Species at Risk in Fundy Biosphere

Monarque

 Federal Status : Special concern  Provincial Status : S2S3B (General population is Imperiled and the breeding population is Vulnerable)

Biology

• The lifespan of each butterfly is relatively short, ranging from 4 to 5 weeks
• Undergo a remarkable migration, traveling thousands of kilometers in search of suitable habitat for hibernation from early November to mid-march. It takes up to 5 generations to travel their migration route.

Food & Habitat

• Monarch butterflies feed on nectar from flowers while the caterpillars eat milkweed plants.
• They typically only breed where milkweed plants are present but will forage in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and agricultural areas.

Threats The primary threats to the Monarch butterfly are natural disasters, deforestation, and herbicides.

What You Can Do Plant native species of flowers; install bee houses; avoid the use of pesticides & herbicides; monitor and  report sightings ; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Hirondelle de rivage

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S2B (Breeding population is Imperiled)

Biology

• Fast, erratic wing beats and constant chattering vocalizations during flight.
• Burrow of 60-90cm long with grasses and feathers in natural or human-made settings with a vertical face of silt or sand deposits.
• Nesting colonies range from 10 up to 2000 birds.
• Lay four or five white eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Are insectivores, meaning they eat mostly insects caught during flight.
• Live in low-lying areas near rivers, streams, ocean coasts, reservoirs, or human-made sites such as sand and gravel quarries.

Threats Primary threats to the Bank Swallow include loss of breeding and foraging habitat, destruction of nests during aggregate excavation, collisions with vehicles, loss of food source from pesticide applications, and climate change.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect open habitats; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Hirondelle rustique

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S2B (Breeding population is Imperiled)

Biology

• Fly close to the ground or water surface while hunting.
• Build nests using mud collected from the water's edge, lined with a combination of grasses and feathers.
• Lay three to five eggs between May and August.

Food & Habitat

• As insectivores, hunt flying insects such as beetles, flies, and wasps, primarily while in flight.
• Live in grasslands and other open areas with perching structures such as urban parks, cross beams of barns, and undersides of bridges.

Threats Loss of food sources from pesticide spraying; loss of habitat from land use changes; climate change.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect open habitats; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Garrot d'Islande

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S2S3N, S3M (General population is Imperiled, Non-breeding and Migratory populations are Vulnerable)

Biology

• Form monogamous breeding pairs.
• Breeding occurs primarily in tree cavities.
• In spring and winter, females can be distinguished by their bright orange bills.

Food & Habitat

• During the breeding season, feeds in inland waters, consuming aquatic insects and crustaceans.
• In winter, diet shifts to mollusks and crustaceans found along coastal waters.

Threats Sediment contamination of key wintering areas; hunting pressure; habitat loss through deforestation of breeding grounds and loss of important cavity trees; loss of breeding habitat due to fish introductions increasing eutrophication; oil spills.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; support habitat restoration and conservation efforts; install nest boxes within 2km of water sources.

Goglu des prés

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S3B (Breeding population is Vulnerable)

Biology

• Males defend territory aggressively by singing and chasing other males.
• Males mate with several females.
• Nests are build on the ground with long grass.
• Females will lay three to seven grey and brown eggs.
• This migratory species finds their wintering grounds in South America.

Food & Habitat

• Primarily eat insects such as ants, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, spiders, wasps, etc.
• Also consume seeds.
• During migration, eat rice and millet when it is available.
• Primary habitats are hayfields and lightly grazed pastures.

Threats Agricultural operations destroy and fragment habitat, cause death and destroy nests and eggs, and lead to increased predation. Pesticide exposure can also reduce food sources.

What You Can Do Delay cutting crops until after the fledging period; monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect open habitats; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Paruline du Canada

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S3S4B (General population is Vulnerable and Breeding population is Apparently Secure)

Biology

• Arrive in New Brunswick in early June and leave quickly in early September for wintering grounds in South America.
• Nest on or near the ground, usually in a hummock or at the base of shrubs.
• Lay two to six eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Mostly eat flying insects and spiders.
• Found in low vegetation, wet woods, and thickets.

Threats Loss and degradation of habitat in both the breeding and over-wintering habitat; nest parasitism by cowbirds reduce survival of offspring.

