Snowy owls are now a ‘sensitive species’ in Alberta

After being designated as threatened in Canada by a federal committee last year, snowy owls have now been listed as a “sensitive species” by the Alberta government.

The iconic white raptors migrate down from their Arctic breeding grounds to provinces like Alberta every year, with plenty of rodent prey for them to hunt in the vast open spaces of the Prairies.

Alberta’s wild species general status listing is updated every five years. The latest iteration, published Oct. 21, shows that three birds previously considered “secure” are now “sensitive species” in the province: snowy owls, mountain bluebirds and hermit thrushes.

The provincial government did not provide specific details on why those three birds have had their status changed.

In a statement sent to CBC News, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas communications director Andrew Livingstone said all three species had experienced population declines over the past decade based on Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Bird Count data.

“A sensitive designation means a species is not considered at risk of extinction or extirpation but may require special attention or protection to prevent it from becoming at risk,” Livingstone said.

A snowy owl in southern Alberta, where the birds can be found looking for prey in open fields following their annual migration. Snowy owls travel from the Arctic to locations throughout Canada and the U.S. every year. (Amir Said/CBC)

Much of the data on snowy owl numbers comes from the annual Christmas Bird Count, a citizen science initiative in which thousands of volunteers across Canada count all the birds they see in a specific area every year.

According to The State of Canada’s Birds, a joint production of Birds Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, snowy owl numbers have declined by about 56 per cent since 1970.

Colin Weir, managing director of the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation wildlife rehabilitation centre in Coaldale, says his organization has seen that population decline firsthand.

“Going back 10, 15 years, we’d always get a few to several injured snowy owls in each fall, winter, and spring,” he said. “The last two or three years, I don’t think we’ve even had a single snowy owl turn up at our facility.”

Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation managing director Colin Weir holds a flightless snowy owl, which is one of two that became permanent residents of the facility after being hit by cars. (Amir Said/CBC)

Weir says climate change is likely the most significant factor behind the snowy owl population drop.

While avian flu and being hit by cars are known causes of snowy owl mortality, he says it’s unlikely anything happening in their wintering grounds of Alberta is having “a dramatic effect on their numbers” compared to environmental impacts in the Arctic, where they breed.

Weir says vehicle collisions are the leading cause of snowy owls needing to be rescued in Alberta, and that the best way to help them is to be mindful of them while driving — and for birdwatchers eager to photograph them, keeping a respectful distance is vital.

“There are a lot of people watching them, of course,” Weir said. “Watching them from a distance, using spotting scopes and binoculars, and not pursuing them [are important] because sometimes a snowy owl could get nervous if people are getting too close to them, and then fly across the path of an oncoming vehicle.”

Livingstone, the provincial spokesperson, said “this change does not directly trigger immediate protective measures through Alberta’s Species at Risk Program.

“It does, however, flag these species for potential detailed status assessments in the future and for additional attention through processes such as land management planning.”

Snowy owls can be found in every Canadian province following their winter migration.

The State of Canada’s Birds estimates there are 15,000 snowy owls in the country — more than half of the estimated global population of 29,000.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies the worldwide population of snowy owls as vulnerable.

Mountain bluebird, hermit thrush now also ‘sensitive species’

Two small songbirds previously listed as “secure” are now designated “sensitive species” in Alberta.

The mountain bluebird, which contrary to its name can be found across the Canadian Prairies, is beloved by many for its bright blue plumage.

There are three bluebird species found in North America. The mountain bluebird, pictured, is the only one native to Alberta. (Amir Said/CBC)

Jody Allair with Birds Canada says among the threats they face is a decline in insect populations — the bird’s primary food source — due to pesticide and herbicide usage.

The provincial designation for mountain bluebirds is “really just bringing it more in line with what we’re seeing with them across the country,” Allair said.

According to The State of Canada’s Birds, mountain bluebird numbers in the country have declined by 60 per cent since 1970.

The hermit thrush, a cousin of the more common American robin, can be found across Alberta. It’s more often heard than seen.

“Hermit thrushes may have one of the most beautiful bird songs in the entire world,” Allair said.

More often heard than seen, the hermit thrush is found in forests across Alberta. (Amir Said/CBC)

The State of Canada’s Birds suggests the hermit thrush has experienced a population decline of 54 per cent across Canada — but due to conflicting data from different surveys, Birds Canada has “low confidence” in the estimate.

Earlier data suggested the bird’s population had actually been increasing in Canada. According to those findings, the hermit thrush is particularly vulnerable to forest loss and fragmentation due to its preference for forest interiors.

“Canada has 79 per cent of the global population of this species, so we have a really high degree of responsibility for this species in Canada,” Allair said.

While those are the three latest birds to be designated as “sensitive species,” Allair says birds across Alberta and Canada are facing serious threats.

“We need to be paying attention to a lot of our birds right now in this country, because what was formerly a common bird like the hermit thrush is no longer common anymore, and that’s pretty sad,” he said.