Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O

Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus Special Concern, Blue Listed Habitat: Open ocean, rocky shores and ancient forests along coastline. Photos by Tom Benson

Banded Cord-Moss Entosthodon fascicularis Special Concern, Blue Listed Habitat: Open bedrock vernal sites in Garry Oak and Douglas-fir forests. Time of Year: Capsules starting to form in February and March. Photos by Ryan Batten

Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Special Concern, Blue Listed Habitat: Mixed forests with Arbutus and other berry-producing shrubs. Time of Year: April-September Photos by Rodney Polden & Peter MacAl- lister

Barn Owl - Western Pop. Tyto alba Threatened, Red Listed Habitat: Nest in barns or tree cavities with fields and adjacent forests. Time of Year: Resident, Breeding March-May, Chicks April-August Photos by Jared Hobbs & Christophe Perelle

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Threatened, Blue Listed Habitat: Nest in barns or houses in open meadow and field habitat. Time of Year: Migrant, May-September Photos by Laura Matthias

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 1 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Batwing Vinyl Leptogium platynum Endangered Red Listed Habitat: Infrequent over mossy rock in open coastal forests, it occurs on high pH, inclined rock outcrops with periodic seepage. Time of Year: Autumn Photos by Ryan Batten

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Listed Habitat: Lakes, wetlands, small ponds, bogs, sedge marshes, and occasionally streams. Time of Year: Late May-August Photos by Laura Matthias & James Miskelly

Blue-grey Taildropper Prophysaon coeruleum Endangered Red Listed Habitat: Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock and Garry oak forests. Time of Year: October-November Photos by Ryan Batten

Blue-shift Speckleback Punctelia stictica Blue Listed Habitat: This pale grayish to pale greenish lichen is found on rocky coastal outcrops near ocean shorelines at low elevations. Time of Year: Autumn-Winter Photos by Ryan Batten

Black Swift Cypseloides niger Threatened, Blue Listed Habitat: Nest in forested areas along riv- ers, choosing to nest behind waterfalls or other damp cliffs that are inaccessible to predators. They lay one egg and take turns incubating for up to four weeks. They for- age on flying insects exclusively. Nests may be reused year after year. Photos by Amy McAndrews and Bryant Olsen

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 2 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Carbuncular Toad Neofuscelia verruculifera Red Listed Habitat: Found frequently over rock in open coastal and inland sites at lower elevations. BC to California and West Eurasia. Photo by Ryan Batten

Carolina Meadow Fox-tail Alopercurus carolinianus Red Listed Habitat: Annual (or winter annual) tufted grass from fibrous roots; stems 10-30 (40) cm tall. Found in wet to moist vernal pools, roadsides and meadows in the lowland zone. Rare on South Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Photos by Ryan Batten

Chaffweed Anagallis minima Blue Listed Habitat: Found in southeastern BC, this low-growing annual has alternate leaves and white to pink flowers. Blooms May- June. Photo by Ryan Batten

Coast Manroot Marah oreganus Endangered Red Listed Habitat: South-facing exposures, rocky coastal terrain, and forest openings. Time of Year: Flowers June-July Photos by Ryan Batten

Coastal Scouler’s Catchfly Silene scouleri spp. grandis Endangered, Red Listed Habitat: Garry oak meadows. Time of Year: Flowers August-September Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 3 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Common Bladder Moss Physcomitrium pyriforme Blue Listed Habitat: Found in wet soils along streams and meadows and in disturbed spaces. Time of Year: Capsules form autumn to spring. Photos by Ryan Batten

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Threatened, Yellow Listed Habitat: Nests on rocky open substrate. Time of Year: Migrant Breeding June- August. Photos by Laura Matthias

Common Woodnymph Cercyonis pegala incana Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak woodlands and meadows. Time of Year: Flight season late June- early September Photo by James Miskelly & Simon Henson

Concentric Vinyl Leptogium psudofurfuraceum Blue Listed Habitat: Unique in being our only bearded vinyl, this rare lichen growing on Garry oaks is distinct in having a ruffled margin and an underside covered in short hair-like scales. On the Gulf Islands, it is known only from one location on Pender and another on Salt Spring, along the shoreline at Burgoyne Bay. Photos by Ryan Batten