What You Can Do Choose wood products that are harvested from certified FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) forests; purchase paper products that are 100% post-consumer recycled; monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect open habitat; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Martinet ramoneur

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S2S3B (General population is Imperiled and Breeding population is Vulnerable)

Biology

• Build nests from twigs that are glued together with saliva, usually less than 1 km from water.
• Lay four to five eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Primary food source is insects.
• Rest in chimneys during migration.
• Nest in dark sheltered places such as chimneys, barns, silos, and large hollow trees.

Threats Loss of habitat through deforestation and removal of old growth trees; lack of chimneys and other suitable nesting places; pesticide applications reducing food sources; severe weather during migration and breeding.

What You Can Do Avoid cleaning your chimney during the breeding season between May and September; monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect habitat and engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Engoulevent d'Amérique

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S3B, S4M (Breeding population is Vulnerable and migrant population is Apparently Secure)

Biology

• Overwinter in South America and return mid May.
• Mottled plumage provides ideal camouflage during nesting period.
• Typically lay two eggs in ground nests.

Food & Habitat

• Primary food source is insects.
• Live in rocky areas, clearings, and urban areas with flat top buildings.

Threats Loss of food source because of pesticides; increased predation from outdoor cats.

What You Can Do Put noise makers or bright colours on outdoor cats; monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect habitats and engage in habitat restoration; support research and conservation programs.

Sturnelle des prés

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S1B (Breeding population is Critically Imperiled)

Biology

• Lay three to six eggs in a cup shaped grass nest on the ground.
• 16 subspecies exist but only one occurs in Canada.

Food & Habitat

• Primary food sources include insects, seeds, and small invertebrates.
• Primary habitat is open grasslands, meadows, or pastures.

Threats Loss of grassland habitat from agriculture, urbanization, and development; development of agricultural practices that increase intensity and reduce breeding success; pesticide use that reduces food sources.

What You Can Do Preserve and restore habitat for grassland ecosystems; implement sustainable agricultural practices that reduce pressure during breeding season; monitor populations and  report sightings ; reduce pesticide use.

Engoulevent bois-pourri

 Federal Status : Threatened Provincial Status: S2B (Breeding population is Imperiled)

Biology

• Typically two eggs are laid per clutch directly onto the ground in leaf litter.
• Both parents contribute to raising the young.

Food & Habitat

• Primary diet is night-flying insects such as mosquitoes, moths, and beetles.
• Prefer environments with minimal ground cover such as semi-open or patchy forests with clearings, like barrens or regenerating woodlands, while avoiding both expansive open areas and dense, closed-canopy forests.

Threats Severe storms due to climate change; mortality cause by transportation corridors; habitat loss from agricultural expansion and forestry; food loss from pesticides.

What You Can Do Reduce pesticide use; protect habitat; monitor populations and  record sightings ; support research and conservation programs.

Pioui de l'Est

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S2B (Breeding population is Imperiled)

Biology

• Make nests from bark strips, leaves, moss, pine needles, twigs, roots, and lichens.
• Lay an average of 3 cream coloured eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Main food sources include insects, berries, and seeds.
• Primary habitats are forest clearings and edges of deciduous and mixed forests.

Threats Reduction in food source due to pesticides and herbicides; loss, degradation, and changes of habitat; changes in habitat due to White-tailed Deer over-browsing.

What You Can Do Leave dead standing wood to attract insects and contribute to habitat; monitor populations and  report sightings ; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Grèbe esclavon

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : SNA (Species not suitable target for conservation activities)

Biology

• Typically a solitary nester, but up to 20 pairs may nest in the same pond if it’s large enough and offers ample food resources.
• Both parents share incubation of the eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Diet mainly includes aquatic insects and fish during the summer, and shifts to fish, crustaceans, and marine worms (polychaetes) in the winter.
• Breeds mainly in temperate zones like the Canadian Prairies but also in boreal and subarctic regions.
• Nests in freshwater or brackish ponds, marshes, and shallow bays with open water and emergent vegetation for nesting and protection.
• Overwinter in estuaries and bays along the Atlantic coast.

Threats Changes in water quality near breeding sites; competition for habitat from the Pied-billed Grebe; oil spills in wintering habitat; fishing bycatch mortalities.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Petit blongios

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S1S2B (General population is Critically Imperiled, Breeding population is Imperiled)

Biology

• Nest above the water level with a marsh vegetation, close to the the water's edge near the base of cattails.
• Lay two to six eggs, typically, bluish- or greenish-white.

Food & Habitat

• Freshwater marshes with tall, dense aquatic vegetation.
• Forage in shallow waters for small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects.

