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The De Beers Victor Mine, Ontario’s first and only diamond mine, is carrying out a second study into the local bird population at the remote mining area in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario’s Far North.

This latest study will add to the comprehensive materials originally collected in 2012 and 2013 and will be used in the current environmental assessment for the proposed development of the Tango Extension kimberlite on the Victor Mine property. The focus is on the use of the muskeg peatlands by migratory birds during the brief spring breeding season.  These may include some species that are considered as threatened or endangered, even though they may be locally common.  The initial study was conducted at the Tango Extension site for De Beers by biologists from Neegan Naynowan Stantec LP, a joint venture company formed by the Attawapiskat First Nation and Stantec.  That study evaluated 18 sites across 5 habitats, following Environment Canada guidelines then in effect. 

In mid-2014 Environment Canada released revised guidelines for breeding bird assessments, which initiated supplemental data collection at Tango Extension.  Approximately 57 digital audio recorders were recently deployed around the mine area, including 20 in each of the two main habitat types; Treed Peatland and Open Peatland.  These are programmed to record the pre-dawn birdsongs each day, and will be retrieved in early July 2015 for detailed analysis.  This technique will provide a much more intensive view of breeding bird activity across the site.