Continuous Ribbon Ramalina subleptocarpha Blue Listed Habitat: It grows on the bark of trees and is ribbon-like, pale grey to greenish and branching. Time of Year: Autumn-Winter Photos by Ryan Batten & Laura Matthias

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 4 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Coral Crackers Fuscopannaria coralloidea Red Listed Habitat: This rare moss has only been documented in coastal parts of California, Oregon and BC. It is considered globally vulnerable. It grows on exposed coastal rock faces. Time of Year: Autumn Photo by Ryan Batten

Cut-Throat Trout Phalacrocorax auritus Blue Listed Habitat: Alaska to California, inland to Skeena River Headwaters. All lakes and streams of Coastal BC and Gulf Islands. Photos by Bryant Olsen and Bruce Moore

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Blue Listed Habitat: Salish Sea Time of Year: Resident, breeds on rocky outcrops. Photos by Laura Matthias

Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris Threatened, Red Listed Habitat: Garry oak meadows with sedge habitat. Time of Year: Late June-July Photos by Laura Matthias & Mike Yip

Eared Tarpaper Collema auriforme Red Listed Habitat: Found growing on Garry oak trees and on alkaline ground or rock in other jurisdictions. With its prominently thick- ened margin (like an ear) and profusion of globular propagules, it’s easy to recognize and locally rare. Known on Salt Spring Island only from one location Photo by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 5 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Exploding Beard Usnea intermedia Endangered Red Listed Habitat: Found growing on Garry oak trees in BC. It has large disc-like apothecia and irregular branches.Time of Year: Autumn- Winter Photo by Laura Matthias & Ryan Batten

Fern-leaved Desert-parsley var. dissectum Lomatium dissectum var. dissectum Red Listed Habitat: Open meadows. Time of Year: Flowering middle of March, April, beginning of May. Photos by Ryan Batten

Fissidens Moss Fissidens ventricosus Blue Listed Habitat: It has palmate black to dark green branched leaves. It occurs only in wet Coastal rainforest from Vancouver Island east to Chilliwack. Time of Year: Autumn Photos by Ryan Batten

Fissidens ventricosus Fissidens grandifrons

Flaming Specklebelly Pseudocyphellaria crocata Blue Listed Habitat: Without a doubt, this eye-catching lichen is our showiest species and always a delight to find. In our area, it grows mostly on Garry oaks but also occasionally over rock. Known on Salt Spring Island from one location. Photos by Ryan Batten

Flavopunctelia Flavopunctelia soredica Not yet listed Habitat: Infrequent over trees and shrubs in open coastal forests at lower elevations, also rare in intermontane old-growth forests, from Alaska to Oregon. Photo by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 6 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Fourty-five Vinyl Leptogium intermedium Status Pending (COSEWIC) Blue Listed Habitat: This small vinyl is the second smallest of its kind found locally. In our area, it grows most commonly on old arbutus trees, sometimes with silver-rimmed crackers. Found in western Canada from BC to Northwest Territories. Photo by Ryan Batten

Galactic Speckleback Punctelia perreticulata Red Listed It is pale hospital green with medium-sized ruffled foliose structure. Time of Year: Autumn-winter Photos by Ryan Batten

Punctelia perreticulata Punctelia jeckeri

Geyer’s Onion Allium geyeri var. tenerum Blue Listed Habitat: Grows in moist open slopes, low meadows and stream banks across western North America. The bulb can grow to a depth of 1.5 ft. Time of Year: Flowers in May. Photos by Ryan Batten

Giant Chain Fern Woodwardia fimbriata Blue Listed Habitat: This evergreen perennial grows from rhizomes. It is found in wet forested areas and seepy coastal cliff sites at lower elevations. Time of Year: Evergreen fern, new fronds emerge in the spring. Photos by Ryan Batten & Laura Matthias

