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 (4549 acres) 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 Ancient murrelet Band-tailed pigeon Barn swallow Buff-breasted sandpiper Cassin's auklet Pacific great blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini) Horned grebe Marbled murrelet Olive-sided flycatcher Peregrine falcon Red knot Red-necked phalarope Short-eared owl Vesper sparrow Western grebe
Mammals
Grey whale Harbour porpoise Humpback whale Killer whale (Southern resident population and transient population) Sea otter Steller sea lion
Molluscs
Northern abalone Olympia oyster
Plants
Bear's-foot sanicle Bearded owl-clover California buttercup Coast microseris Coastal Scouler's catchfly Dense-flowered lupine Foothill sedge Golden paintbrush Macoun's meadowfoam Muhlenberg's centaury Purple sanicle Rosy owl-clover Seaside birds-foot lotus Tall woolly-heads Victoria's owl-clover White-top aster
See also
List of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of Canada
Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary List of protected areas of British Columbia List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada List of Canadian protected areas Endangered species in Canada
References
External links
Government of Canada: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (VHMBS) Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations Friends of Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary Chain Islets & Great Chain Island Important Bird Area (IBA) Migratory bird sanctuaries across Canada News story: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary marks 100 years Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of the Capital Region (CRD) British Columbia - Wildlife Act Songhees Nation