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Highly dependent on wetlands throughout its annual cycle, the American Bittern population showed a sharp decrease in Canada in the 1970s that has been linked to habitat loss and degradation (Lowther et al. 2009). Results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that the decrease ended by the mid-1980s and, during the most recent years, has shown an increase. However, regional results vary for this widely distributed species. The American Bittern’s elusive behaviour means that the magnitude of long-term change remains somewhat uncertain, but overall the national population has shown little change since 1970. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Given its reliance upon freshwater wetlands during both the breeding and wintering seasons, the American Bittern is highly sensitive to habitat change (Lowther et al. 2009). Broad-scale declines across the United States have been attributed to the loss of many important wetlands and to degradation or contamination of remaining marshes (Lowther et al. 2009), and similar habitat changes may be impacting Canadian breeders (Timmermans 2007). Nonetheless, additional insight into the basic ecology and habitat requirements of this secretive species is needed to identify the factors involved in population regulation, and to address the possibility that severe wetland loss and degradation in the United States may be driving the population northward (Lowther et al. 2009).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