Gray’s Desert-parsley Lomatium grayii Red Listed Habitat: Rocky outcrops in Garry Oak and associated habitats. Time of Year: Flowers late April-late May Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 7 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Great Blue Heron subspp. fannini Ardea herodias fannini Special Concern Blue Listed Habitat: Nests in deciduous and conifer trees near eelgrass beds. Time of Year: Resident Nesting March-August Photos by Todd Carnahan, David Denning and Simon Henson

Green-sheathed Sedge Carex feta Blue Listed Habitat: Freshwater moist boggy wetlands. Time of Year: May to June, later is better to have mature perigynia for ID. Photos by Ryan Batten

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Special Concern Blue Listed Habitat: Salish Sea Time of Year: Resident Photo by Head Harbour Lightstation and Upupa4me on Flickr

Heterocodon Heterocodon rariflorum Blue Listed Habitat: Found growing in Garry-oak habitats with moist seepages. Time of Year: April to July Photos by Ryan Batten

Howell’s Violet Viola howellii Red Listed Habitat: Found in moist woodlands from southern BC to Oregon. Flowers are blueish violet to white. The sepals of Howell’s violet are fringed in short hairs and the spur is shorter (and broader) than that of early blue violet. Time of Year: Flowers April to May. Photos by Ryan Batten

Viola howellii Viola adunca

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 8 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Jigsaw Stippleback Dermatocarpon leptophyllodes Blue Listed Habitat: Found on rocks often in shady seepage crevices in most northern climates. The lichen is generally dark grey with a purplish tinge. Time of Year: Autumn Photos by Ryan Batten

Killer Whale -Northeast Pacific Southern Resident population Orcinus orca Endangered Red Listed Habitat: Salish Sea. Resident whales live and breed around Gulf Islands. Time of Year: Year-round Photos by Laura Matthias

Leafless Wintergreen Pyrola aphylla Blue Listed Habitat: In forests with deep compost and decaying wood under a dense tree canopy in deep shade and can be found growing along side rattlesnake plantain. Time of Year: Spring Photos by Tony MacLeod & Ryan Batten

Least Reindeer Cladonia ciliata Blue Listed Habitat: Among the jumble of cladonia lichens at Ruckle Park, this is the one you’re likely to see the least. Gray reindeer (C. rangiferina) has the same unidirectional combed appearance as its rare relative, but more abruptly so. Least reindeer has a more delicate profile with the terminal branches mostly forking in pairs. Cladonia rangiferina Cladonia ciliata Photos by Ryan Batten

Little Brown Myotis Myotis lucifugus Endangered, Yellow Listed Habitat: Breeding colonies occupy tree cavities, caves, rock crevices, outbuildings, and attics. Winter hibernation locations very specific to humidity and temperature. Time of Year: Resident. Photo bys JN Stuart & US Fish & Wildlife Service

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 9 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Macoun’s Meadowfoam Limnanthes macounii Threatened, Red Listed Habitat: At low elevations near the shoreline adjacent to Garry Oak ecosystems. Time of Year: Flowers February-April Photos by Ryan Batten

Macrae’s Clover Trifolium dichotomum Blue Listed Habitat: An uncommon clover from scat- tered locations on the Gulf and San Juan Islands, usually on hot south-facing Garry oak outcrops. Known on Salt Spring Island only from a single site. Flowering in May and June. Photos by Ryan Batten

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus Threatened, Blue Listed Habitat: Nesting only in old-growth trees, this species is greatly at risk due to habitat loss in BC. Time of Year: Year-round with highest numbers from August to Feb. Photos by Guy Monty & Tom Benson

Moss’ Elfin subspp. mossii Callophyrus mossii mossii Blue Listed Habitat: Warm dry Garry Oak habitats; adults sip nectar from stonecrop species. Time of Year: Flight season is March-June Photos by James Miskelly

Mourning Phlegm Lempholemma polyanthes Blue Listed Habitat: Found on mosses over rock in somewhat sheltered situations in North America, Europe, and Australia. Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 10 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Muhlenberg’s Cord-moss Funaria muhlenbergia Blue Listed Habitat: Grows on rock outcrops in Garry Oak meadows. Time of Year: The long- necked capsules are produced in very early spring. Photos by Ryan Batten

