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The Quill Lakes are a complex in , Canada that encompasses the of three distinct lake wetlands: Big Quill Lake, Middle Quill Lake, and Little Quill Lake. On May 27, 1987, it was designated a wetland of international importance via the Ramsar Convention. It was the first Canadian site in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, is a site in the International Biological Programme and Saskatchewan Heritage Marsh Program, and was designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site of International significance in May, 1994. The site is an important staging and breeding area for spring and fall migration of . The site qualifies as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada for its globally and nationally significant migratory and breeding populations of more than a dozen species of birds. The IBA is designated as Quill Lakes (SK 002).


Description
The lakes were named for bird quills collected near shorelines and shipped to for use as . The Quill Lakes are Canada's largest saline lake, covering an area of about . Salinity varies within the lakes and with their water levels, but effectively limits the floral diversity of the region. Located directly north of Regina and east of , it is primarily provincial administered by the Fish and Wildlife Branch of Saskatchewan Environment.

The surrounding area, consisting of , is mostly used for purposes. Big Quill Lake is pear-shaped and approximately long, measuring at its widest point. Middle Quill Lake, also known as Mud Lake, is the smallest of the three, about long and wide. Little Quill Lake is long and wide. The Islands of Middle Quill Lake have been designated as the provincial Mud Lake Wildlife Refuge () to protect breeding colonies of American white pelican and double-crested cormorant.

Drought in the surrounding regions results in increased water draw from the lakes, reducing the water level and increasing its salinity. This reduces the breeding habitat for the piping plover. Since 2005, above average precipitation has resulted in widespread flooding and the lake rising and in danger of overflowing into the Last Mountain Lake .


Studies and surveys
Various studies have surveyed bird populations at this site. The International Shorebird Survey in 1988 counted 155,000 shorebirds at Big Quill Lake. Surveys between 1989 and 1992 at Middle and Little Quill Lakes found one-day peaks of 101,900 birds. The most comprehensive study conducted, involving all three lakes, resulted in a count of 197,155 birds. The site is an important staging and breeding area for the endangered . Other species identified throughout the complex include "85,000 geese, 100,000 ducks, and 12,000 cranes", as well as , , , , , white-rumped sandpipers, semipalmated sandpipers, long-billed dowitchers, red-necked phalaropes, and lesser yellowlegs. Additionally, in the mid-1990s several were observed using the area for staging during fall migration.


Industry
Big Quill Resources (taken over by in 2011) operates on the shore of Big Quill Lake extracts naturally occurring sulphate from the brine of the lake then combining it with potassium chloride to form sulphate of potash that is then sold as a fertilizer.


See also
  • List of lakes of Saskatchewan
  • List of protected areas of Saskatchewan


External links
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