Balabas Island (11163)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Balabas Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.8193, Longitude: -100.7550
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 253 00
Area of KBA (km2): 4.42955
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Balabas Island is located in Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba. Salt Point is west of Balabas Island and Dawson Bay Indian Reserve is eastward, on the shore of Lake Winnipegosis. Lake Winnipegosis is a large (5,403 km2), shallow (max. depth ~50 m), freshwater lake with many islands. Deciduous and coniferous forests border the lake, with expanses of freshwater marsh found throughout the lakeshore. Balabas Island is one of the larger islands in this part of Lake Winnipegosis and is heavily forested. Some of these trees are dying, presumably as a result of the large cormorant colony (and its associated feces).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Globally significant numbers of Double-crested Cormorants nest on Balabas Island. In June, 1999, a survey of Lake Winnipegosis islands recorded an estimated 8,000 cormorant nests on Balabas Island. This is more than 2% of this species global population. Other species found breeding on the island in 1999 include Great Blue Heron (15 nests), Black-crowned Night-Heron (9 nests), Herring Gull (9 nests), Mallard (100 nests), Gadwall (50 nests), Blue-winged Teal (15 nests) and Red-breasted Merganser (25 nests).
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |