S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest

S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest is a 13 acre conservation property located on S,DÁYES (Pender Island) , WSÁNEĆ Territory.

Photo by Alex Harris /
Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

The campaign to protect S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest

In November 2020, Raincoast partnered with the Pender Islands Conservancy to co-purchase a conservation property on S,DÁYES. Despite planning for a six-month fundraising campaign, we secured the required purchase amount in less than three months.

Behind the name: S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest

Globally, bird populations are in significant decline.1 2 Olive-sided Flycatchers are among the bird species federally listed as threatened, predominantly due to habitat loss. These birds, in particular, find their homes in the fringes of forests bordering wetlands, and these interface ecosystems on the Gulf Islands are among the few places these birds are thriving. As a species linking forests and wetlands, the Flycatcher was chosen as the land’s namesake. 

Though the Flycatcher was chosen to symbolize the importance of preserving intact habitat, the placename, S,DÁYES, recognizes the WSÁNEĆ people who have known Pender Islands as home since time immemorial. In SENĆOŦEN, S,DÁYES means “wind drying,” which refers to drying salmon.3 This was the name given to what is now widely known as North Pender Island prior to settler arrival in the area.

About the land

S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest is populated by an assemblage of ecosystems characteristic to the Coastal Douglas-fir zone. It is part of the Shingle Creek wildlife corridor, which also includes land protected within Parks Canada’s Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. The forest shows a legacy of logging, as most forests across the Gulf Islands do, with large fir stumps standing as evidence of the mature forest that once occupied this regenerating system.

Today, maturing Western redcedar and coastal Douglas-fir trees dominate the forest’s canopy, while stands of peeling arbutus occupy the higher elevation slopes at the property’s edges. A forested swamp, now colloquially known as Muskrat Pond, at the north-western corner of the property supports populations of riparian plant species including oceanspray, bigleaf maple, and red alder. Over 50 bird, 4 bat, and a number of amphibian species, including iconic Pacific chorus frogs, call S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest home. 

Support restoration work

The future

S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest is the first property purchased by Raincoast with the intention of healing the land and securing its long-term protection with a conservation covenant. Raincoast is working with our property co-owners, the Pender Islands Conservancy,  to develop a management and restoration plan for the land. Once a management plan is established, we will register a covenant on the land title. Active restoration and education projects are often underway at S,DÁYES Flycatcher Forest, which to date have included native species planting, removing invasive species (particularly Daphne laurel), and creating a native plant meadow. 

donate towards restoration

This campaign was made possible due to the  support of many individuals and organizations, including:

  • Greater Victoria Savings Credit Union
  • Sitka Foundation
  • McLean Foundation
  • Pollinator Partnership
  • Habitat Conservation Trust Fund

Sponsors & supporters

  • Sitka Foundation logo.
  • The McLean Foundation logo.
  • GVSCU Legacy Foundation logo.
  • Public Conservation Assistance Fund logo.
  • Pollinator Partnership logo.
The best modern technology, just edwards.
Raincoast updates

Is America’s Chernobyl in Canada’s future?

Guest Commentary by Chris Genovali for Buzzflash Many Canadians have been anxiously following the unfolding Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster and are experiencing a deep sense of unease as they scan the daily media reports.
A humbpack feeds
Raincoast updates

Big oil eyes B.C. coast

Marine mammals have made a remarkable recovery in this province, but that could be erased by a catastrophic oil spill. Georgia Straight By Charlie Smith Since 2004, scientists have been travelling up and down the B.C. coast on the Achiever, a steel-hulled, 22-metre sloop owned by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. In this time, they have…
Juvenile sockeye infected with sea lice as they migrate past fish farms in the Discovery Islands
In the media

Impacts of sea lice on wild salmon

Dave Dickson at CFAX speaks with Raincoast biologist Micheal Price about his sea lice research and early findings on the presence of sea lice on juvenile Fraser River sockeye…
Doug Brown
Raincoast updates

Honouring ‘Wolfman’ Doug Brown Jr.

Our first ‘real’ blog post from the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest! Perhaps you are expecting tales of bears, wolves, or salmon.  Well, after three days of fieldwork, we have not yet seen any charismatic wildlife (except a nice spike buck in velvet). And we have heard that locals have been catching some salmon,…
Royal Victoria Marathon logo.
Events

RVM 10-10-10 Join the salmon run

Raincoast  is an Official Pledge Charity of the 31st Annual Royal Victoria Marathon! Did you know that some Fraser River sockeye salmon swim upstream the equivalent of 12 full marathons?  Join our Raincoast Salmon Run team, and help us reach our goal of walking and running 12 full marathons and our financial goal of $30,000. Your…
A man smiling in front of a tree.
Raincoast updates

The ‘Get Out’ Migration

Reflecting on last Saturday’s finale of Alexandra Morton’s amazing Get Out Migration, the walk from Sidney (starting at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre) to the legislature was absolutely inspiring. The Ocean Discovery Centre had a great Get Out Migration exhibit, along with a moving montage of images from the Get Out Migration’s previous legs, accompanied…
The best modern technology, just edwards.
In the media

Ad draws attention to oil spill risk

The best modern technology.  Just like Enbridge promises. Half page ad taken out by Raincoast, Greenpeace, coastal First Nations and others, points to the risks associated with oil extraction and transport. Read about one person’s perspective on BP’s safety record and the constant drive of the oil industry to reduce costs.
A man and woman holding a baby in front of a tree.
Raincoast updates

Our first blog entry!

More notes, more ideas, more reflections. More action. The Raincoast Conservation Foundation has been at the fore front of science and research on the coast of British Columbia for a number of years. We publish peer reviewed papers, we develop reports, we host conferences. We also have a talent for getting press, we produce a…

Notes and references

  1.  BirdLife. (2022). State of the world’s birds 2022: Insights and solutions for the biodiversity crisis. https://www.birdlife.org/papers-reports/state-of-the-worlds-birds-2022/
  2.  Rosenberg, K.V et. al (2019). Decline of the North American avifauna. Science, 366. 120–124. https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/
  3. Elliot, D. (1990). Saltwater people: As told by Dave Elliot Sr. School District 63 (Saanich): Victoria, BC.