The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program (GLCWMP) involves the monitoring of Great Lakes coastal wetland biota and habitat to provide information on coastal wetland condition for use in conservation and management decision-making using fish, birds, anurans, vegetation, aquatic macroinvertebrates and water quality. The main outputs from this program are a thorough assessment of the condition of over 1000 Great Lakes coastal wetlands (that are larger than four hectares in size and have a surface water connection to the lake) and the implementation of a standardized long-term monitoring program for coastal wetlands across the Great Lakes basin. This program is funded under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO). The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada has been involved in the program since it began in 2011, and over that time has conducted fish, vegetation, aquatic macroinvertebrates and water quality surveys at 80 coastal wetland sites (as of 2025) primarily on the Canadian shore of Lake Ontario. Program data are available by request at: www.greatlakeswetlands.org. The data included here are a list of the 80 sites surveyed by CWS, spatial coordinates for each site, and the years that sites were surveyed.

The abundance and distribution of Trumpeter Swan populations were assessed at five-year intervals with the North American Trumpeter Swan Survey. Aerial surveys, using either fixed-wing or helicopter, were conducted using the 1:50,000 topographic map grid in July - September 1990 – 2015 in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Survey maps were selected using a stratified random sampling scheme starting in 1995 for the Yukon and 2010 in parts of BC based on the number of swans expected to occur in any map (buffer = 0 swans, low maps = 1-10 swans, medium = 11 – 49 swans, high = 50+ swans). Total counts of number of adult swans and their social status: single, paired, brood-rearing or flocked (non-breeding) and number of cygnets per brood was recorded. Surveys have been conducted in the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. This project summarizes data from British Columbia and the Yukon between 1990 – 2015. Data for Alberta and the Northwest Territories will be published separately on the Government of Canada Open Data Portal. See metadata download for more details. CWS-North DatasetID 070_4

Aerial surveys were performed in the Rasmussen Lowlands, Nunavut, to determine the numbers and distribution of Greater White-fronted Geese and other waterfowl species. Surveys were carried out in the Lowlands from 20-24 June 1994 and 20-25 June 1995. The survey procedure included flying straight transects in a float-equipped Bell 206L helicopter at 45 m altitude above ground and at a ground speed of 80-100 km/hr. Transects were oriented east-west and spaced at 2.5 km intervals in areas expected to have greater densities of geese and 5 km intervals in areas with lower expected densities. All transects were divided into 2 km segments and the midpoint of each segment was used as a basis for recording data. Transects were of differing lengths. Surveys were performed with two observers, one seated in the left front seat and the other in the right rear seat that was equipped with a bubble window for better viewing. All observations of geese and other highly visible birds within an estimated 200 m of the flight path were recorded. Lesser Snow Geese typically nest in large colonies and are not easily surveyed using widely spaced aerial transects. Therefore, on top of counting the numbers of Snow Geese on the regular transects (all non-breeders in flocks of three or more birds), total counts of nesting Snow Geese were carried out by flying over colonies at a height of 230 m and counting all geese within 1 km of each side of the helicopter. During the transect and colony surveys, the plumage colour of the birds (blue or white) was recorded whenever all individuals in a flock or pair could be readily identified to colour phase. Complete metadata is available in downloadable files. CWS-North DatasetID: 042_0

The Boreal Bird Monitoring Program (BBMP) - Yukon is a multi-species terrestrial bird monitoring program to support the Boreal Monitoring Strategy and conservation planning of terrestrial birds (landbirds, secretive waterbirds, shorebirds) in all boreal ecoregions in Yukon. Background: BBMP is a comprehensive (all 22 ecoregions and all habitat/vegetation types), statistically rigorous, hierarchical sampling design (Boreal Optimal Sampling Strategy or BOSS) that includes cost constraints, habitat stratification, and spatial balance. The BOSS design was tested in multiple jurisdictions in Canada. and is being implemented across Canada’s boreal region. For more information on BBMP, see Van Wilgenburg et al. (2020) (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234494). Avian monitoring is limited both spatially and temporally within Canada’s boreal regions, especially in northern regions. As a result, the Canadian Wildlife Service has developed the BOSS, a national framework for the use of a standardized sampling design to monitor boreal landbirds in a cost-effective way. Between 2017-2023, human point counts were conducted by the migratory birds unit of CWS-NOR in Whitehorse, Yukon across 16 Yukon ecoregions (Klondike Plateau, Yukon Plateau Central, Yukon Plateau North, Mackenzie Mountains, North Ogilvie Mountains, British-Richardson Mountains, Old Crow Flats, Old Crow Basin, Eagle Plains, Liard Basin, Pelly Mountains, Ruby Ranges, Selwyn Mountains, Yukon-Stikine Highlands, Yukon Southern Lakes, and St. Elias Mountains). Human point counts consisted of observers identifying to species (where possible) every bird heard and seen in ten minutes at a specific location to determine the number of individuals per species and time to first detection. Incidental observations either before or after the point count were also recorded. Point counts were conducted during the dawn chorus (2AM-9AM). This project provides important baseline data to better understand species distribution and abundance in remote northern areas where the effects of climate changes are ongoing and human alterations of some of these ecosystems are anticipated. Note that some location names were changed through the time of the study. See the cross-reference table. This dataset contains data collected with point counts conducted by humans. See the separate dataset record for BBMP Autonomous Recording Unit (ARU) point counts conducted in 2017-2023. More details are available in downloaded metadata file. CWS-North DatasetID: 24_01

