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Seabird Haven Saved from Vacation Homes
11 Aug
Summary
- Development plans threatened a vital seabird refuge in Washington's Strait of Juan de Fuca.
- Conservationists successfully campaigned to protect the island as wildlife habitat.
- The island is now a national wildlife refuge, closed to the public for bird protection.
In the late 1960s, Protection Island in Washington's Strait of Juan de Fuca was envisioned as a vacation-home community. However, these development plans posed a significant threat to the island's established role as a crucial refuge for nesting seabirds. By the early 1970s, biologist Zella Schultz and conservationist Eleanor Stopps began actively campaigning against the development, advocating for the island's preservation as vital wildlife habitat.
Their efforts, joined by others, led to the acquisition of 48 acres in 1974, establishing the Zella M. Schultz Seabird Sanctuary. This initial protection paved the way for further conservation actions. In 1982, the federal government designated most of the island as the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing 364 acres.
Today, this refuge remains closed to the public to minimize disturbance to nesting birds. The island supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including rhinoceros auklets, tufted puffins, and harbour seals. Surrounding aquatic lands were also protected, designating the waters as the Protection Island Aquatic Reserve in 2010, further safeguarding this critical nesting area for seabirds in the Salish Sea.
