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Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship Through Science and Education |
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Presidents Corner |
I hope you have all had an enjoyable
holiday and that you took some time to appreciate Manitoba's outstanding weather
and wildlife. I spent much of December on Vancouver Island enjoying the ever
changing weather systems of the West Coast. When I returned to Winnipeg I realized
that my bird feeder was being ignored by the dickie birds because there was
15 cm of snow covering the seeds. I dutifully scraped off the snow and put on
a fresh supply of sunflower seeds and deer fat. To my chagrin the first visitor
to the feeder was the neighbour's cat looking for easy prey. I am probably feeding
more cats than birds. I have a friend whose bird feeder has been commandeered
by an enterprising red squirrel and another friend who is feeding more deer
and raccoons than birds at his feeder. I admit, I do have my biases; I love
seeing meadow voles (I guess I should, since they got me my PhD) and squirrels,
but I can't tolerate house mice or Norway rats! Being a mammalogist I can understand
my neighbour's appreciation of mammalian wildlife at their bird feeders, but
such interlopers may not be appreciated by ardent birders. Interesting how wildlife
to some persons are considered blessings and pests to others.
On the weekend of February 20 - 22 the Manitoba Chapter of TWS will be hosting its annual Delta Get Away at the beautiful University of Manitoba Field Station on Lake Manitoba. On Saturday morning we will be examining this love hate relationship in an Urban Wildlife Seminar. There will be 7 speakers tackling the positive and negative aspects of urban wildlife. Patrick Bergen will address the problems associated with 140,000 Canada geese invading Winnipeg in the spring and fall, and their impact upon the home owners surrounding the catchment ponds, as well as the danger of midair collisions with aircraft. Ashley Wruth will discuss the problems associated with feral house cats in urban areas and on island communities around the world. Other speakers, who have not yet finalized their attendance, will be discussing the pleasures of birding from the kitchen window; raccoons in the attic; beavers in the backyard; and bats in the belfries.
In addition to the Urban Wildlife Seminar there will be plenty of opportunity
to meet old friends and to make new friends. Friday evening there will be an
informal mixer, Saturday afternoon Don Sexton, the intrepid fisherman, will
guide us to the best fishing holes on Lake Manitoba. For those of you who are
not turned on by cold scaly critters there is always snowshoeing and skiing
along the beach and across the marsh. Heidi tells me that there are snow drifts
four meters high to enjoy! Saturday night the wildlifers will be serenaded by
folk musician Ken Hodges.
Hope to see you there!, Rick Riewe
It's November 29th and myself along with a planeful of other wildlifers have
just landed in Christchurch, New Zealand -- it's 20 C and sunny! You couldn't
ask for a better place to hold a conference.
The 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress was held at
the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand from December 1-5, 2003.
The Congress attracted over 1000 delegates from 51 different countries, contributing
530 oral presentations and 300 posters over the 5 days. By far, the largest
contingents were from New Zealand, Australia and the USA. However, Canada was
also very well represented, including a handful of presentations from University
of Manitoba students. Anne Kendrick presented a paper entitled "Using traditional
and local knowledge in monitoring and managing barren-ground caribou: a case
study from northern Canada", Arvind Vasudevan presented a poster entitled
"Biodiversity indicators for the ecosite decision support system in Manitoba,
Canada", and I presented a poster entitled "Using habitat availability
of northern prairie skinks to track environmental change in prairie Canada".
Overall, the presentations ranged in topic from reintroduction of Przewalski's
horses in Mongolia to the interplay between parental investment, ontogenetic
niche, and life history in reptiles to managing fire and koala populations in
Australia, and everything in between.
A Powhiri (traditional welcome) and welcome address from the New
Zealand Minister of Conservation, Hon. Chris Carter, and the Congress hosts
during the plenary session at the Christchurch Convention Centre promised an
exciting next couple of days. Throughout the week, the Congress organizers kept
us well fed and the welcome barbeque and other mixers provided a great opportunity
to meet people from other countries.
