King Rail
King Rail
Photo credit: Brian E. Small
Least Bittern
Least Bittern
Photo credit: Mike Burrell

Species information

The following is a report on progress made towards the protection and recovery of King Rail (Rallus elegans) and Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) in Ontario from 2007 to 2021, based on Ontario’s species-specific recovery policy. This report meets the legislative requirement for a review of progress under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA or “the Act”). King Rail is listed as endangered, and Least Bittern as threatened, on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List under the ESA.

King Rail has been classified as a species at risk since 1999. It was originally classified as an endangered species under the previous Endangered Species Act and was listed as such under the ESA when it came into force in June 2008.

Least Bittern has been classified as a species at risk since 2000. It was originally classified as a vulnerable species on the Vulnerable, Threatened, Endangered, Extirpated or Extinct Species of Ontario List. It was listed as threatened under the ESA when it came into force in June 2008.

King Rail has been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken since 1999. The habitat of King Rail has been protected from being damaged or destroyed since 2008.

Least Bittern has been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken since 2008. The habitat of Least Bittern has been protected from being damaged or destroyed since 2013.

The species-specific recovery policy for King Rail and Least Bittern, known as the Government Response Statement (GRS) was published in 2017 and includes the government’s recovery goal for the species and the actions and priorities it intends to lead or support to help achieve that goal. The GRS considers science advice provided in the King Rail recovery strategy and Least Bittern recovery strategy, when developing recovery actions for these species. As legislated in the Act, the purpose of this Review is to report on progress made towards implementing the protection and recovery actions in the GRS. The review can also help identify opportunities to adjust and adapt the implementation of protection and recovery actions to achieve the recovery goal for the species.

King Rail

1999, 2008 Listed as endangered
 
1999 Species protected
 
2008 Habitat protected through the general definition of habitat under the ESA since 2008.
 
2016 Recovery strategy finalized
 
2017 Government response statement finalized
 
2022 Review of progress finalized
 

Least Bittern

2000 Listed as vulnerable
 
2008 Listed as threatened
 
2008 Species protected
 
2013 Habitat protected through the general definition of habitat under the ESA since 2013.
 
2016 Recovery strategy finalized
 
2017 Government response statement finalized
 
2022 Review of progress finalized
 

Further information about King Rail and Least Bittern, including the threats that it faces, and actions being taken to help protect and recover this species is available on the Government of Ontario webpages for King Rail and Least Bittern. A summary on the progress towards the protection and recovery of King Rail and Least Bittern and an annual update on the broader species at risk program (i.e. the Introduction to the 2022 Review of Progress report) is available on the Review of Progress towards the Protection and Recovery of Ontario’s Species at Risk webpage.

Snapshot: Progress towards the protection and recovery of King Rail and Least Bittern

Progress towards meeting the recovery goal

  • The recovery goal for King Rail in the Government Response Statement (GRS) is to “maintain the persistence of the species in Ontario, by reducing threats to the species and its habitat”. The recovery goal for Least Bittern in the GRS is to “maintain the current distribution and abundance in Ontario, and where feasible, enable increases by reducing threats to the species and its habitat.”
  • Progress has been made towards implementing the majority of the government-led actions. Progress has been made towards implementing all government-supported recovery objectives and several associated actions. Examples of progress include:
    • species and habitat surveys that have resulted in detections of King Rail and Least Bittern
    • land securement initiatives that supported the protection of Least Bittern habitat
    • efforts to create, restore and manage wetland habitat for species at risk across southern and central Ontario, which may support the recovery of these wetland-dependent species
  • In alignment with the GRS, further recovery efforts should focus on filling knowledge gaps about these species and their threats through dedicated research and monitoring. Actions to reduce known threats to the species and information sharing with other jurisdictions are also needed to ensure that the recovery goals for these species are met.

