taining the white morph of coastal

fuels diversity and productivity along black bear, or ‘spirit bear’, and the PHOTO CHRISTIE : KATIE the coastline of BC. A critical link importance of salmon in the diet Winter Wren captured at study site between these ecosystems is the of coastal wolves. In addition, our on the Central Coast predictable annual spawning events group has found that salmon-derived of pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), nutrients affect tree growth rates, of salmon-derived nutrients to song- which result in large quantities of riparian plant species composition, and bird diets using stable isotopes. My marine-derived nutrients being trans- invertebrate community structure. study sites include two rivers on the ported to the streams, lakes, and forests Much of this research involves Central Coast of BC which have of BC. Many vertebrate species, such the use of stable isotopes to trace waterfalls 1–2 km upstream that block as brown and black bears, gulls, bald salmon-derived nutrients into various the passage of salmon, thus providing a eagles, marten, and wolves congregate components of forest food webs. within-watershed comparison between on salmon streams to consume this Salmon is enriched in the heavy salmon-influenced and control areas. abundant resource. Bears and other isotopes of carbon (δ13C)* and Through point-count surveys in the wildlife transfer salmon into the forest nitrogen (δ15N) relative to terrestrial spring, I compare the density and and leave partially consumed carcasses sources and these heavy isotopes diversity of breeding birds above the to fertilize otherwise nutrient poor can therefore be used as chemical falls, where there is no influence of systems and this has cascading effects markers for salmon-derived nutrients salmon, to density and diversity of on riparian food webs. This nutrient in terrestrial food webs. Using this birds below the falls, under the influ- subsidy results in increased primary technique, members of our group have ence of salmon. During the summer productivity and aquatic invertebrate detected significant quantities of and autumn, I mist-net birds and biomass in streams and lakes, increased salmon-derived nutrients in riparian collect feather samples in order to riparian plant productivity, and shrubs, trees, and invertebrates trace salmon-derived nutrients in their increased terrestrial invertebrate adjacent to salmon streams, revealing tissues using stable isotopes. biomass around salmon streams. the flow of nutrients from marine Perhaps the most obvious influence During the spring and summer, the ecosystems to forests. of salmon-derived nutrients on song- combination of high plant productivity It is likely that higher consumers bird communities occurs during the and high aquatic and terrestrial such as songbirds obtain salmon-derived spawning period. When streams have invertebrate biomass may result in nutrients through the consumption of large salmon runs and healthy bear higher breeding densities of songbirds salmon itself, as well as insects, fruits, populations, salmon carcasses litter the around salmon streams. and seeds that are enriched in salmon forest floor and are decomposed by How the salmon nutrient subsidy derived nutrients. I investigate the fungi, bacteria, and thousands of affects terrestrial food webs is a major effects of salmon on breeding and blowfly larvae. Ground-foraging birds focus of our research group, comprised migrating songbirds during the spring such as the Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow, of five graduate students headed by and fall and elucidate the contribution continued on page 12

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 11 “Salmon-derived…” continued from page 11 foraging birds were slightly higher generous support of my research as well Song Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush below the falls than above the falls, as the work of Tom Reimchen. consume the larvae that hatch out of suggesting that the presence of salmon Without this support, our research salmon carcasses. Often these birds are influences bird density during the late would not be possible. seen hopping from carcass to carcass or summer and autumn. * δ = the deviation from an international foraging in groups, scraping the ground If indeed the presence of salmon standard measured in parts per thousand. around decaying carcasses for the larvae is a predictor of songbird density, then that have burrowed underground to the removal of salmon from coastal overwinter as pupae. In general, feathers watersheds will degrade important of Winter Wrens captured below the breeding and stopover habitat for falls were enriched in δ15N compared songbirds. The annual spawning events with those captured above the falls, of Pacific salmon are integral to the indicating that salmon-derived nutri- diversity and productivity of terrestrial ents are incorporated into the tissues of and aquatic ecosystems in British birds around salmon streams. For many Columbia. Certain salmon streams birds, I was able to obtain multiple gen- have ecological reserve or park status; erations of feathers reflecting the diet however, salmon populations continue during different seasons. Many wrens to decline and watersheds continue captured below the falls exhibited to be logged. Only when we protect dramatically increased δ15N corre- the processes that shape ecosystems Katie is a master’s student at the University sponding with high δ13C signatures in in BC can we protect biological of Victoria under the supervision of the autumn compared with summer, diversity in this province. Dr. Tom Reimchen. She hopes to pursue suggesting the consumption of carcass- a career in biology with a focus on avian I would like to thank the Friends consuming insects during the salmon ecology, evolution, and conservation. of Ecological reserves for their season. Capture rates of ground-

