Alaksen National Wildlife Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alaksen National Wildlife Area |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
|
|
 |
|
 Alaksen National Wildlife Area
Location in British Columbia
Alaksen National Wildlife Area
Location in Greater Vancouver Regional District
|
|
| Location | Westham Island, Delta, British Columbia |
| Area | 349 ha (860 acres) |
| Designation | National Wildlife Area |
| Established | 1972 |
| Governing body | Canadian Wildlife Service |
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area is a special place for nature. It is located on Westham Island in the city of Delta, British Columbia. This area is a very important rest stop for many kinds of birds. These birds fly long distances along the Pacific Flyway during their migrations.
Contents
What is Alaksen National Wildlife Area?
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area covers the northwestern part of Westham Island. This island is found within the Fraser River Delta. The delta is where the Fraser River flows into the Strait of Georgia.
Land and Plants
Most of the area is made up of cultivated farmland. But it also has other important habitats. These include freshwater and salty tidal marshlands. There are also mudflats and some woodland areas.
Different plants grow in these different parts of Alaksen. In the farmland, you'll find various grasses. In the wet, intertidal zones (where land meets water), there are cattails, Lyngbye's sedge, and bulrushes. The wooded areas have Red alder, willows, and Black cottonwood trees. You can also spot shrubs like snowberry, salmonberry, and blackberries.
Overlapping with a Bird Sanctuary
The Alaksen area is next to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. This sanctuary has even stricter rules to protect birds. It does not have cultivated farmland like Alaksen does.
History of Protection
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area became officially protected in 1972. This happened under the Canada Wildlife Act. This law helps protect important wildlife habitats.
International Recognition
On May 24, 1987, Alaksen received a special international title. It was named a Wetland of International Significance. This was done under the Ramsar Convention. This convention is an international agreement to protect wetlands.
Alaksen was chosen for this honor along with the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. It was the ninth Canadian site to get this special title.
Why it's Important
Alaksen was recognized for many reasons. It is a major stop for many migratory waterfowl and shorebirds on the Pacific Flyway. It's also a great example of a delta and coastal tidal wetland. It is the largest area in Canada where migratory birds spend the winter. Plus, it has the biggest estuarine habitat (where river meets sea) on Canada's Pacific coast. Later, this site became part of the bigger Fraser River Delta Ramsar Site.
Why Alaksen is Valuable for Nature
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area is very important for wildlife. It's also close to the big city of Metro Vancouver. This means it offers many chances for people to learn about nature.
Winter Habitat
In winter, the cropland often floods. Sometimes, it even freezes for short periods. Different ways of managing the land throughout the year help create great homes for birds. This is especially true for waterfowl that spend the winter there.
Over forty types of waterfowl spend their winters in this area. Some of the most common ones are Canada goose, mallard, American wigeon, and lesser snow goose. You can also see many raptors here. These include bald eagles, barn owls, and several kinds of falcons.
Filming Location
The Alaksen National Wildlife Area was used as a place to film the TV show Huckleberry Finn and His Friends.
Images for kids
-
A view of the George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary, which overlaps with Alaksen NWA.
