Upland Birds

The Lillooet Stewardship Plan Area hosts many migratory birds during reproductive season as well as being a stop-over for more northern migratory bird species. A large diversity of year round resident populations of upland birds like in the Stewardship Plan Area is due to the diversity of habitat.

According to the Migratory Birds Regulations Act of 1994, in Article II Section 1 of the Schedule, no hunting shall occur on migratory game birds between 10 March and 1 September. According to the Wildlife Act, in Section 34, no person unless exempt by regulation may possess, take, molest, injure, or destroy: a bird or its egg; the nest of an eagle, peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, osprey, heron or burrowing owl; or the nest of any other bird when it is occupied by the bird or an egg.

Of the pool of priority species that have suitable habitat in the Plan area, the species included in this section were chosen according to the following five guidelines:

1. 1Is the species at risk or threatened?
2. Is the species an invasive species?
   • Is this an introduced species that is causing significant damage to the population numbers of indigenous species that are important to ecological balance within the Sub Region?
3. Is the species of historical or cultural significance?
4. Is the species of economic importance?
   • Does the presence of this species contribute significantly to the economy of the Sub Region?
5. Is the species of ecological importance?
   • Is there significant dependence upon this animal by other species or for the maintenance of ecological balance?

More species will be added to the plan as it evolves. For each species in this section, general issues will be addressed first, followed by issues specific to each species’ population.