We held our training workshop on the conservation and protection of waterfowl and waterfowl habitats last week. This in-person event took place from September 13 to 15, 2022, and brought together 25 participants from nine First Nations and four Indigenous organizations, as well as several guest speakers.
The training session was offered in direct response to a concern shared by many First Nations about waterfowl and migratory birds in general. It combined indoor presentations with several outdoor workshops.
The sun shone brightly as visitors toured the Petite-Ferme marsh and learned about the history of the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area.
Topics covered included wetland development and management, bird migration and factors influencing it, citizen science and the eBird platform, and funding for waterfowl and waterfowl-habitat projects. Participants saw a demonstration of passerine banding and had their questions on bird flu answered.
They also heard Jean-Daniel Fiset, Conservation Project Leader at the FNQLSDI, speak passionately about the Pineshîsh-Piyaasiis project, which the FNQLSDI is implementing in several communities. The aim of this project is to encourage First Nations to play an active role in monitoring boreal birds on their Nitassinan and to facilitate Indigenous and scientific knowledge sharing.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all those present for their interest and participation. Our special thanks go to the team at Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area for hosting us and to the partners who provided some of the training over the three days. Their informative presentations and demonstrations on waterfowl monitoring methods, tools and science will help us take action to protect and conserve waterfowl and their habitats.
Thanks to Chrystel Losier, Conservation Program Specialist at Ducks Unlimited Canada; Bruno Drolet, Senior Biologist and Boreal Bird Specialist at Canadian Wildlife Service; Mathieu Tétreault, Biologist at Canadian Wildlife Service; Vincent Moreau, Interpreter, and Mathieu Landry, Assistant Bander at Observatoire d’Oiseaux de Tadoussac; Alexandre Rasiulis, Program Manager at Fondation de la faune du Québec; and Stéphanie Tremblay, Interpretive Guide at Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area.
Thanks also to Marcel Godbout for leading ceremonies of spiritual recognition of the importance of waterfowl, water and land at the opening and closing of the workshop.
Thanks to Environment and Climate Change Canada for making this workshop possible with funding from the federal Nature Legacy for Canada Initiative. This workshop is also part of the Conservation and Protection of Nature project, which aims to increase the involvement of Quebec’s First Nations in the conservation of biodiversity and the natural environment.