Northern Pygmy-owl subspp.swarthi Glaucidium gnoma swarthi Blue Listed Habitat: Require large trees for nesting cavities and mixed forests. Time of Year: Resident, Breeding late April- August Photos by Ken-ichi Ueda, Gail Hampshire and Budgora (Flickr)

Northern Red-legged Frog Rana aurora Special Concern, Blue Listed Habitat: Wetlands, creeks and forested riparian habitat. Time of Year: Eggs February-March, Tad- poles March-July Photos by Ryan Batten, Laura Matthias & Ted Baker

Nuttall’s Quillwort Isoetes nuttallii Blue Listed Habitat: Open Garry Oak associated habitat with vernal pools. Time of Year: Jan-May Photos by Ryan Batten

Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Threatened Blue Listed Habitat: Nests in conifer trees, preferring forest edges and openings with meadows and ponds. Time of Year: Migrant late April- September. Photos by Ren Ferguson

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 11 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Orobus-seed Liverwort Targionia hypophylla Red Listed Habitat: It smells faintly of cedar, has a spore capsule that resembles a mussel shell, and the good sense to shelter out of the rain, usually partially hidden under boulders or at the base of overhanging cliffs. Currently known on Salt Spring Island only from one location. Photos by Ken-ichi Ueda and Ryan Batten

Ozette Coralroot Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis Red Listed Habitat: Similar to spotted coralroot but without spots on the petals. Shaded mixed Douglas-fir and Arbutus forests, in open areas, with bright reddish-purple stems that grow up to 24 inches tall. Time of Year: Flowers June-July Photo by Ryan Batten

C. maculata var. ozettensis C. maculata var. maculata C. maculata var. occidentalis

Pacific Tarpaper Collema furfuraceum Blue Listed Habitat: Known on Salt Spring Island only from mature Garry oaks. It has a warty upper surface covered with fine granules and is, at least around the edges, tightly pressed to the bark. Photo by Bob Danley

Peacock Vinyl Leptogium polycarpum Special Concern, Red Listed Habitat: From northern California to southern BC and Haida Gwaii. Grows at low elevations on the bases of maple and alder trees. It has a dark bluish tinge to the leafy lobes. Time of Year: Autum-winter. Photos by Ryan Batten

Peregrine Falcon subspp. anatum Falco peregrinus anatum Special Concern Red Listed Habitat: Nests on cliffs. Time of Year: Resident. Breeding February- March, Chicks April-July Photo by Laura Matthias, Ren Ferguson & Piers Cavendish

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 12 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Phantom Orchid Cephalanthera austiniae Threatened Red Listed Habitat: Douglas-fir forests, calcium rich sites. Time of Year: Flowers May-July Photos by Ryan Batten & Laura Matthias

Pitted Beard Usnea cavernosa Blue Listed Habitat: It is found throughout boreal forest in mountainous regions across western North America but is considered rare in the Pacific Northwest. Time of Year: Winter Photos by Ryan Batten

Poison Oak Toxicodendron diversilobium Blue Listed Habitat: Rocky slopes and woodlands at low elevations. Time of Year: Berries July-August Photos by Ryan Batten

Poverty Clover Trifolium depauperatum var. depauperatum Blue Listed Habitat: It favours wet or moist grassy areas at low elevations in Garry Oak meadows. Time of Year: All spring Photos by Ryan Batten

Trifolium dichotomum

Powdered Rockfrog Xanthoparmelia mougeotii Blue Listed Habitat: Found on coastal rocks in northern climates. It is a pale greenish colour with tiny leaf-like lobes that are no more than 0.4mm wide. Time of Year: Winter Photo by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 13 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak meadows and associated habitats. Time of Year: Flight season late April-June. Photos by Laura Matthias

Purple Martin Progne subis Blue Listed Habitat: Coastal shorelines. Time of Year: Migrant. Breeding April- August Photo by Laura Matthias & Ren Ferguson

