BC COASTAL WATERBIRD

SURVEY NEWSLETTER

Bird Studies Canada – BC Programs 5421 Robertson Road, RR1, Delta, British Columbia, V4K 3N2 Toll Free: 1-877-349-2473 (BIRD) Email: [email protected] Web: www.bsc-eoc.org

Number 1 Summer 2000

A Look at the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey

1999/2000 Winter

The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey is designed to provide the distribution of waterbirds along the coast and will also data that contribute to the conservation of coastal waterbird certainly advance our general understanding of the ecology populations and coastal waterbird habitats in British of these birds. This baseline data is an important step Columbia. This past winter (1999-2000) was the inaugural towards monitoring, research and conservation of many year for the Coastal Waterbird Survey – and it was without species of waterbirds that spend the winter months along a doubt a successful start! the BC coast.

The BC Coastal Waterbird data is collected following a A total of 958 completed BC Coastal Waterbird Survey standardized protocol developed by researchers, biologists recording forms were mailed to Bird Studies Canada – BC and local naturalists. This data provides valuable baseline Programs by May 2000 and even more data has arrived information on the relative abundance of waterbird species, through the summer months!

What’s Inside…

Page 3 Summary of the Coastal Waterbird Survey data collected during the 1999/2000 winter.

Page 5 An update on the Important Bird Area program in BC!

Page 6 News and Notes: presentations, the BC Nocturnal Owl Survey…

Page 7 A salute to the surveyors!

Page 8 The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey is…

Page 2

Through the large network of BC Coastal Waterbird River Delta area had the most species with 103 species Survey volunteers, regional organizers, naturalist recorded. Not surprisingly, the ten most commonly groups, non-government agencies and government recorded species were Surf Scoter, Dunlin, American agencies, shoreline surveys were conducted in over 30 Wigeon, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, Mallard, communities along the coastline; Bamfield, Bella Bella, White-winged Scoter, Green-winged Teal, Greater Black Creek, Bowen Island, Campbell River, Comox and Scaup and the Northern Pintail. Courtenay, Cortes Island, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, Denman Island, Hornby The rare species recorded during BC Coastal Waterbird Island, Jordan River, Lasqueti Island, Malcolm Island, Surveys include American Bittern, American Kestrel, Mayne Island, Porcher Island, Port Alberni, Port McNeill, Black-footed Albatross, Cassin’s Auklet, Golden Eagle, Powell River, the Queen Charlotte Islands, Saltspring Gyrfalcon, Iceland Gull, King Eider, Northern Goshawk, Island, Saturna Island, Squamish Estuary, Sunshine Red Phalarope, Rough-legged Hawk, Solitary Coast, Telegraph Cove, Texada Island, Tofino and Sandpiper, Sora and the Semipalmated Plover. All Ucluelet, Vancouver, Victoria, Sooke and the Saanich these species were recorded only once at a single site! Peninsula, White Rock and Zeballos. Other uncommon species include the Marbled Godwit, Yellow-billed Loon, Redhead, Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, Caspian Tern, Cinnamon Teal and the Lesser Yellowlegs. Details for all species recorded during the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey are given in Table 1.

A review of the bird species occurrence and numbers in the coastal regions reflects the differences in coastal habitats. Most mudflat dwelling shorebirds, like Dunlin and sandpiper species were counted in the Fraser River

Sketch by Joanne Beaulieu Delta region, while rocky intertidal shorebird species were found in other coastal regions, such as Surfbirds The peak waterbird month was April with a total of along the Sunshine Coast and Sanderling on the west 245,000 waterbirds counted along the coast! Data was coast of Vancouver Island. Seabird species, like Marbled collected at 187 shoreline sites, with a total of 113 Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, and Common Murres species seen through the winter months. The Fraser were seen from the shoreline in most coastal regions.

Figure 1. The Abundance of Coastal Waterbirds through the Winter 1999/2000. The bars represent the total birds counted each month divided by the number of surveys for the month. *Based on data received before June 2000. ** Does not include unidentified birds.

1800

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1000

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Abundance of Waterbirds Abundance 400

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0 September October November December January February March April May Page 3

The first year of the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey was a major success, growing from 5 shoreline sites in White Rock to over 200 shoreline sites in over 30 regions across the coast. The program has over 250 dedicated participants donating their time and energy to collect this valuable monitoring data. The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey data from 1999/2000 is the first of many years of monitoring data, and is the template for information collected in future years to help assure the conservation and protection of all coastal waterbird species in British Columbia. -Stephanie Hazlitt BC Coastal Waterbird Survey Coordinator

Table 1. Summary of BC Coastal Waterbird Survey data collected during the winter 1999/2000. The average number of individuals counted at each survey site and the number and percent of survey sites at which each species was counted are presented for all survey sites and for each coastal region. *Based on data received before June 2000. **Does not include unidentified birds.