Threats Loss of wetland habitats; human disturbance; climate change and severe weather events; habitat fragmentation that leads to mortality from collisions; invasive species out-competing cattails.

What You Can Do Support the protection of wetlands; avoid driving your motor boat in wetland areas; monitor populations and  report sightings ; support research and conservation efforts.

Moucherolle à côtés olive

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S3B (Breeding population is Vulnerable)

Biology

• Maintain large breeding territories.
• Nest in dense clusters of twigs and needles high in conifer trees.
• Lay three to four eggs and both parents take care of the young.

Food & Habitat

• Primary food sources is insects, including bees, beetles, dragonflies, flies, and wasps.
• Habitat is forest edges of coniferous or mixed forests with tall trees or snags for perching.

Threats Loss of food sources through pesticides; habitat loss through deforestation in South American wintering grounds; habitat loss in breeding grounds through intensive forestry and development; climate change and changes in fire regimes.

What You Can Do Only use  Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified  wood products; monitor populations and  report sightings ; support research and conservation programs.

Faucon pèlerin anatum/tundrius

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S1B S3M (Breeding population is Critically Imperiled, Migratory population is Vulnerable)

Biology

• Fastest bird of prey, impressive aerial displays and acrobatic flight.
• Nest on cliffs, buildings, or other elevated structures.
• Lay a small clutch of eggs and both parents take part in incubating and caring for the chicks.

Food & Habitat

• Prey on small to medium sized birds, such as pigeons, that are hunted in the air.
• Typical habitat varies from coastal cliffs to dense urban areas or any area that can support a high nesting site.

Threats Harmful chemicals and pesticides; extreme weather events linked to climate change; oil spills that may reduce coastal food sources.

What You Can Do Protect nesting sites and support the establishment of artificial nesting platforms in urban areas; monitor populations and  report sightings ; support research and conservation programs.

Bécasseau maubèche de la sous-espèce rufa

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : S2M (Migratory population is Imperiled)

Biology

• Breed in the Arctic tundra and create shallow nests on the ground lined with vegetation where the female will lay an average of four eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Inhabit Arctic tundra regions during the breeding season.
• During migration, can be found in a variety of habitats including coastal areas, mudflats, and estuaries.
• Diet primarily consists of insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and small invertebrates.
• During migration, can be found in a variety of habitats including coastal areas, mudflats, and estuaries.

Threats Overharvesting of horseshoe crabs (a critical food source during migration); changes in availability of food resources and breeding habitats due to climate change; increase in frequency and force of hurricanes during migration due to climate change.

What You Can Do Advocate to safeguard horseshoe crab populations to ensure adequate food supply during migration; support implementation of measures to protect critical breeding and feeding habitats; monitor populations and  report sightings .

Quiscale rouilleux

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S2S3B S3M (General population is Imperiled, Breeding and Migratory populations are Vulnerable)

Biology

• Build bulky nests of twigs in conifers or shrubs, within 2m of the ground, often in beaver ponds or meadows.
• Average clutch size of 4 eggs.
• Monogamous, forming loose colonies during breeding season.
• Live up to 9 years and are short-distance migrants who winter in the US Midwest and East Coast, return in late April.

Food & Habitat

• Breeding habitat is characterized by coniferous-dominated forests adjacent to wetlands, while during migration they seek forested wetlands.
• Primary food sources include insects, such a grasshoppers, along with seeds.

Threats Loss of habitat in conversion of wetlands; loss of habitat from changes in surface hydrology due to damming activities; loss of habitat from wetland acidification; wetland degradation due to climate change.

What You Can Do Support habitat protection and restoration of wetlands and forested wetlands; monitor populations and  reporting sightings ; support research and conservation programs.

Hibou des marais

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S1S2B (General population is Critically Imperiled, Breeding populations are Imperiled)

Biology

• Only have one clutch annually.
• Nests are a simple scrape on the ground lined with grass and feathers located on the ground near clumps of taller vegetation that provide concealment.
• Tend to be nomadic, often moving relatively long distances through the year to areas with high rodent abundance.

Food & Habitat

• Diet includes voles, lemmings, and other small mammals.
• Favour open habitats throughout the year, including grasslands, tundra, and wetlands.

