|
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
Black Oystercatcher
Science
Black Oystercatcher Project
The
Black Oystercatcher
is an endemic species of rocky shores of the north Pacific from Baja
California to Alaska. It mainly eats marine invertebrates such as
limpets and mussels, and frequently nests on barren islets. The PWLF
collaborated with
Parks Canada
to determine the size of the breeding population in the Salish Sea
(Strait of Georgia & Puget Sound) and made recommendations for
protection.
Project Results
In 2005 and 2006, a
collaborative census between the PWLF and Parks Canada staff
concluded that about 100 pairs of oystercatchers nested in the
Strait of Georgia. The census results highlighted the significance
and sensitivity of nest sites and protection of islets used for
nesting which was adopted by the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
conservation action in 2006.
The results published
in Northwest Naturalist can be read by clicking here.
In 2007, Parks
Canada’s Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program selected the
black oystercatcher as an indicator of rocky intertidal community
health. This decision provided impetus for Parks Canada to
collaborate on population surveys and associated research with
British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California agencies
as well as the PWLF and Laskeek Bay Conservation Society. The Black
Oystercatcher
Conservation Action Plan
guides the efforts toward better understanding of adult and
fledgling survival, regional population size and trends, seasonal
movements of individuals and inter-population mixing. The results of
that collaboration appearing in Marine Ornithology can be
read by
clicking here.
The field work in
2007 began to look at movements between populations and between
winter and summer habitats. Some birds received coloured leg bands
to help detect seasonal movements, nesting site fidelity and
inter-population dispersal. In addition to leg bands, satellite and
radio tracking devices were being used on birds in Pacific Rim
National Park and Alaska for collection of more detailed movement
data. Oystercatchers in Haida Gwaii have orange or dark blue bands
on the left leg. Pacific Rim and Clayoquot Sound birds wear white
with black letters on the right leg. In the Gulf islands, birds have
orange bands with black letters and on the southern BC mainland
coast, birds have yellow with black letters. We would like to
solicit your cooperation and effort in tracking these banded birds.
If you observe a banded bird, please note the band colour, and
number if visible, the name of the island of the sighting and its
geographic coordinates. You can send us that information by clicking
on Contact Us on the home page.
(August 2010)
Learn About Black Oystercatchers
Current PWLF Projects
|