The first thing I learned about wildlife management in New Zealand
is the huge problem the country has with introduced pests, including everything
from rats, brushtail possums and numerous deer species. At one point I asked
myself - "are there any species native to New Zealand"? On Wednesday
afternoon we had a free afternoon and I got a great taste of what New Zealand
has to offer. A wildlife cruise in Lyttleton Harbour, which was phenomenal (although
a little chilly!), showed us many seabirds, as well as Hectors Dolphins - one
of the worlds rarest and smallest dolphins! This 1.4 metre dolphin is also known
as the "down under dolphin" because it is found only in New Zealand
waters.
Of course, the trip wasn't all about work; we had plenty of time
for fun after the conference including a trip to the southern alps in Arthur's
Pass National Park, where the waterfalls and rivers run through beautiful mountain
beech and rainforests. During the hikes to the waterfalls, tree ferns dotted
the paths and we saw New Zealand's mountain parrot, the Kea, enjoying itself
posing for photos and snacking out of the dumpster (go figure!). Our first objective
upon getting to the park was seeing the Devil's Punchbowl falls, wondering if
it was going to be as beautiful as the Devil's Punchbowl in Spruce Woods. Well,
I'm sorry to say, it's even more beautiful, the water was clear and the falls
were so secluded it felt like a new discovery. We then proceeded to the Bridal
Veil Falls and attempted to hike up Avalanche Peak, where a quarter of the way
we took in a view of the township and surrounding scenery, which was far enough
for us! After an adventurous day of discovery and wildlife viewing, the rain
had lifted and we boarded the train, able to fully appreciate the change in
landscape as we chugged from the Southern Alps, through the Canterbury Plains
and back into Christchurch.
After spending 10 days in 20 C heat we returned home to snow and -20 C, glad to be back and lots of pictures to be developed, so all of you coming to the Delta Getaway be prepared for a slide show! See you there --Jacey
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Are fins and scales a preclusion to inclusion in the world of wildlife? How
is it that fish can be wild and alive - but not wildlife?
The first issue of The Journal of Wildlife Management (1937) defines wildlife as: "the practical ecology of all vertebrates and their plant and animal associates." How then did fish become non-wildlife? Believe it or not, there was no debate amongst intellectuals or philosophers. There was no physiological or behavioral reasoning behind the distinction. No - the decision was political. In 1940, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt combined the Bureau of Biological survey with the Bureau of Fisheries. The new agency was to be named the U.S. Wildlife Service. Apparently, fisheries scientists felt that they may be neglected under this name, so Roosevelt added the words Fish and to the title and from then on fish have been regarded as a separate category from wildlife.
In Canada, marine mammals and fish are the jurisdiction of the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans. To date, there has been no rush to establish the Department
of Reptiles or the Canadian Amphibian Service, so these groups and any other
inland non-fish vertebrates are the responsibility of the Canadian Wildlife
Service.
Have there been consequences? You bet! This past summer I witnessed an eagle
eating a fish and a northern pike eating a duckling!
Canada has a significant national and international responsibility for research
and management of polar bears. In 1973, Canada signed the Agreement for the
Conservation of Polar Bears in Oslo, Norway. The Polar Bear Agreement, which
came into effect in May 1976, was the first agreement of any kind, relating
to the Arctic, signed by all five polar nations (Canada, Denmark, Norway, USA,
and USSR).
Internationally, polar bears are on Appendix II of CITES (Convention on international
Trade in Endangered Species), where they are classified as "Lower Risk:
Conservation Dependent" in the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red Book.
Within Canada, they are classified as Special Concern under the Committee on
the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
In Canada, the management authority for polar bears lies with the Provinces
and Territories. However, as a signatory to the Agreement for the Conservation
of Polar Bears, Canada has a formal obligation to maintain a national research
program. To that end, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) conducts research
on polar bears, with particular reference to internationally shared populations.
In addition, CWS conducts research on managing problems that could affect the
conservation of polar bears throughout the polar basin.
For more information, visit the CWS Polar Bear Program website at http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/nature/endspecies/polarbear/index.en.html,
or contact:
Chief
Northern Conservation Division
Canadian Wildlife Service
#310, 5204-50th Avenue
Yellowknife, NT XIA 1E2
Phone (867) 669-4760
The Wildlife Society
Manitoba Chapter
2004 Student Award
The Manitoba Chapter of The Wildlife Society would like to recognize graduate
students whose research contributes to the overall knowledge of wildlife and/or
their habitats in Manitoba. One $500 award will be offered to the graduate student
who is:
1. enrolled full-time in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of
Manitoba in a Masters or Ph.D. program.
