Ottawa Beach is part of the Lac Deschenes Important Bird Area. IBAs contain threatened species, endemic species, species representative of a biome or highly exceptional concentrations of birds. As a network, IBAs are strategic building blocks for global conservation. For birds, they are literally the most important places on earth.

Nature Canada, with co-partner Bird Studies Canada, delivers BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas program in Canada. We aim to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world’s birds and other biodiversity.

Another digi-scoped image taken a few years ago on the Ottawa Beach 'self-perpetuating' hotspot. This used to be a classy spot for rarities, that is until Kite-Surfing caught on!