Rigid Apple Moss Bartramia stricta Endangered Red Listed Habitat: This species is closely associated with seepage areas on either well-drained, shallow or compacted soil in Garry Oak ecosystems. Time of Year: Spring Photo by Ryan Batten

Sand Lacepod Thysanocarpus curvipes Blue Listed Habitat: Grows in full sun, in Garry Oak and associated ecosystems win fine textured soil. This mustard occurs from BC to Baja California. Time of Year: February to June. Unique fringed seedpods form in late spring. Photos by Ryan Batten

Scalepod Idahoa scapigera Blue Listed Habitat: Garry Oak meadows and associated habitats. Likes moist conditions. Seedpods distinctlly flat and round. Time of Year: Flowers April-May Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 14 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Seaside Tarpaper Collema fecundum Blue Listed Habitat: No similar species are able to sur- vive in this tough environment. Occurring on Salt Spring Island along the shoreline at one location. Photos by Ryan Batten

Sharp-tailed Snake Contia tenuis Endangered Red Listed Habitat: Forest openings on south-facing rocky slopes in Douglas-fir, Garry Oak and Arbutus forests. Time of Year: Peak sea- sons spring and fall. Photos by Laura Matthias

Silver-rimmed Crackers Fuscopannaria pacifica Blue Listed Habitat: Occurs from California to Alaska. Prefers to grow on Arbutus tree bases in moist forest conditions. Time of Year: Autumn. Photo by Ryan Batten

Slimleaf Onion Allium amplectens Blue Listed Habitat: Grows in moist rocky bluffs and meadows at low elevations. Time of Year: Late spring Photos by Ryan Batten

Small-flowered Godetia Clarkia purpurea spp quadrivulnera Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak and associated ecosystems. Time of year: Flowering in June. Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 15 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Small-flowered Tonella Tonella tenella Endangered, Red Listed Habitat: Found on west-facing open Maple- Arbutus-Garry Oak forest. Time of Year: Flowers March to May. Photos by Ryan Batten

Speckled Beard Usnea ceratina Blue Listed Habitat: This vivid hospital green lichen grows in relatively open, humid forests from central California to BC and east to the Appalachia Mtns. Time of Year: Winter Photo by Jason Hollinger

Starfish Vinyl Leptogium plicatile Blue Listed Habitat: First documented on Salt Spring Is- land on New Years day 2016, this distinctive vinyl is locally rare because the exposed limestone on which it grows is rare. Photo by Ryan Batten

Steller Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus Special Concern Blue Listed Habitat: Salish Sea. Coastal pullouts. Time of Year: Resident, pups June, courtship and breeding in autumn. Photo by Laura Matthias

Streaked Horsehair Bryoria pikei Red Listed Habitat: Pike’s horsehair occurs at scat- tered sites on Salt Spring Island usually on Douglas-fir, but also occasionally on Garry oaks near the ocean. Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 16 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Blue Listed Habitat: Coastal marine habitats along both North American coasts. Their diet is made up of small fish such as herring. Time of Year: Year round. Photos by Nicole Beaulac and Alexandra McKenzie

Swamp Fingernail Clam Musculium partumeium Blue Listed Endemic to North America according to the fossil record. Only two occurrences for Brit- ish Columbia are known – a 1969 record from the Kootenays, and a 2013 record from Salt Spring Island. Found in ponds, swamps, small lakes, and slow-moving streams. It has a preference for muddy bot- toms (Herrington, 1962). Photos by Ian Gardiner

Texas Balloonwort Xanthomedoza oregana Red Listed Habitat: Grows at or near sea-level on rocky surfaces. Photo by Ryan Batten

Thin-lipped Sunburst Xanthomedoza oregana Red Listed Habitat: Grows at or near sea-level on rocky surfaces. Photo by Ryan Batten

Threaded Vertigo Nearctula spp. 1 Special Concern Red Listed Habitat: Trunks of large, moss-covered Bigleaf Maple trees. Time of Year: Annually Photo by Laura Matthias.

