Part of our work with the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) is conducting wildlife surveys to track the success the habitat restoration efforts. In the beginning of April, we conducted our first survey with Birds Canada through their Marsh Monitoring Program. These multi-year surveys will track the presence of amphibians and birds throughout the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Foodlands corridor.
“sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm” is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for the Salmon River. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem; one of many Indigenous languages spoken across the Fraser Watershed.
Here are a few of the species we are monitoring for:
Olive-sided Flycatcher
The Olive-sided Flycatcher is a medium-sized songbird found around forests and riparian habitats in British Columbia. These birds are insectivores and primarily prey on flying insects such as beetles, moths, and flies. To hunt their soaring prey, Olive-sided Flycatchers use a hunting method called ‘hawking’ and catch their prey in mid-air. While the average lifespan of these birds is seven years, the oldest recorded Olive-sided Flycatcher was at least eleven years old!
In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the Olive-sided flycatcher as near threatened. The Canadian Species at Risk Act (SRA) lists the Olive-sided Flycatcher as threatened due to its declining population resulting from loss of wintering habitat and prey availability. Research has found that the Olive-sided Flycatcher population has declined by 79% in the last 50 years, with the remaining breeding population estimated to be 1.9 million.
The Olive-sided Flycatcher has a distinct song that sounds like it is saying, “quick, three beers!”
To hear more of the songbird’s calls, and to learn more about the species, check out this great resource from the Cornell Lab: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Olive-sided_Flycatcher/sounds
Sora
Soras are the most abundant and widely distributed rail in North America and can be found in freshwater and brackish wetlands. They feed on seeds and aquatic insects such as snails, dragonflies, flies, and beetles. While soras are the most abundant rail, you may find it is hard to spot one. That is because these birds are easily startled and spend much of their time hiding.
The sora have distinct, high-pitched calls. One of them sounds like a descending whinny and another like a shrill “sor-ahh”.
To hear more of the bird’s calls, and to learn more about the species, visit this All About Birds section on the sora: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sora/overview
Northern red-legged Frog
The Northern red-legged Frog, Pipehò:m / pipa:m in the local Halq’eméylem and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ dialects of the Halkomelem language, can be found in riparian, wetlands, and forested habitats along the West Coast. These frogs get their name from the red colouration that can be seen through the translucent skin on the underside of their hind legs. As adults,they are insectivores, but while in the tadpoles stage of their life cycle, they primarily feed on algae. Northern red-legged Frogs are currently listed as ‘special concern’ in Canada, and are threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, and impacts from climate change.
If you find yourself near a wetland and want to listen for the Northern red-legged Frog, keep your ears open for a quiet series of calls that sound like, “uh-uh-uh-uh-uh”.
To hear more of the frog’s calls and learn more about the species, visit http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.aurora.sounds.html
Translations for the Northern red-legged Frog provided by knowledge keepers and speakers from Kwantlen and Katzie Nations. We are working on learning the Halq’eméylem and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ names for Olive-sided Flycatcher and Sora. If you know them, please share them with us!