HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
LBCS celebrated 20 years of Citizen Science research and programming in 2009. Our Anniversary Symposium was held on October 1,2,3, where we celebrated our past accomplishments and planned for future endeavours.
Kicking off a new season!
We had some significant challenges coming out of 2009 particularly related to the recession and funding cuts to the environmental not-for-profit sector. However, we had an abundance of support through donations to the society since we launched our fundraising campaign last fall! We continue to focus our efforts on eliminating all but the most necessary of expenses to run our field season and related programs in 2010. Over the past few months we closed our office space and have just reopened at our old location #4-3207 Wharf Street, after some muchneeded renovations were completed.
In Laskeek Bay raccoons continued to be a nuisance on the ground-nesting seabird colonies in 2009. To address this issue the Ministry of Environment undertook a control effort in March and managed to terminate 10 out of 13 raccoons sighted on adjacent Vertical Point.
A group of enthusiastic local volunteers headed to Reef Island for the annual deer cull in March with Moresby Explorers. The weather was stellar, but the animals were lying low. Three deer were sighted, one was culled. This year we are offering a new 6-week internship position. Shari Ikoma, a 4th year SFU biology student will learn valuable field skills training with us for June & July.
In the field we will continue to work with volunteers and will be involved in community outreach related to the Gwaii Haanas Night Birds Returning project.
Night Birds Returning is an ambitious project aimed at eradicating introduced rats on four seabird nesting islands in Gwaii Haanas.
We are also excited to be conducting our bi-annual Black Oystercatcher surveys in Gwaii Haanas this year!
Amazing Field Crew!
Our amazing field crew will be back, although in a reduced capacity, after spending the winter months in hibernation. Ainsley Brown & Jake Pattison bring a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to Laskeek Bay Con-
Fundraiser Extraordinaire!
Julian Valois is training hard for his first marathon coming up on May 2! Julien was determined to “run for a cause” and approached LBCS to raise funds for conservation work on Haida Gwaii. He has encouraged family and friends to donate to LBCS to show support for his race. Many thanks Julien, and best of luck on your run!
Laskeek Bay Conservation Society
Laskeek Bay Conservation Society (LBCS) has been active in conservation work in the Queen Charlotte Island archipelago for 20 years. We provide volunteer and educational opportunities for people to help conserve the marine and terrestrial ecosystems in and around Laskeek Bay.
LBCS’s field research station on East Limestone Island allows visitors and local students to gain hands-on biological research experience in a wilderness setting. We collect data on seabirds, with our main focus on the Ancient Murrelet, a small seabird listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as of “Special Concern” – meaning they have certain characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events. Research methods are taught to volunteers and students by two field biologists and our work is guided by a Science Advisory Committee, headed by world-renowned seabird biologist Tony Gaston. Our data is published annually; the LBCS science reports are available in pdf format from this website. LBCS also monitors other seabirds and shorebirds, marine mammals, cavity nesting birds and we keep an inventory of plants on East Limestone Island. The field research station is active from May through July each year but we also have an office in the village of Queen Charlotte which is open year-round.
LBCS is currently working with the new Haida Gwaii Musuem at Qay’llnagaay Heritage Centre, Skidegate to complete a hydrophone project so that visitors to the museum will be able to hear the sounds of sea life, such as the migrating grey whales in the Skidegate Inlet. We are also working on a nest box project that will film pigeon guillemot seabirds as they nest along the shoreline.
Laskeek Bay Conservation Society runs several programs at their field camp on Limestone Island. The overall aim of the Publications Research Program is to provide long-term information on the biology and ecology of Haida Gwaii ecosystems with a focus on monitoring Ancient Murrelets. Research activities also include marine bird and marine mammal population monitoring, studies of intertidal invertebrates, plants and forest birds and the impact of introduced mammals on island ecosystems.
LBCS MISSION STATEMENT
- To undertake and support research and long term monitoring of wildlife populations of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Haida Gwaii, especially the Laskeek Bay area.
- To provide opportunities for non-scientists, especially students and local residents of Haida Gwaii, to participate as volunteers in our field programs, and to offer training to impart necessary field research skills.
- To promote better understanding of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Haida Gwaii, especially the Laskeek Bay area, by providing information to youth, local residents and to the public in general, in the form of publications, meetings and exhibits.
- To promote the conservation of native species and to develop public awareness of the changes caused by introduced species to Haida Gwaii.
- To support and assist other programs aimed at providing better knowledge, management and conservation of ecosystems in Haida Gwaii.