Threats Habitat loss from declines in the extent and quality of open grassland and wetland habitats; food loss because of reduced prey availability from increased growth of shrubs as a result of climate warming.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; protect open habitats and engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Grive des bois

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S1S2B (General population is Critically Imperiled, Breeding populations are Imperiled)

Biology

• Long-distance migrant. Breed in North America during the summer and migrate to Central America and southern Mexico for the winter. 
• Nests are located in living saplings, trees or shrubs, usually in Sugar Maple or American Beech with a clutch size between three to five eggs.

Food & Habitat

• Primary food source is insects.
• Deciduous and mixed forests with moderate undergrowth, abundant leaf litter for insect foraging, and tall trees for singing perches.

Threats Loss of habitat from urban and rural development and overgrazing by deer; decreased breeding success because of Brown-headed Cowbird nest parasitism.

What You Can Do Protect habitats and reduce habitat fragmentation; monitor populations and  report sightings ; address deer overgrazing; manage cowbird populations.

Dégélie plombée

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S1 (General population is Critically Imperiled)

Biology

• A cyanolichen that consists of a cyanobacterium and a fungal partner.

Habitat

• Typically found in high humidity habitats.
• Most commonly found on deciduous trees, particularly Yellow Birch, in Red Maple swales.

Threats Air pollution and acid rain; climate change and changes in fog frequency; logging activities and deforestation of primary habitat.

What You Can Do Recognize characteristics and monitor and  identify populations ; protect habitat and engage in habitat restoration efforts; support research and conservation programs.

Peltigère éventail d'eau de l'Est

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S2S3 (General populations are Imperiled and Vulnerable)

Biology

• Leafy lichen that reproduces via spores.
• One of the only leafy lichens that can grow at or below the water level.

Habitat

• Grows in shady, clear, cool streams at or below the water level outside of the main current.

Threats Activities that modify watercourses, impact water quality, or disrupt the protective vegetation (logging) around habitats can all potentially affect the Eastern Waterfan.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; avoid activities in streams that could cause siltation; follow the 30m stream buffer regulations and do not disturb vegetation around streams.

Tortue serpentine

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S3 (General population is Vulnerable)

Biology

• Lifespan of 50 to 75 years.
• Solitary and prefer to spend most of their time submerged in water or bathing on rocks or logs.
• Hibernate in the mud at the bottom of bodies of water during the winter.

Food & Habitat

• Diet consists of aquatic plants and animals including leeches, snails, insects, crayfish, and fish.
• Habitat requirements are quiet, slow-moving waters and areas with muddy bottoms and abundant plant growth.

Threats Mortalities from road crossings; illegal harvesting and trades; reduced breeding success from nest predation; habitat loss primarily due to conversion of wetlands to agriculture and urban development.

What You Can Do Avoid collisions and use appropriate tools to move them safely off the road; protect aquatic habitats from development and pollution; monitor populations and  report sightings ; support research and conservation programs.

Tortue des bois

 Federal Status : Threatened  Provincial Status : S2S3 (General populations are Imperiled and Vulnerable)

Biology

• A long-lived species that can take up to 18 years to reach sexual maturity.
• Mating typically occurs in the spring and early summer where they will lay a clutch of eggs from 4 to 18 eggs in sandy or gravelly areas.

Food & Habitat

• Will stomp their feet on the ground to mimic rainfall, drawing earthworms out.
• Will also eat aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles, and small fish.
• Typically have large home ranges covering several kilometres.
• Prefer wooded streams with a moderately flowing current and a sandy or gravelly bottom.

Threats Habitat loss from forestry; human disturbance from ATV use in streams; mortality from the illegal pet trade; pollution to aquatic environments.

What You Can Do Do not support the illegal pet trade and report when applicable; monitor populations and  report sightings ; avoid driving motorized vehicles in streams or riparian areas; support research and conservation programs.

Noyer cendré

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : S1 (General populations are Critically Imperiled)

Description

• Historically, various parts of the Butternut tree, including the nuts, were used by Indigenous People for food and medicinal purposes.

Habitat

• Typically found in mixed-wood forests on well-drained soils and often along riverbanks and in upland areas.

Threats Deforestation; fungal disease known as Butternut Canker (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum), which impacted populations; hybridization with exotic walnut species.

What You Can Do Engage in habitat restoration efforts and only plant native species; support research and conservation programs.

Grand requin blanc

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : SNRM (Migratory populations are not ranked)

Biology

• Are ovoviviparous, meaning they produce eggs that develop and hatch within the mother's body, so the offspring are born live.
• Lifespan in this population is estimated to be 40-73 years and females likely reach maturity at an age of 33 years.

