The
37 protected sites of Saint-Laurent Vision 2000:
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| Conservation
of 7000 hectares |
Battures Tailhandier
| Located in the
Boucherville archipelago, the Battures Tailhandier site
encompasses a group of islands, name Montbrun, Lafontaine,
Bleury, Dufault, du Nord, Tourte Blanche, and Verte, together
with the broad Tailhandier flats. These islands belonging
to the Montreal Port Corporation were among the only unprotected
ones in the archipelago, since most of the other islands
form part of the Îles-de-Boucherville Provincial Park. The
Port Corporation has turned over management of the site
to the Canadian Wildlife Service for a period of at least
20 years, thereby permitting the protection of more
than 154 hectares of habitat. |
South shore marsh
of the Battures
Tailhandier. Photo: CWS
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Protecting the islands to the west of the
provincial park was considered essential in order to maintain
the great diversity of species that use the area. The chenal
du Courant, a channel which divides the archipelago in two,
is important on account of its homogenous stands of narrow-leaved
cattails, which do not occur in the other island groups along
this stretch of the St. Lawrence. The channel and surrounding
islands are used by a number of dabbling duck species during
the nesting season and the migrations. The channel area serves
as a brooding area for ducklings, and is frequented by various
aquatic birds (herons, rails, etc.). It is also a concentration
area for muskrats, and the upstream part of the channel has
been designated as wildlife habitat for this species. In addition
to providing spawning grounds for numerous fish species, the
site has considerable potential for amphibians and reptiles.
Île Verte, which is somewhat isolated from the other islands
in the archipelago, is also an important habitat for many species,
especially waterfowl. Scoters flock to locations near the island
during their fall migration. At least four plant species likely
to be designated as threatened or vulnerable occur on the island
(1995 records).
This site was identified as a priority at the outset of the
St. Lawrence Action Plan. Needless to say, the efforts
directed at protecting its tremendous ecological value have
definitely borne fruit.
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