2. conducting research or has proposed to conduct research on wildlife and/or
their habitats in Manitoba.
3. deemed by the selection committee to have submitted the top research proposal
among the award applicants.
Eligible students will be required to submit an application and a copy of their graduate research proposal by February 28, 2004. The successful applicant will be announced during the Manitoba Chapter Annual General Meeting, to be held March 26, 2004 at Oak Hammock Marsh. The Award recipient will be requested to make a presentation on her/his research at the Wildlife Society, Manitoba Chapter Annual General Meeting in the year following receipt of the award.
Please return completed applications to:
Dr. Dave Howerter
Chair, TWS MB Chapter Student Award Committee
Box 1160
Stonewall, Manitoba R0C 2Z0
Phone: (204) 467-3292
E-mail: d_howerter@ducks.ca
Applications can be found on the Chapter website at twsmb.tripod.com.
Nominees can be wildlife biologists, members of other professions, or anyone
who has significantly advanced the cause of wildlife and their management in
Manitoba. This action for example could include many years of dedicated service
to the profession of wildlife management or consist of one outstanding example
of an action that substantially affected wildlife or their management in Manitoba.
Nominations should be forwarded to Don Sexton at d_sexton@ducks.ca
by March 1st, 2004. Nominations should consist of a short biography of the individual
and outline the aspects of the person's actions that merit the "Conservationist
Award". This award is presented at the Annual General Meeting, but not
necessarily presented every year.
As a native Manitoban, I graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelors degree in environmental science with major in Geography and am currently finishing my Masters degree in Natural Resource Management at the Natural Resources Institute. My graduate work included developing and implementing a recovery strategy for piping plover populations in Manitoba and, with funding, I hope to continue coordinating piping plover recovery work, in cooperation with MB Conservation and CWS, this coming season. Previous experience includes working for MB Parks as an interpreter and CWS as a Guardian Coordinator. One day I hope to combine my passion for environmental education with wildlife management as a career. Other passions include home renovation, backcountry canoeing with my husband Sean and traveling (though I do not get to do the last two nearly as much as I would like). As your upcoming president, I encourage members to lead by example and become involved, the organization will only be as strong as its members within. I look forward to seeing you at the Delta Getaway!
The COWCH (Celebrating Our Wildlife Conservation Heritage) project materials, which includes a video tape and background materials, was lent out to someone a few years ago and has subsequently gone 'missing'. Anyone who may have borrowed these materials from either Corey Lindgren or Don Sexton, or may know any information on their whereabouts, can you please contact the executive. Thank You.
The executive is looking for prizes/donations for our annual silent auction
event which occurs during the AGM. We are asking members to look in their closets,
storage rooms or attics for items that are wildlife related (new or used in
good condition) which you are no longer utilizing and may provide someone else
years of enjoyment. Items can include a beautiful landscape picture which no
longer goes with your decor, a usable duck decoy or the hunting vest which you
bought on sale that is two sizes two small. If you have anything to contribute,
please contact anyone on the executive to make arrangements.
Potential Research Projects
The Piping Plover Stewardship Program and MB Conservation is looking for two
students to conduct needed piping plover recovery work. One outlined project
would be to identify potential habitat using aerial photos, GIS, and possibly
HSI modeling. The second project would have someone coordinating recovery work
in the Grand Rapids region. In cooperation with the Stewardship Program and
MB Conservation, students would be required to develop and submit project proposals
to potential funding sources. Interested students should contact Ken DeSmet,
Species at Risk Biologist at kdsmet@gov.mb.ca
or Alex Miller, program coordinator at alex_miller@shaw.ca.
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Manitoba Chapter of the Wildlife
Society Delta Getaway Weekend
February 20-22, 2004 The Manitoba Chapter invites you to attend this event packed weekend
at the U of M Delta Marsh field station featuring speakers on urban wildlife
issues. Visit the chapter website at twsmb.tripod.com/2004_Delta_Getaway.htm
for more information. |
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7th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species
Conference
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The 7th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conferences is coming the Calgary February 26-29, 2004. This conference has a tradition of excellence due to strong support and attendance from a broad cross-section of society including conservation groups, industry, government, and academics. More than 600 people are expected to attend. Keeping the Wild in the West will focus on sharing information and ideas on conserving prairie ecosystems, both big & small. The conference will be interest to a wide range of participants from the agricultural community, First Nations, energy industry, government agencies, municipalities, universities and conservation groups. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.PCESC.ca.
