Pacific Coast, Update, Waterfowl, Wetlands

Celebrating 20 years of shorebird conservation in the Fraser River Estuary

Twenty years later after international designation, the Fraser River Estuary has changed but is still a site of hemispheric importance for shorebirds.

September 15, 2025

Mixed shorebirds, wintering in the Fraser River Delta

If you have stood on the shore of Roberts Bank in spring, or Boundary Bay in winter, you may have noticed vast flocks of shorebirds feeding along the edge of the incoming tide. Or witnessed the aerial spectacle of a tight formation of shorebirds weaving and dodging away from hunting falcons. The expansive tidal flats of the Fraser River Estuary, as well as adjacent farm fields, provide excellent opportunities to see flocks of Western sandpipers and dunlin in one of the most important sites on the Pacific Coast for shorebirds. The Fraser estuary is of hemispheric importance and received international recognition by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WSHRN) twenty years ago!

So, what makes this estuary so special?

A natural wonder, right here in B.C.

The Fraser River Estuary is a vast, productive landscape where fresh water meets salt, creating rich feeding grounds for shorebirds, waterfowl, and a whole web of life. Spanning more than 79,100 acres (32,000 hectares) of marshes, mudflats, and farmlands, it’s a crucial stopover for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, a bird “highway” that stretches from Alaska to South America.

In spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of Western sandpipers descend on the estuary to refuel on tiny invertebrates and nutrient-packed biofilm before continuing their journeys. On a peak migration day, more than 500,000 sandpipers have been recorded at Roberts Bank alone.

That’s not just impressive, it’s globally significant.

Roberts Bank Wilderness Management Area with a Westham sunrise in the background, an attractive landscape for shorebirds. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

What is this designation, and why does it matter?

In 2005, the Fraser River Estuary was recognized by WHSRN as a site of hemispheric importance, the network’s highest level of designation. This isn’t just an honorary title. It reflects decades of science, conservation, and global co-operation to protect the most essential habitats for migrating shorebirds.

With this designation came increased attention, responsibility, and partnership opportunities. It put the estuary on the map as a key part of a larger conservation effort, and it’s helped drive meaningful progress over the last 20 years.

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s role in the Fraser River Estuary

Ducks Unlimited Canada has been part of this success story from the beginning supporting the management and restoration of several key locations:

Alaksen National Wildlife Area

George C Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Boundary Bay Provincial Wildlife Management Area

Sturgeon Bank Provincial Wildlife Management Area

Roberts Bank Provincial Wildlife Management Area

Working alongside the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture, Birds Canada, and other partners, we focus on conserving important habitats, improving wetland function, and helping people understand what’s at stake.

Because wetlands don’t just help birds, they help all of us.

A view of the Fraser River as it exits into the Salish Sea, from Alaksen National Wildlife Area. © Chantelle Abma

Wetlands work for everyone

The same wetlands that nourish migrating birds also store carbon, filter water and reduce flood risks for nearby communities, they support agriculture and fisheries, and they give us places to walk, birdwatch, and breathe, working around the clock to keep nature and people healthy.

A landscape under pressure

Despite its beauty and global importance, the Fraser River Estuary faces growing threats.

Habitat loss due to the expansion of urban, industrial, transportation and agricultural land uses. Port activity is intensifying, and climate change is adding new pressures: rising sea levels, shifting river flows and changing migration patterns.

Disturbance effects from dog walking, off-leash play and boating can stress wildlife depending on the location or season, and conservation work here is more important than ever.

In addition to local threats to shorebirds, climate change and human alteration of local landscapes are affecting the availability of food and habitat for migrating shorebirds, and may be contributing to population declines, including shorebirds in the Fraser River Estuary. Researchers have observed that over the last 30 years populations of Western sandpiper stopping at Roberts Bank, one of the most important stopover sites within the Fraser River Estuary, have declined by over 50 per cent.

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The Fraser River Estuary is a critical site for migrating shorebirds and many other species. The 2024 State of Canada’s Birds Report recently found that shorebird populations have declined by over 42 per cent since 1980. If we want future generations to enjoy the beauty of migrating shorebirds, we need to continue working to conserve key migratory sites, like those found in the estuary.

James Paterson, research scientist, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research - Ducks Unlimited Canada

A dunlin walks along the shoreline. Flocks of dunlin exceeding 120,000 birds have been observed in the past in the Fraser River Estuary. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

The good news? There’s been a lot of progress.

The estuary has received unprecedented financial investment from the federal and provincial governments for habitat restoration/enhancement through the Coastal Restoration Fund, BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, and the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund, with over $15M invested since 2017. In addition, new conservation areas have been established in the Fraser River Estuary since 2005 when the WHSRN designation was first announced. Currently, 85 per cent of the tidal flats are in some type of conservation area. Provincial wildlife sanctuaries, seasonal hunting restrictions, and education efforts work to support the local ecosystem, and while the estuary would benefit from a comprehensive and updated land management plan to guide sustainable development, science continues to deepen our understanding of this place, from what’s living in the mud, to where birds go when they depart.

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There is so much life in the estuary. From microscopic organisms and tiny invertebrates all the way up to geese, salmon and even coyotes, the estuary is home to so much, and all those lives are intertwined.

Eric Balke, conservation programs specialist, B.C. Region – Ducks Unlimited Canada

Invasive species management in Burns Bank WMA at sunrise © Ducks Unlimited Canada

What you can do to help shorebirds

Love birds? Want to help safeguard the places they rely on? Here are a few easy ways to get involved:

Learn more: Visit ducks.ca to explore the benefits of wetlands and estuaries.

Visit with care: Keep dogs on leashes, stick to trails, and respect signs during nesting or migration seasons.

Support wetland conservation: Volunteer or donate to Ducks Unlimited Canada or other local habitat organizations.

Speak up: Advocate for policies that prioritize habitat conservation and sustainable development.

This 20-year WHSRN anniversary is a powerful reminder that progress is happening, and that conservation works.

Our vision is clean water and healthy wetlands for all waterfowl, wildlife and people.

Learn about our other coastal B.C. projects

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