Occurrences and distribution

  • King Rail and Least Bittern occur in wetlands across southern and central Ontario. Least Bittern also occurs in northwestern Ontario near Lake of the Woods and Dryden.
  • King Rail occurrence summary:
    • This species has an estimated distribution of 350 square kilometres based on recent observations, and was historically distributed across an additional 550 square kilometres.
    • The Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) has received 375 records of the species based on observations made between 1882 and 2019.
    • Since 2008, the species has been observed in 17 locations where it was not previously known to occur, including five locations where the species has not been previously found. Based on the most up-to-date information available, the species’ extant distribution is estimated to encompass an area 50 square kilometres larger than was known when the ESA came into effect. The species has also been re-confirmed at 12 locations.
  • Least Bittern occurrence summary:
    • This species has an estimated distribution of 6,250 square kilometres based on recent observations, and was historically distributed across an additional 1,120 square kilometres.
    • The Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) has received over 9,500 records of the species based on observations made between 1891 and 2021.
    • Since 2008, the species has been observed in 281 locations where it was not previously known to occur. Based on the most up-to-date information available, the species’ extant distribution is estimated to encompass an area 2,810 square  kilometres larger than was known when the ESA came into effect. The species has also been re-confirmed at 270 locations.
  • Increases in these species’ distributions may be the result of increased search effort and education about King Rail and Least Bittern and do not necessarily represent an expansion of these species’ distributions.

Government-supported stewardship projects

  • Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario has enabled its stewardship partners to conduct 90 projects (by providing $2,797,722 in funding) that have supported the protection and recovery of King Rail and Least Bittern.
  • The government’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 8,658 individuals who volunteered 41,442 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for King Rail and Least Bittern. Another eight individuals volunteered 276 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities that focused exclusively on Least Bittern. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $5,193,554.
  • Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, 2,873 hectares of wetland habitat was created, restored and managed that will benefit King Rail and Least Bittern.
  • Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including King Rail and Least Bittern, to 2,031,987 individuals.
  • Through the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, the Government of Ontario supported a research partner to identify Least Bittern breeding sites in the Long Point region and conduct habitat assessments for the Least Bittern.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

  • The Government of Ontario has issued nineteen permits for this species: one ‘human health and safety’ permit was issued under clause 17(2)(a), seventeen ‘protection or recovery’ permits were issued under clause 17(2)(b), and one ‘overall benefit’ permit was issued under clause 17(2)(c) of the ESA.
  • Nineteen agreements were entered into for King Rail and Least Bittern. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
  • Two hundred and fifty-nine activities have been registered for the species. The activities were registered under “Drainage works” (section 23.9), “Early exploration mining” (section 23.10), “Ecosystem protection” (section 23.11), “Pits and quarries” (section 23.14), “Safe harbour habitat” (section 23.16), “Species protection, recovery activities” (section 23.17), “Threats to human health and safety, not imminent” (section 23.18), and “Wind facilities” (section 23.20) under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Reporting on the progress towards the protection and recovery of King Rail and Least Bittern

Recovery goal

The government’s goal for the recovery of King Rail is to maintain the persistence of the species in Ontario, by reducing threats to the species and its habitat.

The government’s goal for the recovery of Least Bittern is to maintain the current distribution and abundance in Ontario, and where feasible, enable increases by reducing threats to the species and its habitat.

The implementation of government-led and government-supported actions demonstrates progress towards reaching the desired objectives and the recovery goal set out in the GRS.

Progress towards implementing government-led actions

Progress has been made towards implementing the majority of government-led actions identified in the GRS. Common actions for the government to lead as it works towards achieving a species’ recovery goal include:

  • Implement the Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario, to improve our knowledge of Ontario’s wetlands and conserve wetland habitat including contributing to recovery for the King Rail and Least Bittern.
  • Continue to implement the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan to address the invasive species (e.g., invasive Phragmites, Purple Loosestrife) that threaten King Rail and Least Bittern.
  • Continue to implement Ontario’s Invasive Species Act to control the spread of invasive species (i.e., invasive Phragmites) that threaten King Rail and Least Bittern by restricting the importation, deposition, release, growing, buying, selling, leasing or trading of invasive Phragmites.
  • Continue to manage habitat of the King Rail and Least Bittern in protected areas to maintain habitat suitability and to minimize the threat of recreational pressures.
  • Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
  • Encourage the submission of King Rail and Least Bittern data to the Government of Ontario’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
  • Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
  • Protect the King Rail and Least Bittern and their habitat through the ESA.
  • Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Indigenous communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover the King Rail and Least Bittern. Support will be provided where appropriate through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services.
  • Encourage collaboration, and establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to reduce duplication of efforts.

Key progress made towards implementing these actions is described in the following sections.

