Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary


The Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary or VHMBS is a 30 km protected area on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, in the Greater Victoria metropolitan area. It is located within the traditional territory of the Lekwungen People. The sanctuary is federally recognized as a critical habitat for bird conservation, and is home to an estimated 270 bird species, many of which are migratory. The sanctuary encompasses about 30 kilometres of coastline, an area covering approximately 1841 hectares in total. Of this total, 31 hectares are terrestrial, and 1810 hectares are marine.

History

The VHMBS was established on October 27 1923 under the Migratory Birds Convention Act in response to a significant decline in bird populations caused by over-hunting. Today, it remains an important area for bird conservation. In 2023, the sanctuary celebrated its centennial anniversary.

Plants and wildlife

The VHMBS contains more than 75 plants and animals that are of both federal and provincial conservation concern. The sanctuary provides habitat for an estimated 270 bird species, fifteen of which are listed under the Species at Risk Act.

Species at risk

Birds

Mammals

Molluscs

Plants