- Alaksen National Wildlife Area
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area is located on
Westham Island in the Corporation of Delta, in the province ofBritish Columbia ,Canada . It is an important stopover point for many species of birds migrating along thePacific Flyway .Geography
The Alaksen Area is located on the delta of the
Fraser River , as it enters thePacific Ocean . the Area comprises mostly cultivated farmland, but also includes freshwater and brackish tidal marsh wetlands, some woodland and shore flats. In addition to the cultivated crops, the site is vegetated by various grasses in the farmland; cattails, Lyngbye's sedge, and bulrushes in the intertidal zone; andRed alder ,willow s and Black cottonwood, along withsnowberry ,salmonberry , and blackberries in the wooded areas.History
The
National Wildlife Area was officially protected under theCanada Wildlife Act of 1973. OnMay 24 ,1987 Alaksen was designated a Wetland of International Significance under theRamsar Convention , in combination with theGeorge C. Reifel Refuge , also on Westham Island. It was the ninth designated Canadian Ramsar site. It was chosen because it is "a major Pacific Flyway site for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds; an excellent example of deltaic and coastal tidal wetland environments; the largest migratory bird wintering area in Canada; and the largest estuarine habitat on the Pacific coast of Canada." ["Canada 9: Alaksen, British Columbia: Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands", 2001]Environmental Value
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area provides a valuable wildlife area very close to the urban centre of
Greater Vancouver , allowing many educational opportunities. The cropland frequently floods in the winter, to a depth of two to three metres, and rarely freezes over, providing valuable habitat to wintering water birds. Over forty species of waterfowl winter in the Area, the most common being theCanada goose , theMallard , theAmerican Widgeon , and the Lesser Snow Goose. Also abundant are raptors, including theGoshawk , theRough-legged hawk , and several species offalcon .ee also
*
List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada Notes
External links
* [http://www.wetlands.org/RSDB/default.htm Ramsar Sites Information Service]
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