Waterfowl and waterbird populations were monitored in wetlands and ponds along the highway corridors in the southern Yukon between 1991 – 2016. Approximately 200 wetlands were surveyed once a week for a period of 5 weeks beginning in early May (1991 – 2014); the survey period was reduced to 4 weeks in 2015 – 2016. Data was collected collaboratively with partners from CWS, Yukon Environment and Yukon College; total counts were conducted from fixed locations with binoculars and/or spotting scopes including information on social status (single, paired, non-breeding/migrants). The survey focused primarily on waterfowl, loons, grebes and gulls. In 2004 six additional species were added to the survey (Sora, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Rusty Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird). More details are available in downloaded metadata file. CWS-North DatasetID: 103

The High Elevation Monitoring Program (HEMP) - Yukon is a multi-species terrestrial bird monitoring program to support the Boreal Monitoring Strategy and conservation planning of terrestrial birds (landbirds, shorebirds) in southern boreal ecoregions in Yukon. The absence of long-term monitoring data from structured (e.g. North American Breeding Bird Survey) and unstructured (e.g. Christmas Bird Count, eBird) monitoring programs in regions characterized by remote, rugged mountains, sparse trail and road access, and small human populations limits efforts to detect distribution shifts and population declines for northern mountain bird species. We used a modified version of the BOSS sampling design and the Boreal Bird Monitoring Program (BBMP) design implemented throughout Yukon ecoregions to create the High Elevation Monitoring Program (HEMP) design. We restricted the sampling frame to (1) mountains in southwest Yukon with a hiking or access trail, and (2) a sampling area of two km total width on each mountain (one km on each side of the hiking/access trail). To conduct sampling across elevational gradients at each of our 10 HEMP mountains and achieve habitat representation and spatial balance, we created an elevational transect by selecting five random sample sites within each habitat zone within the sampling frame (low boreal forest, high boreal forest, subalpine, alpine). The HEMP was designed to facilitate cost-effective, reliable, and safe access for observers hiking in rugged mountain terrain at our 10 HEMP mountains to conduct long-term monitoring of terrestrial birds. In 2019, autonomous recording units (hereafter “ARUs”) were deployed to conduct avian point counts using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) methods along elevational gradients on 13 mountains across the Yukon Southern Lakes, St. Elias Mountains, Ruby Ranges, Pelly Mountains, and Yukon Stikine Highland ecoregions in Yukon, and the Northern Coastal Mountain ecoregion in British Columbia (pilot program). In 2021, ARUs were deployed along elevational gradients on 12 different mountains across the Yukon Southern Lakes, St. Elias Mountains, Ruby Ranges, Yukon Stikine Highland, and Boreal Mountain and Plateau ecoregions. In 2022 and 2024, ARUs were deployed at ten of these 12 mountains. The ARU locations in 2024 are the finalized locations for future HEMP monitoring in Yukon. The ARUs were set to record ambient sounds for 5 minutes every 15 minutes from 3:00 AM to 8:00 AM in 2019 and from 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM in 2021-2024. A subset of recordings was randomly selected for transcription from each ARU location each year to align with sampling suggestions outlined in Van Wilgenburg et al. (2020). Subset recordings were constrained to 3 minutes for transcription. Bird songs, calls, and non-vocal sounds were identified to species whenever possible to determine the number of individuals per species and time to first detection on each recording. This project provides important baseline data to better understand species distribution and abundance of terrestrial birds in mountain systems in remote northern areas where climate changes are ongoing and human alterations of these ecosystems are anticipated. This dataset contains data collected with ARU point counts. See the separate dataset record for HEMP human point counts conducted in 2019. More details are available in downloaded metadata file. CWS-North DatasetID: 055_6