CALENDAR

Earth Week 2004: 4th Annual Riversheds Forum Contact: Janelle Parchomchuk, Festival Coordinator • Tel: 250 492-4422 Celebrating Peace, of the Fraser River Basin E-mail: [email protected] Earth & Justice April 29 to May 2, 2004 www.meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca April 22 to May 1, Earth Day to May Day Hills Guest Ranch, 108 Mile Ranch, BC Look for special Earth Week and Earth Theme: “Stormy Weather”: Affects of Day activities in your community includ- Global Warming in the Fraser River Basin Brant Wildlife Festival ing tree plantings, marches, cleanup and Contact: Fin Donnelly invasive species work parties, concerts, Tel: 604 941-5937 • [email protected] April 4 to 6, 2004 festivals and much more. For a complete Qualicum Beach and Parksville, BC listing go to the Earth Day Canada web- Write to 174 Railway Street site at www.earthday.ca 4th World Fisheries Congress Qualicum Beach, BC Canada V9K 1K7 Tel: (250) 752-9171 May 2 to 6, 2004 • Vancouver, BC Fax: (250) 752-9883 Theme: Reconciling Fisheries with E-mail: [email protected] Wings Over the Rockies Bird Conservation www.brantfestival.bc.ca/ Contact: Wayne MacCallum, American Festival Fisheries Society May 3 to 9, 2004 Tel: 605 986-8018 • Fax: 604 904-9619 Various locations in the E-mail: [email protected] • Golden Wildlife Festival of Columbia River Valley http://www.worldfisheries2004.org Birds and Bears Contact: Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival May 8 to 11, 2004 RR#4, #2 – 1535 14th Street, Invermere, 7th Annual Meadowlark Golden and Columbia Valley Wetlands BC Canada V0A 1K4 Contact: Golden Festival of Birds and Tel: 888 933-3311 or 250 347-2207 Festival 2004 Bears, Box 1320 Golden, BC Fax: 250 342-9221 May 20 to 24, 2004 Canada, V0A 1H0 Tel: 800 622-4653 • [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Penticton, BC and throughout South www.adventurevalley.com/wings/ Okanagan Similkameen Region

12 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 Forest Certification in BC

In recent years, increasing interna- Maintenance of soil and water Changes to the Forest Practices Code tional demand for certified forest resources and other government policies will products has forced the BC forest Sustainable harvests allow companies greater flexibility to industry to embrace forest certifica- meet certification requirements. tion – the voluntary, independent Unacceptability of wood from However, a 2003 report, On the third party verification of sustainable illegal or unauthorized sources Ground, commissioned by ForestEthics, forest management. Four systems of Protecting forestlands from Greenpeace and the Sierra Club – certification are currently active in deforestation and conversion BC Chapter uses case studies to the province: the International Aboriginal rights and/or compare the effectiveness of the three Organization for Standardization involvement performance-based certification (ISO), the Canadian Standards systems internationally. The report Independent audit required for Association (CSA), the Sustainable provides evidence of continued envi- certification claims, forest Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the ronmental damage under CSA and planning and practices Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). SFI certified operations, including The ISO guides forest companies in Public disclosure a proliferation of clearcuts, continued the development of an Environmental Abusow (2003 a) logging of forests inhabited by Management System (EMS), but does endangered species; damage to not include specific performance According to a December 2003 drinking water, fisheries and streamside based standards. The CSA, SFI and BC Certification Status Report pro- forests; ongoing use of chemical FSC systems are performance based, duced by the Canadian Sustainable herbicides; accelerating losses of requiring applicants to show a long- Forest Management Certification natural forest; and tree farm expansion. term commitment to a Defined Forest Coalition (Abusow 2003b), over Only FSC certification was found to Area (DFA) and to Sustainable Forest 57 million hectares of BC forest represent “a viable system that delivers 2 Management (SFM) planning. land and over 60 million m of the positive results on the ground and in Under these three systems, forest Annual Allowable Cut are now the communities where it matters companies produce a Sustainable certified under at least one of the most” (Tan 2003). Forest Management Plan, Forest certification systems. This includes In 2002, the BC Chapter of the Stewardship Plan or similar plan, 31 companies with over 46 million ha Forest Stewardship Council complet- which outlines objectives and measur- managed under an ISO Environmental ed forest management standards for able indicators for meeting sustainable Management System, 5 companies BC. However FSC certification is rare forest management targets. Regular with over 10 million ha certified in the province, occurring mostly on third-party audits are conducted on under CSA standards, 10 companies small woodlot operations. Tembec the DFA to determine whether these with over 11 million ha certified Industries is one large company with a targets are being met and whether under SFI and 5 companies (mostly corporate direction to achieve FSC certification or re-certification has small woodlots) with 100,291 ha certification on all its woodlands, been achieved. All certification certified under FSC. but none of its BC operations are systems offer a label for use on a Many large retailers of BC wood yet certified. Some companies adhere product or packaging to demonstrate products, such as IKEA and Home to FSC standards without seeking links to SFM certification (see Depot, are demanding certified wood certification. Why is FSC certification sidebar). All three performance-based products. Forest companies are so rare in BC? Industry says the standards (CSA, SFI and FSC) delivering. But is certification making standard is unworkable and the audits include objectives for: a difference in the forests? The BC expensive. The BC FSC standards are government thinks so. According to a currently under revision to address Conservation of biological January 2003 fact sheet produced by diversity problems. the BC Ministry of Forests (2003), So where does that leave the Maintenance of wildlife habitat the provincial government “supports consumer? The NGOs say to ask for and species diversity forest certification as a way to meet FSC certified products, but they are Protected areas and maintenance the interests of customers and demon- hard to find in BC. Certification is a strate the province’s commitment to of special sites continued on page 14 sustainable forest management’.

THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 13 “Forest Certification…” continued from page 13 relatively new concept in forest A Joint NGO Statement on Forest Certification released on management: the Forest Stewardship Council was established in 1993, March 26, 2003 by the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace the first CSA sustainable forest Canada, the Pulp Paper and Woodworkers of Canada, management standards were pub- Rainforest Action Network, ForestEthics, Sierra Club, West lished in 1996. All standards are subject to improvement over time. It Coast Environmental Law Association and 30 other Canadian is important to remember that the And US based non-government agencies, recommends Forest concept of forest certification, a Stewardship Council (FSC) certification as the only forest definite step towards sustainable forest management, was the result certification system worthy of support at this time and of consumer demand. In the same encourages wood consumers to specify a preference for FSC way, progress toward improvement certified forest products. The full text of the statement and in CSA and SFI standards and implementation of FSC standards more information can be found on the internet at: will likely also be the result of http://www.goodwoodwatch.org/goodwoodwatch. consumer pressure. Watch for these logos on BC Forest Products References and for more information: Abusow, K. 2003 a. Focusing on Certification Similarities to Promote SFM. Produced for Forest Products Association of Canada. March 2003. http://www.sfms.com/pdfs/FPAC_ SFM.pdf Abusow, K. 2003b. BC Certification Status Report. Canadian Sustainable Forest Management Certification Coalition. December 2003. http://www.sfms.com/status.htm BC Ministry of Forests. 2003. Forest Certification British Columbia Canada. January 2003. Government of BC. On the internet at http:www. for.gov.bc.ca/het/certification Canadian Sustainable Forest Management Certification Coalition. http://www.sfms.com Includes information about ISO, CSA, SFI and FSC. Good Wood Watch. http://www. goodwoodwatch.org/goodwoodwatch Tan, Amy. 2003. On The Ground. A report commissioned by ForestEthics, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club-BC Chapter. On the internet at Good Wood Watch. http://www.goodwood

watch.org/goodwoodwatch/PDF/Onth QUINN DAVE PHOTO CREDIT: eGround.pdf Visit www.ecoreserves.bc.ca

14 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES MEMBERSHIP FORM Box 8477 Stn Central Victoria BC V8W 3S1 Renewal for 2004 New membership

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THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004 15 Websites of Interest

and a link to the PDF version of a advocacy and law reform services for Public review of the moratorium on brochure on the Scotts campaign can thirty years. If you or your organiza- offshore drilling: be found at http://cpawsbc.org/ tion could use their help with solving Starting on April 5 and continuing action/scott_islands Information is an environmental problem in your until May 15, a public review panel also available on the CNF website at community, look at the guidelines for will be visiting coastal and offshore http://www.cnf.ca/action/scott.html applying on the website. There is also communities to get public input on an excellent synopsis of our provincial potentially allowing oil and gas drilling government’s record on environmental off BC’s coast to resume. Presentations The Stewardship Centre: This organization has set itself no small issues under Hot Topics. can be oral or written. The website has http://www.wcel.org a calendar of times and locations of task: to educate landowners, develop- hearings along with profiles of the ers, volunteers, professionals, local panelists, details on how to participate governments and agencies on and submission deadlines. handling conservation values on www.moratoriumpublicreview.ca their land. Their conviction is that The Royal Society of Canada’s most people would “walk lightly on the “Report of the Expert Panel on land” if they only had a little encour- Science Issues Related to Oil and Gas agement, information, and guidance Activities, Offshore British Columbia” tools. Their vision is to link human can be accessed at www.rsc.ca development and natural ecosystems to create healthier and more sustainable Marine Conservation Area campaign communities. To that end they have for the Scott Islands: produced stewardship guides on aquatic Canadian Parks and Wilderness habitat, grasslands, community green- Society (CPAWS) and the Canadian ways, land development guidelines Friends of Ecological Reserves Nature Federation (CNF) have and several handbooks on stewardship PO Box 8477 Stn Central launched a campaign to have a skills. The guides are available in PDF Victoria BC V8W 3S1 format on the website or a printed copy marine protected area put in place Email: [email protected] can be ordered. around the Scott Islands which website: www.ecoreserves.bc.ca include the ecoreserves of Anne www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca Vallee, Sartine and Beresford Islands. Charitable tax# 118914597RR Environment Minister David West Coast Environmental Law: Anderson and the federal government These people are the heroes when it Printed on recycled paper. make all the right noises about the comes to using the law to protect the importance of protecting marine areas environment. They have assisted but have yet to commit funds to their citizens and organizations with free Please share and/or recycle. Ocean Action Plan. A backgrounder legal advice, research, education,

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16 THE LOG • FRIENDS OF ECOLOGICAL RESERVES NEWSLETTER • SPRING 2004