Kerouard and St. James Islands (11046)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Kerouard and St. James Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.9222, Longitude: -130.9990
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 96
Area of KBA (km2): 126.21121
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Kerouard Islands are a group of rugged, treeless islets lying south of Kunghit Island at the extreme southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands. They consist of three main islets and several small rocks surrounding the larger islets. The two largest islets have steep grassy slopes on their eastern sides which grade to rounded grass-covered tops. The principle grass species is Calamagrostis, with Elymus on the perimeter. In some areas, the grass tussocks reach heights of 1.5 metres. The third islet of the Kerouards is deeply dissected and comprised of ledges and bluffs completely devoid of vegetation. There is a major Northern Sealion rookery occupying this islet. St. James Island is located in close proximity to the Kerouard Islands, just off the southern tip of Kunghit Island. It exhibits vegetation that is transitional between the forested islands to the north and the exposed and treeless Kerouard Islands to the south. The northern section is forested, while the southern section is grass covered and devoid of trees.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The two largest of the Kerouard Islands support a dense colony of burrow-nesting Cassin's Auklets (4.4% of the global population). It is the second largest colony of this species in the Queen Charlotte Islands and the 4th largest of 52 island colonies along the B.C. coast. Common Murres occur in nationally significant numbers (4.6% of the western Canada population). The Kerouards are the only site in the Queen Charlotte Islands where they breed. The Islands also support about 930 Tufted Puffins, just over 1% of the national population. A breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons (ssp. pealei), also nest on the Kerouard Islands. This subspecies is considered nationally vulnerable. Additionally, the islands support breeding populations of Glaucous-winged Gulls, Pelagic Cormorants, and Pigeon Guillemots, although not at nationally significant levels. The waters surrounding the Kerouard and St. James Islands are an important feeding area for marine birds. During surveys of the seabird colonies, continuous streams of 1000's of Sooty Shearwaters were seen flying between the islets. Bald Eagles frequent the islets as well.
Delineation rationale: 2011-06-06 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 7800 ha to 12000 ha, following GIS analysis of site polygon by Bird Studies Canada (J. Moore & S. Marquez in litt. 2009). Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach to marine IBAs.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |