By Adam Prudhomme
Staff Reporter
Eastern loggerhead shrikes were gifted an additional 40 acres of the Napanee Plain Alvar Nature Reserve to call their own on Monday, as the Nature Conservancy of Canada announced an expansion of the song bird’s conservatory at a press conference in Centreville.
The protected area is a breeding area for the bird, known as one of the few predatory songbirds. It has been classified as one of the fastest-declining bird species in North America, with an estimated 30 breeding pairs left on the continent. The terrain of the Napanee Plains makes it an ideal spot for the shrike, which requires large areas of open grassland before it will be comfortable enough to nest.
James Duncan, regional vice president of the Ontario region of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, speaks at Monday’s news conference in Centreville. (Adam Prudhomme Photo)
The acquisition of land was made through a partnership with the nonprofit Nature Conservancy as well as the Township of Stone Mills and the Canadian government.
The recently acquired 40 acres, known as the Powell East property, can now be joined with the already protected Napanee Plains.
Because of its unique biodiversity, the Napanee Plains is considered a critical land mass for a number of local wildlife. It consists of 439,848 acres of wetlands, forests, grasslands and in particular alvars, which are found in only a handful of places across the globe. It’s considered one of the Great Lake’s rarest ecosystems. Alvars are naturally open habitats with a thin layer of soil over a foundation of limestone or dolostone.
“The work that we’re doing in this particular nature area benefits over 19 species at risk, including the eastern loggerhead shrike,” said James Duncan, regional vice president of the Ontario region of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “This is an important breeding area for the shrike. If we’re going to make a difference with this species, we’ve got to set that habitat aside and we’ve got to make sure it’s a quality habitat and let’s give that species and all the other species, a fighting chance.”
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio was also on hand for the announcement. He said Monday’s announcement was part of a broader long term goal he has of creating more protected green spaces and ocean.
“You can have all these vast spaces up in the north, but the areas that we’re really starved for land and protection is in the south, in the more densely populated areas,” said Bossio.
“It is so important for us to recognize the importance of protecting biodiversity,” added Bossio. “It is one of the central things that our government believes in but mostly it’s one of the things that I believe in.”
Protecting the shrike’s natural habitat is just one step in the effort to revive its decline numbers.
“This is a really unique songbird,” said Jessica Steiner of Wildlife Preservation Canada. “These days habitat protection might not be enough. In many cases we’re requiring hands on intervention and active management. That’s where Wildlife Preservation comes in.”
The newly acquired area will also serve as a release area for shrikes that are bred in captivity.
“The addition of this site to the Napanee Plains preserve has greatly increased the amount of habitat that is protected for the species in the region,” said Steiner. “This is really important for the shrike. It is one of the only two remaining habitats that is protected for this species in this region. This is a really important area for the shrike. It is one of only two remaining areas that we see consistent breeding of shrike in the province. The conservation efforts here are vital to ensuring that the shrike remains on the landscape in Canada for future generations.”
The Nature Conservancy of Canada will now work to gather a baseline inventory for the new property. They also are currently fundraising to acquire a 78-acre property that is immediately west of the Napanee Plains.