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.
Fish viewfinder with many juvenile fish in it.
Notes from the field

One with the fish: a day conducting salmon research with our Summer Stewardship Program

“Who’s ready to rumble?” yells Captain Sean, his jolly head poking out the port-side window of the BellaRose. I extend my hand to each of my six youth participants as they climb aboard the vessel. A warm salty breeze washes over me as we embark together on today’s project. This will be a good day….
Belted Kingfisher close up looking to the side.
Raincoast updates

A chance to double your donation to KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest!

We are thrilled to announce a donation matching campaign to support the purchase and permanent protection of KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest.
Birds eye view of a coastal forest next to the ocean.
Conservation updates

Celebrating the success of the first annual EcoFair 

EcoFair provided opportunities for land based education.
Some Healthy Waters team members do water sampling over a river and rocks on the lower mainland.
Conservation updates

Vote to help Raincoast win a Land Rover to launch our mobile lab, Tracker

Raincoast has been selected as a finalist to win a Land Rover Defender 130.
Overhead view of Coastal Douglas-fir forest.
Conservation updates

Entering the homestretch of the KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest fundraising campaign

Over the past ten months, Raincoast and the Pender Islands Conservancy have raised $1,445,656.46 to protect this special place and secure, in perpetuity,  an old growth forest.
Four people sitting on a hill in a forest.
Events

Trees to Seas EcoExpo and Conservation Conversations

Unlike industry-led expos, which generally feature products and business pitches, EcoExpo will be a chance to interact with conservation leaders from across the Salish Sea Region.
Woman in a plaid shirt with a shovel digging invasive Daphne plants.
Raincoast updates

Restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ at EcoFair

PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ or “The Blossoming Place” is a charitable, non-profit organization that provides participatory education opportunities about traditional and healthy food systems to contribute to the restoration and revitalization of native ecosystems in W̱SÁNEĆ homelands.
Beluga poking its head up out of the ocean.
Investigate and inform

Belugas, the Sea Canaries: Deciphering a complex communication system

Belugas, nicknamed “sea canaries”, are one of the most loquacious cetacean species, producing an impressive array of sounds for a variety of purposes, such as social communication, group cohesion, maintaining mother-calf contact, navigating, and detecting prey.

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.