Rare Owl Nest Box Building Session
All ages were involved in the FWCP owl-box building workshop including these very satisfied young residents from Castlegar (L to R) Kennedy McInnis, Vanessa Everson, and Joshua McInnis.
The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) in the Columbia Basin knows the value in reaching out to the public when it comes to helping wildlife. This was evident when more than 100 people recently crowded into a school gymnasium in Blueberry Creek near Castlegar to make owl nest boxes. The hands-on workshop was just one component of community outreach following the sighting of an endangered western screech owl by an observant member of the public in the vicinity of the community in 2009.
"The sighting we received led to the discovery of a breeding pair which initiated our close monitoring of the screech-owls through radio telemetry work" said FWCP wildlife biologist Irene Manley. "This has enabled us to collect extremely valuable information about its range and habitat use. As this fragile species is on the provincial red list, this information will help us in our conservation efforts."
The workshop included a presentation on all owl species found in the Kootenay region as well as an update on the local pair of screech owls that are still being monitored.
The participants assembled more than 50 nest boxes that will suit a variety of owl species including the northern saw-whet, northern pygmy, and, of course, the western screech-owl. All the box pieces were pre-cut by FWCP volunteer public representative Gerry Thompson.
Over the decades there have been significant negative impacts on screech-owl habitat from reservoir creation and other human development including transportation corridors, agriculture, and forestry.
The FWCP works on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, the Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by the construction of BC Hydro dams. Approximately one-third of its projects focus on species-at-risk.
"The feedback from the participants was excellent, and they seemed to be really keen on doing anything they can to help owls in the region," added Manley. "In addition we raised more than $500 that went toward a local bird rescue centre."
Anyone interested in downloading the plans to build an owl box, or to see a video of a western screech owl being handled as part of the research project, can visit the www.fwcp.ca.
About the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
In partnership with the Ministry of Environment (MOE), Department of Fisheries and Oceans, First Nations and the Public, BC Hydro has established the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program to offset the impacts of BC Hydro owned and operated dams on fish and wildlife. Since 1995, the Columbia Basin region of the FWCP has invested more than $55 million in fish and wildlife projects.
Last Modified: Apr 19, 2010
