How it became what it is today...
The very first prime minister (that is John A. MacDonald) saved 1000 hectares of land for the Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary for early settlers in the area. People were worried that the waterfowl breeding grounds, located at the north end of Last Mountain Lake, should be protected & saved from the development of the Qu'Appelle-Long Lake-Saskatoon Railway and immigrant farmers. They found out that protecting the land had been a great idea, even today, the protected land has been an important stop place for many species of migratory birds. When fall comes, there are usually about 50,000 sandhill cranes, 450,000 geese, and around 200 to 400 thousand ducks. This area is one of the most improtant waterfowl staging areas and is crutial for waterfowl and other water/land birds to rest on their way from the Arctic to the United States. There have been over 280 species of birds & about 100 of these species breed here. Today the sanctuary has increased more than 15,000 hectares in size. Over the years it has been recognized with many designations. In 1987 it became a National Wildlife Area, it is also a Wetland of International Importance. There are only 30 other sites in Canada and a total of 700 worldwide. The bird sanctuary is also an Important Bird Area. The sanctuary is part of a network of 94 other sanctuarys around Canada, and is also part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Last but not least, it is a National Historic Site. We have discovered that Last Mountain Lake is home to 36 species of threatened and endangered birds. These birds include the Peregrine Falcon, the Piping Plover, the Wooping Crane, the Burrowing owl, the Ferruginous Hawk, the Loggerhead Shrike, the Baird's Sparrow, the Caspian Tern, and the Cooper's Hawk. Twelve Provincial & one National rare plants are located in this area also.
The Canadian Wildlife Service, with help from the Province Of Saskatchewan, protects and manages the area.
Did you know?
Did you know that one of the most important events in Saskatchewan's conservation history happened about 18 years before Saskatchewan was formed. In 1887, the Dominion Government Order in Council "saved" about 1000 hectares, this was saved for the Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary. The Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary was the first "official" protected wildlife area in Saskatchewan. It also was the first indicated bird sanctuary in North America!
Information extracted from Saskatchewan's Environmental Champions website.
