Awarded to Wildsight Invermere to enhance and protect critical bank swallow nesting habitat in the Upper Columbia Valley by implementing on-the-ground conservation actions at high-priority sites.
PROPONENT: Wildsight Invermere
Rachel Darvill Photo
DESCRIPTION: The Columbia Valley Bank Swallow Conservation project builds on the strong foundation established by the Upper Columbia Swallow Habitat Enhancement Project (UCSHEP) administered by Wildsight Golden from 2021–2025. This new phase of conservation work in 2026 will focus on implementing conservation measures at critical Bank Swallow nesting colonies on ʔakisq̓nuk lands that have suffered from increased recreational disturbance. In 2026, the project will partner with the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation to conserve two Bank Swallow colonies along the foreshore of their traditional territory on Lake Windermere. Ropes and interpretive signage will be installed to prevent human disturbance during the sensitive nesting season, while also educating the public about the species and its ecological role. The project will also monitor nesting success at these ʔakisq̓nuk sites, as well as at the Athalmer colony and natural colonies on Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake.
OBJECTIVE: The primary goal is to enhance and protect critical bank swallow nesting habitat in the Upper Columbia Valley by implementing on-the-ground conservation actions at high-priority sites suffering from recreational impacts, and by conducting monitoring at key breeding sites at Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake.
Specific project objectives are to:
- alleviate recreational threats at two ʔakisq’nuk Reserve colonies;
- monitor the effectiveness of habitat enhancements;
- monitor 27 additional bank swallow colonies on Lake Windermere;
- monitor the Athalmer Bank Swallow Enhancement Site; and
- monitor 38 bank swallow colonies on Columbia Lake.
