Goldeneye Ecological Services
Featured Projects
Upper Columbia Swallow Habitat Enhancement Project
Building on a 2020-2021 pilot project, Goldeneye Ecological Services launched the Upper Columbia Swallow Habitat Enhancement Project (administered by Wildsight Golden), focusing on identifying critical breeding habitats, involving citizens-scientists, and restoring and enhancing breeding habitats for at-risk bank and barn swallows. This five-year initiative includes installing and monitoring artificial nesting structures, extensive citizen-science participation, and collaborating with Environment and Climate Change Canada in monitoring migratory routes using Motus wildlife tracking technology. The project created innovative Bank Swallow breeding habitat structures, and tested a series of artificial nesting structures created for Barn Swallows.
Columbia Valley American Badger Project
Since 2022 our badger project has mapped thousands of active burrows; 532 locations are now designated Wildlife Habitat Features (WHFs) for badgers, representing 1,801 functional burrows. We’ve submitted three Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) applications, with a fourth in development for 2025–26. Recent assessments evaluated highway culvert suitability for badger movement; wildlife cameras have confirmed some use. This project is part of the provincial Badger Connectivity Collaborative, with future work focused on enhancing highway permeability and landscape connectivity for American badgers. This project is administered and supported by the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners and Kootenay Connect.
Columbia Valley Western Painted Turtle Project
Led by Goldeneye Ecological Services, this project aims to better understand and protect the Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) in the Columbia Valley. Through public reports and targeted field surveys, over 120 individual turtles and 18 nesting sites have been documented across multiple wetland locations. The project has identified key threats—including nest predation, road mortality, and habitat disturbance—and it has informed and led to conservation actions like installing basking habitat and nesting enhancements, as well as nest site protection. These efforts are helping to support long-term recovery and connectivity for this at-risk species in one of B.C.’s most ecologically important wetland regions. This project is administered and supported by the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners, Kootenay Connect and Lake Windermere District Rod and Gun Club.
Tree Swallow Nesting Box Project
Golden’s Tree Swallow Nesting Box Project is led by Goldeneye Ecological Services and supported by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. The initiative installed nesting boxes in The Town of Golden to give a boost to the Tree Swallow population, while naturally reducing mosquito populations. We trained community members to lead the volunteer-led monitoring—tracking nest building, egg laying, and chick development—the project gathers critical data to evaluate the effectiveness of nest boxes in boosting local Tree Swallow numbers. The project is administered by Wildsight Golden.
Columbia Wetlands Marsh Bird Monitoring Program
The Columbia Wetlands Marsh Bird Monitoring Project (CWMBMP) was a four-year study conducted from 2016 to 2019 in southeastern British Columbia's Columbia Wetlands, the largest contiguous wetlands in North America. The project aimed to estimate marsh bird populations, assess species distribution, and identify significant breeding areas and habitat types within the region. Using a standardized call-broadcast protocol, Goldeneye Ecological Services conducted point count surveys at 65 stations throughout the wetlands during the breeding season. These surveys focused on five secretive marsh bird species: American bittern, Virginia rail, sora, pied-billed grebe, and American coot. In addition to bird surveys, annual habitat assessments were performed at each station to evaluate vegetation communities and wetland conditions. This was funded and supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Osprey Monitoring
Since 2019, Goldeneye Ecological Services has conducted a comprehensive osprey inventory across the Columbia Valley as part of broader species-at-risk monitoring. This monitoring effort, which included public outreach and volunteer engagement, has provided critical baseline data on osprey nesting distribution, reproductive success, and habitat use within the valley. This project is administered by the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners and Kootenay Connect.
Lewis's Woodpecker Monitoring
From 2020-2025, as part of the Kootenay Connect initiative, Rachel Darvill coordinated species-at-risk inventories with her team focusing on Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) in the Columbia Valley. Nest searching located 13 active nest sites in the region, data which is being used to nominate the Columbia Valley as a Key Biodiversity Area. Habitat assessments identified potential restoration opportunities. This project is administered by the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners and Kootenay Connect.
Lake Windermere Aquatic Invasive Plant Project
Rachel Darvill has been instrumental in conducting aquatic invasive plant inventories on Lake Windermere since 2009, collaborating with the Lake Windermere Ambassadors and other local organizations. Her work focuses on early detection and prevention of invasive species to protect the lake's biodiversity. Annual surveys, including shoreline and offshore sampling, have been conducted to monitor plant diversity and identify potential invasive species. These efforts have confirmed that Lake Windermere remains free of invasive aquatic plants, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, which poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. The absence of such species is attributed to proactive monitoring and public education initiatives.
Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey
The Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey (CWWS) was a large-scale citizen-science project aimed at monitoring bird populations in the Columbia Wetlands of British Columbia, Canada. Conducted between 2015 and 2019, the project engaged 230 volunteers and experts to perform standardized surveys during spring and fall migration periods. Its primary goal was to gather data on waterbird species diversity and distribution to support the designation of the Columbia Wetlands as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). The CWWS continues to contribute valuable information for conservation planning and highlights the ecological significance of the wetlands for migratory birds. With assistance from partners, the project was developed/managed by Rachel Darvill and administered by Wildsight Golden.
Bird Surveys and Monitoring
With expertise in bird identification and monitoring methods, we regularly conduct breeding and migratory bird surveys for various partners groups. Connect with us if you are interested in our services.