Ontario’s Invasive Species Act

The GRS for King Rail and Least Bittern indicates that invasive species (e.g., invasive Phragmites (Phragmites australis ssp. australis), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), European Frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), and Eurasian Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)) pose a threat to the survival and recovery of these species in Ontario. The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan, 2012 and the Invasive Species Act, 2015 provide the policy and legislative framework to prevent new invaders from arriving and surviving in Ontario, to slow and where possible reverse the spread of existing invasive species, and to reduce the harmful impacts of existing invasive species, including impacts on species at risk.

This framework may support the implementation of actions to reduce the threats from invasive species. For example, to prevent their further spread and introduction, invasive Phragmites was listed as a restricted species under the Invasive Species Act in 2016, and European Frog-bit was also listed as a restricted species under this Act in 2022. It is now illegal to import, deposit, release, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease or trade these restricted invasive species in Ontario. It is also illegal to bring a restricted species into a provincial park or conservation reserve and to possess, transport, deposit or release them in these protected areas.

Guides and resources

The Government of Ontario has laws, regulations and policies that guide land use, and many of these include measures to help protect wetlands. The Government of Ontario also has several incentive and funding programs that enable partners to conserve, restore and manage wetlands, such as the Great Lakes Local Action Fund. You can learn more about these on the Wetland conservation webpage and Species at Risk Stewardship Program webpage at Ontario.ca.

Collisions with vehicles and buildings are one of several threats to the recovery of King Rail and Least Bittern in Ontario. More information on how to reduce bird collisions with vehicles and buildings can be found in A Guide to Road Ecology in Ontario (PDF) and on the FLAP Canada website, respectively.

The Government of Ontario has also supported the development of best management practices to minimize the adverse impacts of invasive Phragmites on species at risk by providing direction on the control of Phragmites in species at risk habitats in Ontario, and has also supported the development of the Best Management Practices for European Frog-bit (2020) (PDF) and Best Management Practices for Invasive Phragmites (2021) (PDF) by the Ontario Invasive Species Plant Council.

Occurrences and distribution

For this review of progress, species’ occurrence information has been assessed at a landscape scale using 10 by 10 kilometre grid squares to approximate species’ distributions, due to the broad distributions of these species. The squares were used to estimate where these species have been recently observed (i.e., within the past 20 years) as well as squares where these species are considered historical footnote 1 .

King Rail

King Rail is widely distributed across southern Ontario, from as southwest as Essex County to Leeds and Grenville County in the east and to Bruce County in the north. Using the approach described above, the species has been recently observed in 35 squares, and there remain 32 additional squares in which historical observations of the species have been made, as well as 23 squares that represent locations from which the species may be extirpated. This equates to a potential range of approximately 350 square kilometres based on recent observations of the species, and an additional 550 square kilometres based on observations from over 20 years ago.

The NHIC has received 375 records of King Rail. These records are based on observations between 1882 and 2019. Since 2008, the species presence has been confirmed at 17 squares, including five where the species was not previously known to occur, and 12 squares with previous records. Based on the most up-to-date information available, the species’ extant distribution is estimated to encompass a greater area (by 50 square kilometres) than was known before 2008. This increase is likely the result of increased search effort and education about King Rail and may not represent an expansion of the species’ distribution.

Least Bittern

Least Bittern is widely-distributed across southern and central Ontario and is found in two areas in northwestern Ontario (near Lake of the Woods and Dryden). Using the approach described above, the species has been recently observed in 625 squares, and there remain 88 additional squares in which historical observations of the species have been made as well as 24 squares that represent locations from which the species may be extirpated. This equates to a potential range of approximately 6,250 square kilometres based on recent observations of the species, and an additional 1,120 square kilometres based on observations from over 20 years ago.

The NHIC has received over 9,500 records of Least Bittern. These records are based on observations between 1891 and 2021. Since 2008, the species’ presence has been confirmed in 551 squares, including 281 new squares where the species was not previously known to occur and 270 squares with previous records. Based on the most up-to-date information available, the species’ extant distribution is estimated to encompass a greater area (by 2,810 square kilometres) than was known before 2008. This increase is likely the result of increased search effort and education about Least Bittern and may not represent an expansion of the species’ distribution.

It is possible that there are observations of King Rail and Least Bittern that have not been submitted to the government. Encouraging the submission of observations of this species is included in the GRS as a government-led action. Submission of species observations increases our knowledge of where they occur and can play an important role in assessing the viability of species populations.

Everyone is encouraged, or may be required by an authorization or approval to submit observations of King Rail and Least Bittern, and any other species at risk observed, to the NHIC for incorporation into the provincial record of observations. Observations may now be submitted to NHIC via the Rare Species of Ontario project in iNaturalist or through eBird.

