Wednesday, 16 February 2022

 Understanding B.C.’s Important Bird Areas and What’s Next for their Protection and Global Recognition

Presenter: Liam Ragan

The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas program has been a global triumph, with over 10,000 sites designated across the globe since it’s founding over 25 years ago by BirdLife International. By applying globally standardized criteria, the program narrows in on sites of critical important to wild birds breeding, wintering, and migratory successes. Here in B.C. our 83 IBAs are supported by a network of over 60 volunteer Caretakers, including many BCFO members. These Caretakers spearhead monitoring, stewardship, and outreach efforts, to ensure we keep our finger on the pulse of these populations and can respond quickly when threats arise. Due to the success of the program it is now expanding to apply similar standardized criteria to all taxa as part of the Key Biodiversity Areas initiative, so that a site designation takes into account not just the birds residing there but the intricate ecological network which makes the area significant to them in the first place. As part of this we’re also looking at which of our IBAs need updated data; from remote marine breeding islands not surveyed since CWS last visited in the 90’s to vast interior grasslands whose breeding songbirds require large numbers of volunteers to count. During this talk, Liam will explain what the IBA and KBA programs are, who’s involved in their success, and what’s needed in the coming years to monitor and protect these globally critical bird sites.

Liam Ragan is the current Provincial Coordinator for Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in B.C., taking over from the previous coordinator and current BCFO Secretary Krista Kaptein in 2020. He is an avid birder who specialized in volunteer coordination, Indigenous engagement, and bird conservation.

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