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 17 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Townsend’s Big-eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii Blue Listed Habitat: Townsend’s bat is recognizable by its enormous ears and glandular bulbs between the eyes and nostrils. Like most bats, the big-eared bat has a low reproduc- tive rate, making recovering from habitat disturbance difficult. Photos by JN Stuart and US Fish and Wild- life Service

Twisted Oak Moss Syntrichia laevipila Special Concern Blue Listed Habitat: Trunks of Garry Oak trees. Time of Year: Capsules starting to form in February and March Photos by Ryan Batten

Western Bluebird - Georgia Depression Population Sialia mexicana Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak meadows and associated habitats. Time of Year: March-Sept Photo by Maggie Smith and Sebamrium

Western Bumblebee Bombus occidentalis Threatened, Not listed in BC Habitat: Once very common in western North America it is now very rare, found only in pockets of its former range. Distinct white striping on the lower abdomen. Time of Year: Resident. It is an important pollina- tor in nature and in agriculture. Photos by Laura Matthias

Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Special Concern, Red Listed Habitat: Overwinters in coastal marine habitats eating fish. Summer breeding inland on freshwater. Time of Year: Winter Photo by Mick Thompson and Sandy Chuck Harris

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 18 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

Western Painted Turtle - Pacific Coast Chrysemys picta bellii Endangered Red Listed Habitat: Lakes and wetlands. Nests in surrounding upland habitat with sandy or loose, well-drained soils. Time of Year: Nesting June-July Basking March- September Photos by Laura Matthias

Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata Blue Listed Habitat: Lakes, wetlands, small ponds, bogs, sedge marshes, and occasionally streams. Time of Year: May-August Photo by Jerry Friedman and JN Stuart

Western Screech-owl subspp. kennicottii Megascops kennicottii kennicottii Threatened Blue Listed Habitat: Nests in large conifer tree cavities, often snags, in low elevation forests. Time of Year: Resident, Breeding Feb-May, Chicks May-August Photos by Alexandra McKenzie and Sandl- pics

Western Toad Bufo boreas Special Concern, Blue Listed Habitat: Wetlands and upland forested habitat, grasslands, meadows, and moist shrublands. Breeding March-May, tadpoles June-Sept. Hibernation September-Feb- ruary. Photos by Marshal Hedin

White Meconella Meconella oregana Endangered, Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak meadows. Time of Year: Flowers March-May Photos by Ryan Batten

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 19 Salt Spring Island Species at Risk Identification Guide Salt Spring Island Conservancy Ganges P.O. Box 722 , Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2W3 www.saltspringconservancy.ca [email protected]

White-lip Rein Orchid Piperia candida Red Listed Habitat: Dry forests and forest margins. Grows 10-60 cm tall and flowers white to transparent. They have a faint unpleasant or honey-like fragrance. Time of Year: Flow- ers May-August. Photos by Ryan Batten

Wide-leaf Crumia Crumia latifolia Blue Listed Habitat: Grows in moist areas, at low elevations, from BC to southern California. Time of Year: Autum - winter. Photos by Ryan Batten

Yellow Montane Violet subspp. praemorsa Viola praemorsa praemorsa Endangered, Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak meadows. Time of Year: Flowers March-May Photos by Robin Annschild

Zerene Fritillary Speyeria zerene bremnerii Red Listed Habitat: Garry Oak meadows. Time of Year: Flight season late July-early September Photos by Ann Richardson and Laura Mat- thias

Species at Risk Designations Several dozen native species on Salt Spring have been classified with the following Federal (COSEWIC) status levels: Endangered (E): A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened (T): A wildlife species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction. Special Concern (SC): A wildlife species that may become threatened or endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats

Species at Risk in BC are also classified with the following Provincial status levels: Red Listed: List of ecological communities, and indigenous species and subspecies that are extirpated, endangered or threatened in British Columbia. Blue Listed: List of ecological communities, and indigenous species and subspecies of special concern (formerly vulnerable) in British Columbia. Yellow Listed: Those species are not considered at risk of extinction, but are listed because they warrant special attention by wildlife and resource managers.

Federal COSEWIC Status is either Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. Provincial Status is either Red, Blue or Yellow Listed. 20