North Channel Island (MB066)
Northern Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba
Site Description
North Channel Island is located in the northern part of Lake Winnipegosis in Manitoba. Lake Winnipegosis is a large (5,403 km²), shallow (maximum depth ~55 m) freshwater lake with many islands. Deciduous and coniferous forests border Lake Winnipegosis and large expanses of freshwater marsh occur along the lake. North Channel Island is forested with mainly elm trees.
Birds
North Channel Island is an important nesting site for large numbers of Double-crested Cormorants and American White Pelicans. A 1999 survey of the Lake Winnipegosis islands found 4,540 Double-crested Cormorant nests and 817 American White Pelican nests on North Channel Island. This is more than 1% of the estimated world population of Double-crested Cormorants and almost 1% of the estimated world population of American White Pelicans.
Three gull species also nest on North Channel Island. In 1999, there were 25 Herring Gull nests, 53 California Gull nests and 672 Ring-billed Gull nests on the island. Thus, in total 6,107 nests of colonial waterbirds are found on this island. A Bald Eagle pair also nested on the island this same year.
Conservation Issues
Colonial waterbirds nesting in Lake Winnipegosis are faced with several problems. Some residents whose livelihood depends on fishing feel that cormorants are eating too many fish. As a result, there have been some instances in which birds were shot, or nests were destroyed.
IBA Criteria Habitats Land Uses Potential or Ongoing Threats Conservation Status
