Environment Canada to monitor bank swallows at Blackfoot Regional Park

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Environment Canada and Birds Canada have been authorized by the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) to conduct avian research at Blackfoot Regional Park this summer. 

Birds Canada and Environment Canada will install a temporary research station, called a Motus Wildlife Tracking System, to study the movement and ecology of birds and bats in the area.

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program’s (FWCP) Peace Region board recently approved $1.6 million in funding for 28 fish and wildlife projects, including the Motus tracking.

The Motus Station will be used to gather information to study the migratory connectivity of threatened bank swallows. Environment Canada will monitor the location and size of swallow colonies along the Peace River to determine how the habitat influences the swallow diet in the area and if their diets contain high levels of mercury. 

In addition to the installation of a Motus station, a three-person team will capture swallows to tag them and collect feathers and blood samples to understand their diet along with their mercury load. The swallows will be released immediately after processing is complete. 

Environment Canada and Birds Canada expect the work to take place over a three-day period in mid-July and will not impact other park users. 

Regional directors made the authorization at last week’s Peace River Regional District (PRRD) board meeting.