Vignette 03: Birds of the Salish Sea

The significance of the Salish Sea comes into focus when we look at the diversity and abundance of its birds and mammals, some of which are globally, continentally, and nationally important. Of particular importance is the diversity and abundance of species on the Fraser River Delta. There are more species of birds on the delta than any comparable area in Canada, and nearly half of all 550 species of birds reported for British Columbia have been seen on the delta. Despite all that has been learned about marine birds and mammals, large areas of the Salish Sea in Canada have not been systematically surveyed. The Salish Sea Marine Bird and Mammal Atlas is a project led by the Pacific WildLife Foundation with Birds Canada, aimed at systematically mapping the distribution of marine birds and mammals in the Canadian waters. The data will be useful for environmental assessments, sea level rise impacts, and tourism and recreation planning, and will serve as a baseline to measure change in the future.