Estuarine Wildlife - Wildlife Viewing Network

North Island Wildlife Viewing Network

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Estuaries are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world and comprise less than 3% of British Columbia's coastline, while providing critical habitat to over 80% of all coastal fish and wildlife species.

All seven Pacific salmon species and at least half of the migratory birds on the Pacific
Flyway rely on estuaries and coastal wetlands as critical habitat for their survival.

On Vancouver Island, estuarine areas are of vital importance to migrating and wintering waterfowl owing to their location on the "Pacific

Pie-billed Grebe and Chick
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Flyway" and the fact that the areas normally remain unfrozen during extreme winter conditions. They are also critical for rearing salmon, as a consequence of their extremely high productivity and the important buffer between fresh and salt water environments. Predators, such as bears and cougars, also use the areas extensively as do elk and deer.

The following pages will provide you with information on the bird, fish and mammal species that frequent North Vancouver Island estuaries. A complete species list and other general information can be found at the Vancouver Island Wildlife page of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection website.