Île du Moine (Sainte-Anne de-Sorel) - Nesting boxes to encourage the return of a threatened species
The team at île du Moine, Quebec (Photo by NCC)
Return to the pasture at ’île du Moine, on the St. Lawrence River, is a project that aims to manage certain areas on the island. It also aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices to support the return of rural birds, such as barn swallow.
Covering an area of more than 500 hectares (equivalent to around 700 soccer fields), île du Moine was once home to about 30 rural bird species. However, with the removal of cattle from the area a few years ago, these birds became rarer. Cattle grazing helps promote habitat for rural birds, since it attracts insects that they feed on.
Although barn swallows are common throughout the world, they were listed as threatened in Canada in 2011. Changes to land management practices on pastures, prairies and fields that made up its habitat, led to their decline starting in the 1980s.
To help bring back the species, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and community members from île du Moine collaborated to reintroduce cattle to the area and restore its historic pastures, covering an area of about 160 hectares (224 soccer fields).
On the western side of the island, the partners installed a structure that the swallows can build their nests on. The brainchild of members of the île du Moine community, it was built by NCC staff and Conservation Volunteers. Staff and volunteers plan to revisit the structure to assess the number of individuals using it. The structure will also benefit other species, such as bats.
Acknowledgments
NCC is grateful to the partners who have generously supported the protection of this site:
The project was made possible thanks to the participation of Regroupement QuébecOiseaux, Comité ZIP du lac Saint-Pierre, Regroupement des Sauvaginiers du lac Saint-Pierre (RSLSP), Société de conservation, d'interprétation et de recherche de Berthier et de ses îles and Ducks Unlimited Canada.
NCC also wishes to thank Natasha Doutre of île du Moine, who designed the nest structure. Regroupement QuébecOiseaux helped with the plans and provided participants with guidance during its installation. Thank you as well to community members and volunteers for their generous assistance.