  • 375
    observations of King Rail were submitted to the NHIC since 2008
  • 9500+
    observations of Least Bittern were submitted to the NHIC since 2008

Government-supported stewardship projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for King Rail and Least Bittern is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program the government has supported 90 projects ($2,797,722) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of King Rail and Least Bittern footnote 2 . In addition to the government funding, partners reported they were successful in securing additional funding ($95,950) from other sources, as did partners with projects designed to benefit multiple species at risk, including King Rail and Least Bittern ($5,097,604). These amounts include in-kind support in the form of time and expertise provided by volunteers.

Stewardship partners reported that provincial funding helped them to secure in-kind support by involving eight individuals who volunteered 276 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities that focused exclusively on Least Bittern, which has an estimated value of $12,120. As well, 8,658 individuals volunteered 41,442 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for Least Bittern and King Rail which has an estimated value of $1,167,341. Partners also reported that through both their efforts and the efforts of their volunteers to implement GRS, they were successful in creating, restoring and/or managing 2,873 hectares of wetland habitat that will benefit King Rail or Least Bittern. In addition, stewardship partners reported providing ecosystem-based outreach on multiple species, including King Rail and Least Bittern, to 2,031,987 individuals.

The government also supports proponents in conducting research that addresses important knowledge gaps for species at risk. Through the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, the government provided funding to a partner to identify Least Bittern breeding sites in the Long Point region and conduct habitat assessments for the Least Bittern.

The remainder of this section highlights three recipients whose stewardship projects were supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, as well as the corresponding government-supported recovery actions for the species.

In 2008 and 2009, the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetland Research Fund, in collaboration with several conservation partners and volunteers, conducted species-specific surveys for Least Bittern in Long Point region wetlands following the National Least Bittern Survey Protocol (Jobin et al. 2011). These surveys resulted in the detection of 96 individuals in 2008 and 197 individuals in 2009. This increase was due to an increase in the number of locations surveyed in 2009 and almost twice as many Least Bittern detections at one marsh between 2008 and 2009. In addition to species surveys, this group conducted habitat assessments in the area to determine preferred habitat features for Least Bittern and found preferences for areas with cattail and bulrush species, open water, and low Phragmites coverage. These activities contributed to implementing Actions No. 7 and No. 2, respectively, in the Government Response Statement for King Rail and Least Bittern, described below.

Also in 2008 and 2009, a stewardship program recipient in Prince Edward County hired Savanta (now GEI) to conduct species at risk surveys on one of their properties in Brighton, along Lake Ontario. These surveys resulted in observations of one King Rail and at least 117 Least Bittern individuals over two years and contributed to a species at risk conservation and management plan tailored to resource extraction industries in the area. Throughout these initiatives, the recipient frequently engaged and collaborated with local conservation groups, government agencies and experienced naturalists to better understand the ecological relationships with surrounding lands and raise awareness of species at risk in the area. These activities contributed to Actions No. 1, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 11 in the Government Response Statement for King Rail and Least Bittern, described below.

Efforts to determine Least Bittern distribution and range have continued in several regions, including Peterborough and Long Point. In 2019, Dr. Linda Rutledge from Trent University led research to look for Least Bittern in these areas. Members of the research team visited several sites to test whether they could use environmental DNA (eDNA) from lake water samples to detect Least Bittern. While the researchers successfully identified DNA from the rare and once extirpated Trumpeter Swan (and several common bird species), they did not detect Least Bittern. However, with more widespread sampling, this method is set to identify crucial locations for elusive bird species at risk, including King Rail and Least Bittern, with minimal disturbance to these species and their habitats. This project contributed to Action No. 7 in the Government Response Statement for King Rail and Least Bittern, described below.

Species at Risk Stewardship Program

  • 90

    projects included King Rail and Least Bittern

  • $2,797,722

    or multi-species projects that included King Rail and Least Bittern

  • $5,193,554

    in additional funding and in-kind support

  • 8,658

    volunteers

  • 41,442

    volunteer hours

  • 2,031,987

    people received outreach

  • 2,873

    hectares of habitat enhanced

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

Supporting partners through authorizations and their associated conditions is an important government-led action.

Nineteen permits have been issued for King Rail and Least Bittern since the species were protected under the ESA: one ‘human health and safety’ (17(2)(a)) permit, 17 ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits and one ‘overall benefit’ (17(2)(c)) permit.

