IBA Twelve Mile Creek Headwaters
Fonthill, Ontario
Site Summary
ON021 Latitude
Longitude
43.078° N
79.288° W
Elevation
Size
150 - 200 m
49.25 km²
Habitats:
deciduous woods (temperate)
Land Use:
Nature conservation and research, Forestry, Tourism/recreation, Water management
Potential or ongoing Threats:
Deforestation, Introduced species, Urban/industrial development
IBA Criteria: Nationally Significant: Threatened Species
Conservation status: Conservation Authority (owned by), Provincial Park (including Marine)
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Site Description
The Twelve Mile Creek Headwater Forests (the Fonthill Sandhill Valleys, Short Hills Provincial Park, Decew Gorge, North Pelham Valley, Effingham Forest, and St. John's Valley) are situated near the mouth of the Short Hills Valley to the north and west of the cities of Thorold and St. Catharines. Most of the valley is covered by glacial debris from the Fonthill Kame, and is highly dissected by Twelve Mile Creek and its tributaries, creating a complex series of uplands, ridges, and valleys (some up to 30 m deep). The upper valley slopes support beech forests, while the lower slopes are dominated by Sugar Maple with scattered Tulip Trees, and mixed forests of Eastern Hemlock, Sugar Maple and American Beech. The bottomlands have open seeps with Skunk Cabbage, meadow marshes, thicket swamps of Spicebush and alders, and forests of walnut, Red and Sugar maples, Yellow Birch and White Pine.

In addition to birds, the headwater forests support a rich assemblage of flora and fauna. Detailed botanical surveys within each of the forest blocks have recorded between 400 and 500 vascular plant species, and 9 to 15 species of nationally and/or provincially rare plants. The provincially Vulnerable Southern Flying Squirrel has also been recorded in the North Pelham Valley.

Birds
The Twelve Mile Creek Headwater Forests have supported a significant population of Hooded Warbler since their discovery at the site in 1993. Hooded Warblers have been identified as a nationally Threatened Species by COSEWIC. Over the past few years, the estimated number of Hooded Warblers within the headwater forests has ranged from 4 to 8 pairs. This represents between 1.9% and 5.5% of the estimated Canadian Hooded Warbler population. In 1998, a total of 5 territorial males were recorded in the Fonthill Sandhill Valley portion of the complex.

In addition to a significant breeding population of Hooded Warblers, the headwater forests also support a pair of Louisiana Waterthrush (nationally vulnerable) and a rich assemblage of species that are largely restricted to eastern temperate forests. These species include: Red-shouldered Hawk (nationally vulnerable), American Woodcock, Eastern Screech-Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Carolina Wren, Wood Thrush, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Pine Warbler, Cerulean Warbler (nationally vulnerable), Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, and Field Sparrow.




IBA Criteria
SpeciesT | A | I Links Date Season Number G C N
Acadian Flycatcher 2003 SU 1
Rusty Blackbird 2019 FA 40
Yellow-breasted Chat 1961 SU 2
Note: species shown in bold indicate that the maximum number exceeds at least one of the IBA thresholds (sub-regional, regional or global). The site may still not qualify for that level of IBA if the maximum number reflects an exceptional or historical occurrence.
 
Conservation Issues
The primary threats affecting the Twelve Mile Creek Headwater Forests are poorly managed logging, housing development, erosion and habitat loss associated with heavy use of ridge trails by motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles, and invasion by non-native species (Garlic Mustard). In some areas Garlic Mustard completely dominates other herbaceous species.

Portions of the Twelve Mile Creek Headwater Forests are ostensibly conserved, such as the St. John's Valley, which is mostly owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, and the Short Hills Provincial Park, which is owned by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Areas that remain in private ownership are vulnerable to land use patterns that may have a negative effect on the birds (poorly managed logging) or land use change such as conversion to agriculture or the development of residential estates. The Fonthill Sandhill Valley, in particular, is vulnerable to logging, urban expansion, and erosion from vehicles.


The IBA Program is an international conservation initiative coordinated by BirdLife International. The Canadian co-partners for the IBA Program are Birds Canada and Nature Canada.
   © Birds Canada