What areas of CRD harbours do sea & shore birds frequent the most?
There are some valuable bird habitat areas around the CRD, and Victoria in general. Esquimalt Lagoon, Esquimalt Harbour and Victoria Harbour have been designated as federal migratory bird sanctuaries. The Chain Islets, off Oak Bay, are part of a marine ecological reserve, and provide year-round breeding grounds for Glaucous-winged Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, Brant’s Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots and Black Oystercatchers. All resident cormorant species are on the BC Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Red List (meaning they are extirpated, endangered or threatened in BC). Race Rocks, to the west of Victoria, provides rich feeding grounds for many species of migratory and resident seabirds. Portage Inlet is one of the two most important bird areas in the CRD (the other being Esquimalt Lagoon). Portage is characterized by shallow water and low salinity, due to limited tidal flushing and freshwater input from Craigflower Creek. It harbours extensive eelgra
