Kyuquot Channel Islets (11083)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Kyuquot Channel Islets
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.9308, Longitude: -127.3110
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 38
Area of KBA (km2): 174.70421
Protected area coverage (%): 1.98
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kyuquot Channel, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, lies within Kyuquot Sound, south of the Brooks Peninsula and Checleset Bay. This Important Bird Area includes two clusters of islets northwest and southeast of the mouth of Kyuquot channel, and the surrounding marine area in a 5 km radius around the islets. These clusters of islands are 2 to 4 kilometres from the main western shore of Vancouver Island. Most of the small islets in the site are bare rock devoid of vegetation, but with grass and shrubs in higher areas. Some of the larger islets have round-topped, steep-sided granitic rock cut by many crevices and cliffs, or are composed of fossil-bearing sedimentary rock. Several of the larger islands have areas of black spruce and salal. Sea Otters are found in the marine waters, and Harbour Seals use the islets for haulouts and breeding.
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: These islets support significant breeding populations of four coastal bird species. In 1988, 2% of the global population of American Black Oystercatchers (125 pairs) and 1% of the North American Glaucous-winged Gull population (2,273 pairs) nested in this area. Also in 1988, 217 pairs of Pelagic Cormorants and 115 Pigeon Guillemots were recorded, which represents 3% and over 1% of their national populations, respectively. Fork-tailed Storm-petrels, Leachs Storm-petrels, and Tufted Puffins also nest on the islets while nesting Bald Eagles are found on the larger islets that support tree growth. The extensive rocky shelves, pocket beaches and interconnecting intertidal areas provide habitat for a variety of migrating shorebirds. Black Turnstones are the most numerous of the eleven shorebird species recorded in the area. The islets and the surrounding marine areas are also rich feeding and roosting area for other non-breeding birds. Noteworthy bird sightings during the 1988 colony surveys include 200 roosting Brandts Cormorants, 500 Common Murres, and 480 California Gulls. A winter sighting of 610 roosting Brandts Cormorants is particularly notable. Finally, Marbled Murrelets and Harlequin Ducks frequent the surrounding waters.
Delineation rationale: 2011-06-06 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 2500 ha to 17000 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 | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Marine Neritic | 25 |