‘Health and safety’ permits are issued when an activity that may harm species at risk is considered necessary for the protection of human health and safety. In 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks issued one ‘human health and safety permit’ under the ESA for an infrastructure project associated with bridge demolition and rebuilding. Activities undertaken to minimize the adverse effects on Least Bittern include daily visual searches for the species with removal, if found, by a certified professional, and education on the species for construction site workers.

‘Protection or recovery’ permits are issued if the purpose of the activity is to assist in the protection or recovery of a species at risk. All ‘protection and recovery’ permits were issued for multiple species, including King Rail and/or Least Bittern. One permit was issued to identify breeding sites and conduct habitat assessments for Least Bittern and King Rail in the Long Point region. Thirteen of the ‘protection or recovery’ permits enabled the post-construction mortality monitoring all species at risk birds at wind power projects, including the collection of deceased specimens and medical treatment of injured birds. Another permit was issued to conduct research on key habitat features for Least Bittern and a species at risk turtle in the St. Lawrence Islands National Park Greater Park Ecosystem and to refine habitat models for these species. The remaining two multi-species permits were issued for surveying wetlands and locating species in the Oshawa region and the Frontenac Biosphere.

One ‘overall benefit” permit was issued for Least Bittern at a housing development site where Least Bittern occurs. Several of the conditions included in the permit were designed to benefit Least Bittern and minimize adverse effects to the species, including: creating new wetland habitat that had a decreased risk of water level fluctuations, as well as sediment and erosion control measures to maintain water quality.

More detailed information regarding ‘human health and safety’ and ‘overall benefit’ permits for this species is available through the Environmental Registry of Ontario.

Nineteen agreements were entered into for King Rail and Least Bittern. Of these:

  • two were aggregate agreements that included multiple species, including Least Bittern
  • five were drainage agreements that included multiple species, including King Rail and Least Bittern
  • seven were drainage agreements that included multiple species, including Least Bittern
  • four were drainage agreements that included multiple species, including King Rail
  • one was a drainage agreement that was specific to King Rail

These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08  (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment). Conditions of the agreements involve implementing actions in the mitigation plan, including, but not limited to:

  • having a qualified professional conduct surveys for Least Bittern in accordance with the National Least Bittern Survey Protocol (Jobin et al. 2011)
  • not conducting activities in areas that would disturb nesting habitat or nesting birds during nesting, breeding or fledging periods
  • ceasing activities if one or more birds are encountered during a period when the species is nesting, breeding or fledging
  • temporarily ceasing activities to allow birds that are not nesting, breeding or fledging to leave the area where activities are being conducted

Since 2013, 57 activities that may affect King Rail or its habitat have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. Ten of these activities were registered under “Drainage works” (section 23.9), eight were registered under “Ecosystem protection” (section 23.11), two were registered under “Species protection, recovery activities” (section 23.17) and 37 were registered under “Threats to human health and safety, not imminent” (section 23.18). The registrations enabled activities such as:

  • replacing aging water control structures and water supply pumping systems
  • creating and restoring wetlands
  • conducting routine drain maintenance

Additionally, 202 activities that may affect Least Bittern or its habitat have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. Twenty-four of these activities were registered under “Drainage works” (section 23.9), one was registered under “Early exploration mining” (section 23.10), 10 were registered under “Ecosystem protection” (section 23.11), three were registered under “Pits and quarries” (section 23.14), one was registered under “Safe harbour habitat” (section 23.16), two were registered under “Species protection, recovery activities” (section 23.17), 159 were registered under “Threats to human health and safety, not imminent” (section 23.18), and two were registered under “Wind facilities” (section 23.20). The registrations enabled activities such as:

  • replacing culverts caused by a wash out
  • conducting routine drain maintenance
  • draining a marsh to eradicate invasive fish species and conduct maintenance on water control infrastructure

Registrations require the registrant to comply with all conditions of the regulation, such as:

  • preparing a mitigation plan to identify steps that will be taken to minimize the adverse effects of an activity on the species and monitor the effectiveness of the steps
  • minimizing damage to, or the destruction of, the species’ habitat at a time of year when the species is likely to be carrying out a life process related to reproduction
  • ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to control erosion and sediment, and to stabilize banks, in any area of water affected by an activity if:
    • the area is the habitat of a species
    • a member of a species is likely to be present in the area
  • 1
    human health and safety permit
  • 17
    protection or recovery permits
  • 1
    overall benefit permit
  • 19
    agreements
  • 259
    registrations

Progress towards implementing government-supported actions

Government-supported actions are organized under overarching recovery objectives. Progress has been made towards achieving all government-supported recovery objectives and implementing several of the associated actions identified in the GRS for King Rail and Least Bittern.