The Boreal Bird Monitoring Program (BBMP) - Yukon is a multi-species terrestrial bird monitoring program to support the Boreal Monitoring Strategy and conservation planning of terrestrial birds (landbirds, secretive waterbirds, shorebirds) in all boreal ecoregions in Yukon. Avian monitoring is limited both spatially and temporally within Canada’s boreal regions, especially in northern regions. As a result, the Canadian Wildlife Service has developed the BOSS, a national framework for the use of a standardized sampling design to monitor boreal landbirds in a cost-effective way. Between 2017 and 2023, autonomous recording units (hereafter “ARUs”) were deployed to conduct avian point counts using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) methods across 16 Yukon ecoregions (Klondike Plateau, Yukon Plateau Central, Yukon Plateau North, Mackenzie Mountains, North Ogilvie Mountains, British-Richardson Mountains, Old Crow Flats, Old Crow Basin, Eagle Plains, Liard Basin, Pelly Mountains, Ruby Ranges, Selwyn Mountains, Yukon-Stikine Highlands, Yukon Southern Lakes, and St. Elias Mountains). . In 2019, additional ARUs were deployed in the Old Crow Basin for Grey-headed Chickadee monitoring. The ARUs were deployed by the migratory bird unit of CWS-NOR in Whitehorse, Yukon. The ARUs were set to record ambient sounds for 5 minutes every 15 minutes, from 10 PM to 9:00 AM. A subset of recordings was randomly selected from each ARU location for transcription to align with sampling suggestions outlined in Van Wilgenburg et al. (2020). From 2017 and 2019, this subset included recordings from the evening/nighttime (10 PM-3 AM) and dawn-chorus (3 AM-9 AM). In 2022 and 2023, this subset included recordings from the dawn-chorus only (3 AM-9 AM). Subset recordings were constrained to 3 minutes for transcription. Additional 10-minute ARU point counts were conducted and transcribed at various locations in 2022 and 2023 to supplement the 10-minute human point counts for these years. Bird songs, calls and non-vocal sounds were identified to species whenever possible. Incidental observations were included outside the 3 minute window (i.e. from 3-5 minutes). This project provides important baseline data to better understand species distribution and abundance in remote northern areas where the effects of climate changes are ongoing and human alterations of some of these ecosystems are anticipated. In 2017 and 2018, WildTrax was not available as a transcription platform. Upon collection of ARUs in 2017 and 2018, a subset of ARU recordings was transcribed manually in another platform and the data recorded in the ‘Yukon All Bird Database’. When WildTrax became available as a transcription platform, a second subset of ARU recordings from 2017 and 2018 were transcribed using WildTrax to supplement existing data. As a result, there are two data tables available for this dataset. The AllBirds records are available for download in the file ‘YT_BorealBirdMonitoringProgram_AllBirdDB_ARU_Data_Données.csv’. The transcription from WildTrax is available in the file ‘YT_BorealBirdMonitoringProgram_WildTrax_Data_Données.csv’. This dataset contains data collected with ARU point counts. See the separate dataset record for BBMP human point counts conducted in 2017-2023. More details are available in the metadata document available for download. CWS-North DatasetID: 24_1

The High Elevation Monitoring Program (HEMP) - Yukon is a multi-species terrestrial bird monitoring program to support the Boreal Monitoring Strategy and conservation planning of terrestrial birds (landbirds, shorebirds) in southern boreal ecoregions in Yukon. The absence of long-term monitoring data from structured (e.g. North American Breeding Bird Survey) and unstructured (e.g. Christmas Bird Count, eBird) monitoring programs in regions characterized by remote, rugged mountains, sparse trail and road access, and small human populations limits efforts to detect distribution shifts and population declines for northern mountain bird species. We used a modified version of the BOSS sampling design and the Boreal Bird Monitoring Program (BBMP) design implemented throughout Yukon ecoregions to create the High Elevation Monitoring Program (HEMP) design. We restricted the sampling frame to (1) mountains in southwest Yukon with a hiking or access trail, and (2) a sampling area of two km total width on each mountain (one km on each side of the hiking/access trail). To conduct sampling across elevational gradients at each of our 10 HEMP mountains and achieve habitat representation and spatial balance, we created an elevational transect by selecting five random sample sites within each habitat zone within the sampling frame (low boreal forest, high boreal forest, subalpine, alpine). The HEMP was designed to facilitate cost-effective, reliable, and safe access for observers hiking in rugged mountain terrain at our 10 HEMP mountains to conduct long-term monitoring of terrestrial birds. In 2019, human point counts were conducted by the migratory birds unit of CWS-NOR in Whitehorse, Yukon along elevational gradients on ten mountains across the Yukon Southern Lakes, St. Elias Mountains, Ruby Ranges, Pelly Mountains, and Yukon Stikine Highland ecoregions in Yukon, and the Northern Coastal Mountain ecoregion in British Columbia (pilot program). Human point counts consisted of observers identifying to species (where possible) every bird heard and seen in ten minutes at a specific location to determine the number of individuals per species and time to first detection. Incidental observations either before or after the point count were also recorded. Point counts were conducted during or just after the dawn chorus (4AM-11AM). This project provides important baseline data to better understand species distribution and abundance in remote northern areas where climate changes are ongoing and human alterations of these ecosystems are anticipated. This dataset contains data collected with point counts conducted by humans. See the separate dataset record for HEMP Autonomous Recording Unit (ARU) point counts conducted in 2019-2024. More details are available in the downloaded metadata file. CWS-North DatasetID: 055_0