Data Zone
Country/territory: Canada
IBA criteria met: -
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 11,000 ha
Site description (baseline)
Frank Lake is located about 20 km southeast of the town of Nampa, in northwestern Alberta. The site is accessible by road, but the lake itself is accessed on foot. It is a small, isolated lake surrounded by mixed forests, bogs, and muskeg of Black Spruce and poplar; on the south side are wetlands which drain to a creek via marshlands. The site is in the boreal zone and is mostly flat terrain with hummocky soil. A number of interesting mammals are found in the area including Elk, Moose, Gray Wolf, Lynx, and White-tailed and Mule deer.
Key biodiversity
The lake area, surrounding wetlands and boreal forest support a diverse group of birds, with over 120 species recorded to date. The area provides excellent nesting habitat and also supports a large number of species during spring and fall migration. Tundra Swans are present in continentally significant numbers. During fall migration, from 1,500 to 2,000 birds can be regularly observed on the lake. This is between 1 and 2% of the western population of Tundra Swans. Another swan, the Trumpeter Swan (Rocky Mountain population), breeds on the lake with one pair present each year.
Numerous other waterfowl use the lake. As many as 4,000 Canada Geese breed and migrate through the area. Surf and White-winged scoters utilize the lake in spring migration, with up to 10 and 200 being recorded, respectively; White-winged Scoters also breed in small numbers. Bufflehead can be seen in good numbers, with up to 1,000 birds present in spring and fall migration (it also breeds). Many passerines also feed alongside the lake during migration. High counts of 50 Yellow-rumped Warblers have been noted during the spring passage.
During the breeding season, two pairs of Common Loons nest on the lake, and breeding Red-necked Grebes are regularly seen in summer (up to 50 birds are seen). Finally, up to 10 Pileated Woodpeckers are permanent residents around the lake.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Frank Lake (north). Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/11037 on 28/05/2023.