Food & Habitat

• Range widely in coastal and oceanic waters and can be observed in temperate waters over the continental shelves.
• Can congregate in hotspots typically because of food sources such as Atlantic Grey Seal or Harbour Porpoises.

Threats Human disturbance are the greatest threat, from activities such as sport fishing, commercial by-catch, and international trade of their body parts; their position as top predators and ovoviviparous reproduction make them vulnerable to pollution by environmental toxins.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; help prevent ocean pollution by reducing waste, recycling, and supporting clean-up initiatives; support research and conservation programs.

Saumon atlantique

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : S2 (General populations are Imperiled)

Biology

• Anadromous life cycle, transitioning between freshwater and saltwater habitats.

Food & Habitat

• Historic range includes 50 rivers draining into the inner Bay of Fundy 
• When in freshwater, favour natural stream channels with rapids and pools, featuring gravel bottoms where hatchlings can seek refuge from predators.
• The primary diet mainly consists of small fish, such as herring and smelts, as well as various crustaceans and invertebrates.

Threats Changes in environmental conditions; pollutants; barriers to fish passage; depressed population phenomena; interactions with farmed and hatchery salmon; unknown factors resulting in low marine survival.  

What You Can Do Support the improvement and restoration of habitat; monitor populations and  report sightings ; limit the spread of aquatic invasive species; support research and conservation programs.

Rorqual bleu

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : SNA (Species not suitable target for conservation activities)

Biology

• Largest animal known to have ever existed on the planet.
• Typically live 70 to 80 years.

Habitat & Food

• Inhabit both coastal and open ocean.
• Atlantic population is often seen in estuaries and shallow coastal areas, where the mixing of waters results in high krill productivity.
• Spend the summer in food-rich areas close to the edge of the polar ice, and the winter in temperate waters.

Threats Collisions with ships; disturbance from whale watching activities; entanglement in fishing gear; pollution and oil spills.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; do your part in keeping our oceans pollution free; support research and conservation programs.

Rorqual commun

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S2S3 (General populations are Imperiled and Vulnerable)

Biology

• Can live up to 100 years.
• Southern and Northern hemisphere Fin Whales are distinct subspecies.

Habitat & Food

• This global species is primarily found in cool temperate and subpolar waters.
• Seasonally they can be found in higher latitudes in summer for feeding and lower latitudes in winter for breeding.
• As a baleen species, their primary food source is krill.
• In Atlantic Canada, herring are also a special part of their diet.

Threats Hunting pressure in Greenland and Iceland; displacement and disturbance from ocean noise such as oil and gas exploration, wind farms, and shipping; mortalities from vessel strikes; fishing gear entanglement, particularly in the Atlantic region.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; support use of rope-less fishing gear; support research and conservation programs.

Baleine noire de l'Atlantique Nord

 Federal Status : Endangered  Provincial Status : S1 (General populations are Critically Imperiled)

Biology

• Was first designated as endangered in 1980.
• Have no dorsal fin.
• Low birth rate is a limiting factor in their recovery.

Habitat & Food

• Inhabits the coastal and shelf waters along the eastern coast of North America, stretching from Florida to Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Primary food source is copepods, which are much smaller than krill.

Threats Vessel strikes; fishing gear entanglement; habitat loss and degradation; infectious disease; shifts in distribution of prey from climate change.

What You Can Do Monitor populations and  report sightings ; support use of rope-less fishing gear; support research and conservation programs.

Alasmidonte renflée

Image to come.

 Federal Status : Special Concern  Provincial Status : S3 (General populations are Vulnerable)

Biology

• To complete part of their lifecycle, the larvae attach to the gills of specific fish species and release once they reach the appropriate size.

Habitat & Food

• Only found in 13 watersheds between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
• Prefer rivers and streams with moderate to high flow with sand pockets behind boulders to use as protection from the flow.
• As filter feeders, they consume algae and bacteria from the water, helping to keep our streams and ponds clean.

Threats Domestic and urban wastewater; agricultural and forestry effluents; habitat degradation; residential development; predation; displacement from the invasive Zebra Mussel.

What You Can Do Clean, drain, and dry all watercrafts and equipment before transferring them from one body of water to another to limit the spread of  Zebra Mussels ; monitor populations and  report sightings ; support habitat restoration, protection of critical habitat, and conservation efforts.