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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2008 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator	LC	winter (1995)	526 individuals	A4i
Brent Goose Branta bernicla	LC	passage (1999)	4,751 individuals	A4i
American Wigeon Mareca americana	LC	winter (1995)	30,500 individuals	A4i
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena	LC	passage (1998)	2,576 individuals	A4i
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis	LC	passage (1998)	3,000 individuals	A4i
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	winter (1995)	29,000 individuals	A4i
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri	LC	passage (1992)	500,000 individuals	A4i
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens	LC	winter (1995)	19,000 individuals	A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (-)	500,000-999,999 individuals	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2008. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Transportation and service corridors	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Pollution	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Some of site covered (10–49%)	No manage­ment plan exists, but the manage­ment planning process has begun	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1939	Peace Arch Park	A - Park (II)	<1
1976	Alaksen National Wildlife Area	National Wildlife Area (IV)	<1
1991	South Arm Marshes Wildlife Management Area	Wildlife Management Area (IV)	1
1995	Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area	Wildlife Management Area (IV)	14
1998	Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area	Wildlife Management Area (IV)	10
2009	Serpentine Wildlife Management Area	Wildlife Management Area (IV)	<1
2011	Roberts Bank Wildlife Management Area	Wildlife Management Area (IV)	11

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Artificial/Terrestrial	-	Arable land; Other urban & industrial areas
Forest	-	Temperate coniferous; Temperate deciduous
Wetlands (inland)	-	Freshwater marshes & swamps

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	major (>10)
fisheries/aquaculture	major (>10)
hunting	major (>10)
tourism/recreation	major (>10)
nature conservation and research	minor (<10)
urban/industrial/transport	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Boundary Bay - Roberts Bank - Sturgeon Bank (Fraser River Estuary) (Canada). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/boundary-bay--roberts-bank--sturgeon-bank-(fraser-river-estuary)-iba-canada on 15/01/2025.