Species Lists

• American Woodcock – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Barn Swallow – COSEWIC Threatened, SARA Threatened, Sara Schedule 1, – NS=Endangered (2013). Federal BCS- NS Priority Species
• Bay-breasted Warbler – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Belted Kingfisher – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Boreal Chickadee – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Canada Warbler – COSEWIC Threatened, SARA Threatened, Sara Schedule 1 – NS=Endangered (2013). Federal BCS- NS Priority Species
• Cape May Warbler – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Common Nighthawk- COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA Threatened, Sara Schedule 1, NS=Threatened(2007), Federal BCS- NS Priority Species
• Common Snapping Turtle – COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA = Special Concern. Sara = Schedule 1, NS=Vulnerable(2013)
• Eastern Painted Turtle – COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA = No Status.
• Eastern Wood-Pewee – COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA Special Concern, Sara Schedule 1, NS=Vulnerable(2013), Federal BCS- NS Priority Species
• Evening Grosbeak – COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA = No Status, NS=Vulnerable(2017),
• Little Brown Myotis- COSEWIC Endangered, SARA Endangered, Sara Schedule 1,- NS=Endangered (2013).
• Monarch – COSEWIC Endangered, SARA Special Concern, Sara Schedule 1, NS=Endangered (2017).
• Moose(Mainland Population) –NS=Endangered(2003)
• Olive-sided Flycatcher – COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA Threatened, Sara Schedule 1, NS=Threatened(2013)
• Pine Grosbeak – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Ruffed Grouse – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Rusty Blackbird – COSEWIC Special Concern, SARA Special Concern, Sara Schedule 1 – NS=Endangered (2013) Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species
• Spruce Grouse – Federal Bird Conservation Strategy- NS Priority Species

For definition of NS Priority Species (Non Listed), see This Doc.

• Anquilla rostrata*, American Eel (33/170)
• Alosa aestivalis/A. pseudoharengus+, Gaspereau (26/170)
• Salvelinus fontinalis*, Brook Trout (97/170)
• Notemigonus crysoleucas, Golden Shiner (introduced; used as bait) (58/170)
• Catostomus commersoni*, White Sucker (97/170)
• Ictalurus nebulosus+, Brown Bullhead (Catfish) (41/170)
• Fundulus diaphanus*, Banded Killifish (50/170)
• Marone americana+, White Perch (49/170)
• Perca flavescens*, Yellow Perch (35/170)

So of the species common in Halifax Co. lakes in 1971, all except Golden Shiner have been recorded in Sandy Lake.

– “There was no significant correlation between the occurrence of white perch, banded killifish and American eel and the occurrence of any other fish species. This probably reflects a tolerance by these species to a wide range of environmental factors.”
– “There was a negative correlation between the occurrence of brook trout and all other species except stickleback.”

Not amongst the common species for Halifax Co. in 1971, but otherwise recorded (above) in Sandy Lake:

• Micropterus dolomieui, Small Mouth Bass
• Salmo salar,  Atlantic Salmon

So, Salmon in Halifax Lakes was special in 1971. On Smallmouth Bass: “The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a species of freshwater fish found within the sunfish family.  Smallmouth bass were first introduced to Nova Scotia in 1942 by the government for a source of sport fishing. It is known as an invasive species in most of Nova Scotia’s watersheds due to its habit of outcompeting native species. To this day, illegal introduction still occurs to induce sport fishing.”

Comments about Atlantic Salmon, Gaspereau and Small Mouth Bass in Alexander et., 1971
Salmo salar. Atlantic salmon were recorded from only 1 2 [of 781 for NS as a whole] surveyed lakes, but survey crews would make a conscious effort to avoid t heir capture because of the high public profile of the species. Most specimens captured were juveniles, probably from anadromous populations, although landlocked Atlantic salmon occur in Lake Charles and Grand Lake (44° 55’N; 63°36’W), in the Shubenacadie watershed and probably in other watersheds.

Alosa aesliva/Alosa pseudoharengus. Blueback herring and/ or alewife [or Gaspereau] were recorded from 84 locations (11%) [of 781 for NS as a whole], but because of the large numbers sometimes encountered and the difficulty in removing them from gill nets, survey crews often avoided setting nets at times or in places where they were most likely to be captured. No distinction was made between the two species. Both species may have been present in the lakes although our observations suggest that blueback spawn in flowing streams near seawater while alewives migrate to spawn in freshwater lakes. Alewives can become landlocked, but no landlocked populations have been identified in Nova Scotia. The presence of either of these species in any location is, therefore, considered to be evidence of clear access to that location from the sea. These species make little contribution to the sport fishery although post-spawners take readily on flies. Juveniles are important as a forage species and adults o n the spawning migration support important commercial fisheries which have come under study in recent years (Alexander 1984, Alexander and Vromans 1984, 1985, 1986, Crawford 1983).

Micropterus dolomieui. Smallmouth bass were captured in 11 lakes [of 781 for NS as a whole]. Historical records of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans show that this species was introduced to the province in Bunker Lake, Yarmouth County, in 1942. Introductions were subsequently made to lakes in at least half the counties of the mainland. Naturally reproducing populations of small mouth bass are now well established in many locations although they are absent from Cape Breton Island. Small mouth bass from Nova Scotia tend to be small with an average size of 27.7 em recorded for reeled fish in Kings County in 1982 (Sabean 1984). This has detracted from their popularity in the sport fishery although personal observations suggest that popularity has increased since about the mid-1970’s. As expected, public requests for introduction of small mouth bass have increased accordingly. There is concern that the species ca n displace populations of native sport fish.