2nd Wildlife Management in Manitoba Research
Session
and MB Chapter TWS AGM
March 26, 2004
Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre
Sponsors: Manitoba Conservation, Faculty of Environment - U of M, Ducks Unlimited,
MB TWS
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8:30am to 5:00pm: MB Wildlife Research Session More information will be posted on the chapter website soon. |
2nd Annual Photo Contest
Calling all members, dust of your albums and get those prize winning snapshots
ready for the 2nd Annual MB Chapter TWS Photo Contest. The categories are:
Manitoba Landscapes, Wildlife, The Outdoor Experience, and Flora and Fauna.
Entry fee is $2 per photo entered. Please see the Manitoba chapter website
at twsmb.tripod.com/Photo03.htm
for contest rules and submission requirements. Viewing and peer judging will
be conducted at the 2nd Wildlife Management Research Session and the MB Chapter
of TWS AGM being held Friday March 26, 2004 at Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive
Centre.
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Species at Risk 2004:
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11th
Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society Preliminary Program |
Plenary
o Energy, Wildlife, and People
Workshops
o Performance Measures For Ecosystem Management And Ecological Sustainability
o Establishing Educational Competencies For Undergraduate Wildlife Students
o Using MCMC in Winbugs and Python to Fit Random Effects and Hierarchical Models
o Linear and Non-Linear Mixed Models for Correlated Data: Concepts and Applications
o Habitat Conservation in the Upper Bow Corridor, Alberta
o Use of GPS Collars for Monitoring Wildlife
o Using Aerial and Ground Based Infrared Sensors for Wildlife Monitoring
Symposia
o Opportunities and Challenges of the International Wildlife Community: Views
of the Global Involvement Task Force
o Grassland Birds in North America: Current and Future Currencies
o Synthesizing Recent Advances in Predator-Prey and Ungulate-Plant Dynamics
o Survival Estimation and Analysis in Wildlife Ecology and Management
o Professional Certification: Competency Assurance for Agencies Engaging Third-Party
Providers
o Effects of Scale on Existence and Measurement of Biological Diversity
o Collaboration of Biometricians and Researchers in Large-Scale Research: Lessons
from Case Studies
o Managing Wolf Depredation on Livestock across North America
o Key Components of Conservation-Hunting Programs: Relationships between Wildlife
Populations, Ecosystems, and People
o Implications of Baiting and Feeding Game Wildlife Species
o White-Tailed Deer, Hunters, and Hunting in North America
o Effectively Managing Meso-Carnivores: Conservation, Conflicts, and Disease
Impacts
o Wildlife Impacts of Energy Projects: Renewable and Conventional
o Nutria (Myocastor coypus) Research and Management: Progress, Tools, and Techniques
Special Poster Session
o Ecological Restoration: Current Issues and Projects in Western North America
Contributed Papers and Posters
o Ecology and Conservation of Birds
o Ecology and Conservation of Mammals
o Ecology and Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians
o Conservation of Communities, Ecosystems, and Landscapes
o Wildlife-Habitat Relationships
o Wildlife Population Dynamics and Management
o Wildlife Damage Management
o Human Dimensions, Conservation Education, and Conservation Policy
o Wildlife Diseases and Toxicology
o Biometrics in Wildlife Management
o New Technology in Wildlife Management
The Manitoba Chapter of The Wildlife Society believes that it is critical for biology students to have field experience in order to become competent wildlife biologists. With that in mind the Chapter is compiling a list of potential volunteer positions for its membership (many of whom are students).
Do you have any field studies involving wildlife which could incorporate a volunteer for a few days or longer? If so please send me a short description of the position and I'll post it in our Newsletter. If you have any questions please drop me an e-mail or give me a call 204-474-9768.
Best regards,
Rick Riewe
President, Manitoba Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Volunteer Opportunities
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President |
President Elect |
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Jacey Scott e-mail: umscot23@cc.umanitoba.ca |
Garth Ball e-mail: gball@gov.mb.ca |
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Student Representative: |
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