Objective: Increase knowledge of threats and habitat requirements of the species, and reduce threats to the King Rail and Least Bittern.

  • Action No. 1 (High Priority) - Develop, promote, implement and evaluate best management practices to maintain and restore habitat for King Rail and Least Bittern such as:
    • implementing best management practices for invasive species prevention or control (e.g., invasive Phragmites), in areas where invasive species pose a direct threat, while evaluating and adapting approaches to minimize impacts on specialist marsh birds such as King Rail and Least Bittern
    • implementing best management practices to reduce effects of siltation, turbidity, nutrient loading, and pollutants (e.g., shoreline stabilization techniques, implementing Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans) on wetlands
    • developing, implementing and evaluating techniques for wetland restoration, wetland creation and restoration of areas adjacent to wetlands
  • Action No. 2 - Identify and describe King Rail and Least Bittern habitat and micro-habitat conditions, including:
    • identifying habitat characteristics for all life stages such as foraging, post-breeding dispersal, moulting (i.e., replacing old feathers with new feathers) and migration stopover in Ontario
    • identifying territory, home range size and if feasible minimum area requirements
    • estimating available suitable habitat to determine if habitat specificity is a limiting factor for the King Rail
    • investigating use and habitat availability changes with increasing and compounding threats (e.g., climate change, water level alterations, invading and established species)

Under this objective, progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 1 (High Priority) through projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program and through conditions of ESA authorizations that created, restored, and managed wetland habitat for species at risk in several areas across Ontario. Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) are also conducting habitat management and research activities to support these species. For example, Ontario Parks is treating invasive Phragmites at several provincial parks, including Rondeau, Long Point, and Komoka Provincial Park to reduce the spread of this invasive plant in King Rail and Least Bittern habitat. MNRF is also investigating potential biological control agents for invasive Phragmites with federal partners, the University of Toronto and Ducks Unlimited Canada. In addition, MNRF has collaborated with the Canadian Wildlife Service and Nature Conservancy of Canada to support landscape level management of Phragmites across the Long Point Region, to support restoration of over 1300 hectares of wetland and species at risk habitats.

Initial progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 2 through species and habitat surveys that helped to determine preferred habitat features and habitat suitability modelling for Least Bittern in the Haliburton area. These projects received support from the Species at Risk Stewardship Program.

Objective: Increase knowledge of the distribution and abundance of King Rail and Least Bittern and enhance knowledge on population densities and trends.

  • Action No. 6 (High Priority) - Conduct species-specific surveys in King Rail suitable habitat to determine the presence/absence of the species and better understand the species’ distribution and population size.
  • Action No. 7 - Collaborate with volunteer monitoring programs to better assess the population size and distribution of Least Bittern and address gaps in the current known range).
  • Action No. 8 - Encourage the recording, sharing and transfer of Traditional Ecological Knowledge on King Rail and Least Bittern, as available, including information on the condition of the species and its habitat to support protection and recovery.

Under this objective initial progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 6 and No. 8 and considerable progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 7. Species at Risk Stewardship Program projects have contributed to these actions by conducting surveys and inventories for wetland species, including King Rail and Least Bittern, across southern and central Ontario, and gathering Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Least Bittern in northern Ontario to better understand the historical abundance and distribution of this species.

Observation records submitted to the NHIC by individuals and various organizations have helped to increase our understanding of Least Bittern distributions (and to some extent, King Rail) in Ontario (Action No. 6 and No. 7) as well. For example, Birds Canada collects and shares observation data on wetland bird species through their marsh monitoring programs and Ontario Breeding Bird Atlases, which receive support from Ontario Parks, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Environment and Climate Change Canada and various non-government organizations. Marsh monitoring programs are ongoing, and the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2021-2025) is currently underway to survey for all breeding birds in the province. Species at risk sightings from these programs have been, and continue to be, submitted to the NHIC Significant Species database.

Conditions of ESA authorizations such as reporting observations of King Rail and Least Bittern also contribute to our understanding of these species’ distributions.

Objective: Work collaboratively with partners to maintain or improve the quality of wetland habitat throughout the King Rail and Least Bittern’s range.

  • Action No. 10 - As opportunities arise, support the securement of habitat of King Rail and Least Bittern through existing land securement and stewardship programs
  • Action No. 11 - Promote local stewardship of King Rail and Least Bittern habitat and increase awareness of the species’ biology to landowners and land managers by:
    • collaborating with existing wetland conservation programs to promote the stewardship and conservation of wetland habitat
    • developing and implementing strategies (e.g., information distribution, road signage) to minimize collisions with vehicles or infrastructure
    • encouraging landowner and land manager participation in citizen science programs
    • reducing the effects of recreational activities (e.g., motorized boat waves near marshes)

Under this objective, progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 10 and initial progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 11.

Action No. 10 has been underway in the central Ontario region with land securement initiatives that have expanded the Carden Plain, where Least Bittern has been observed. Action No. 11 has been initiated through projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program and Ontario Parks. These include several citizen science events that encouraged reporting species at risk such as King Rail and Least Bittern, the development of a natural heritage system for the Kawartha region that includes priority conservation areas, and efforts by Ontario Parks to reduce the impacts of recreational activities to King Rail and Least Bittern habitat in several provincial parks including Rondeau, Long Point, and Komoka Provincial Parks.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

The recovery goal for King Rail is to maintain the persistence of the species in Ontario, by reducing threats to the species and its habitat. The recovery goal for Least Bittern is to maintain the current distribution and abundance in Ontario, and where feasible, enable increases by reducing threats to the species and its habitat. Effort made towards the government-led and government-supported actions has helped to make progress towards these goals. As well, observation data submitted by Ontarians that is now part of the provincial record has helped to better understand where these two species occur in Ontario, with both now known to occur across a greater estimated distribution than was known before 2008.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, this review of progress can be used to help identify whether adjustments to the implementation of GRS actions are needed, to achieve the protection and recovery of the species. Based on progress to date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for King Rail and Least Bittern, particularly the implementation of actions identified as high priority, should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species.

Although initial progress has been made towards the action to identify and describe King Rail and Least Bittern habitat and micro-habitat conditions (Action No. 2), work is required to identify territory, home range size and minimum area requirements for these species and estimate if habitat specificity is a limiting factor for the King Rail. Further work is also needed to conduct more species-specific surveys and gather Traditional Ecological Knowledge for King Rail (Action No. 6 – High Priority and Action No. 8). Further efforts to prevent bird collisions with vehicles and infrastructure, as well as habitat damage caused by recreational activities, is also needed outside of provincial parks.

While there has been much focus on the progression of other actions, the following actions require additional support to aid the protection and recovery of the species:

  • Action No. 3 - Research potential factors that may be influencing the distribution or abundance of King Rails and Least Bittern such as:
    • investigating prey specialization, competition with other species for prey or nesting locations, and predator density for King Rails
    • researching dispersal and migration routes
  • Action No. 4 - Examine the interaction between occupancy or nesting success and water level fluctuations over appropriate time scales to investigate how water level management (e.g., dykes, dams or regulated water levels) impacts habitat availability.
  • Action No. 5 (High Priority) - Develop and implement a species-specific monitoring program using standardized protocols in areas with confirmed observations of King Rail and Least Bittern in order to model population densities, population trends and habitat trends.
  • Action No. 9 (High Priority) - Coordinate efforts to share information with other jurisdictions, including national and international partners for wetland conservation, to increase understanding of potential range contractions across the continent and of the protection of migratory and overwintering habitat of King Rail and Least Bittern.

Protecting and recovering King Rail and Least Bittern will continue to be a shared responsibility that will require the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities. Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. The government can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake a project. By working together, progress can continue to be made towards protecting and recovering King Rail and Least Bittern in Ontario.

References

  • Jobin, B., R. Bazin, L. Maynard, A. McConnell and J. Stewart. 2011. National Least Bittern Survey Protocol. Technical Report Series No. 519, Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Quebec Region, Quebec, 26 p.

Footnotes

  • footnote[1] Back to paragraph A population is considered historical if it has not been recorded within the last 20 years. Historical populations may still exist, but updated information is not available.
  • footnote[2] Back to paragraph Some projects supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program may require a 17(2)(b) permit in order to carry out the project. As a result, some 17(2)(b) permits indicated in this report may have been issued to authorize those projects.