All Survey East Vancouver Gulf Lower Mainland Sunshine West Vancouver Sites Island Islands & Squamish Coast Island No. of Survey Sites 187 64 42 64 6 11 No. of Species 113 92 68 103 47 68 Species Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Red-throated Loon 68.8 49 26.2 2.9 19 29.7 7.5 2 4.8 118.8 26 40.6 . . . 2.0 2 18.2 Pacific Loon 25.4 89 47.6 12.6 47 73.4 28.5 15 35.7 84.0 18 28.1 1.2 6 100.0 1.3 3 27.3 Common Loon 6.4 151 80.7 5.7 57 89.1 4.2 34 81.0 9.5 45 70.3 3.2 6 100.0 1.6 9 81.8 Yellow-billed Loon 1.0 2 1.1 1.0 1 1.6 1.0 1 2.4 ...... Pied-billed Grebe 1.9 33 17.6 2.2 13 20.3 2.0 2 4.8 2.0 13 20.3 1.0 1 16.7 1.3 4 36.4 Horned Grebe 10.7 130 69.5 9.8 52 81.3 5.6 26 61.9 17.2 41 64.1 2.8 6 100.0 2.7 5 45.5 Red-necked Grebe 16.0 93 49.7 8.0 41 64.1 4.1 15 35.7 40.3 25 39.1 3.4 5 83.3 2.3 7 63.6 Eared Grebe 5.8 9 4.8 10.6 3 4.7 . . . 2.4 6 9.4 ...... Western Grebe 89.9 84 44.9 31.4 31 48.4 25.3 14 33.3 173.5 32 50.0 2.4 3 50.0 4.6 4 36.4 Black-footed Albatross 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 9.1 Double-crested 10.0 132 70.6 9.4 48 75.0 8.4 22 52.4 12.2 49 76.6 6.5 6 100.0 5.6 7 63.6 Cormorant Brandt's Cormorant 15.7 40 21.4 23.2 15 23.4 12.8 11 26.2 3.6 6 9.4 2.0 5 83.3 5.0 3 27.3 Pelagic Cormorant 6.4 114 61.0 7.7 45 70.3 9.6 23 54.8 3.5 34 53.1 1.5 5 83.3 8.7 7 63.6 American Bittern 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Great Blue Heron 3.5 131 70.1 2.4 48 75.0 2.0 25 59.5 4.8 47 73.4 1.5 5 83.3 4.5 6 54.5 Black-crowned 3.0 1 0.5 ...... 3.0 1 1.6 ...... Night-Heron Tundra Swan 3.3 4 2.1 3.3 3 4.7 . . . 3.0 1 1.6 ...... Trumpeter Swan 19.7 35 18.7 18.5 17 26.6 12.5 2 4.8 28.3 11 17.2 1.0 1 16.7 11.1 4 36.4 Mute Swan 3.7 11 5.9 3.2 7 10.9 . . . 4.3 4 6.3 ...... Greater White-fronted 2.6 5 2.7 1.0 1 1.6 . . . 3.5 2 3.1 . . . 2.5 2 18.2 Goose Snow Goose 923.9 9 4.8 8.0 4 6.3 . . . 1205.7 5 7.8 ...... Brant 324.5 29 15.5 666.5 15 23.4 353.0 3 7.1 24.0 11 17.2 ...... Canada Goose 19.9 113 60.4 18.5 44 68.8 13.5 15 35.7 19.4 46 71.9 32.5 4 66.7 47.6 4 36.4 Wood Duck 8.5 7 3.7 15.0 2 3.1 4.0 1 2.4 3.6 4 6.3 ...... Green-winged Teal 130.6 59 31.6 24.4 20 31.3 19.0 5 11.9 225.7 27 42.2 35.7 2 33.3 44.1 5 45.5 Mallard 70.7 140 74.9 37.8 54 84.4 19.0 23 54.8 118.1 54 84.4 17.8 3 50.0 89.9 6 54.5 Northern Pintail 132.0 43 23.0 28.8 14 21.9 4.7 2 4.8 207.0 24 37.5 . . . 38.1 3 27.3 Cinnamon Teal 2.0 3 1.6 ...... 2.0 3 4.7 ...... Northern Shoveler 40.2 11 5.9 14.8 2 3.1 1.0 1 2.4 54.8 7 10.9 . . . 4.3 1 9.1 Gadwall 23.7 15 8.0 3.8 1 1.6 . . . 32.5 11 17.2 . . . 5.0 3 27.3 Eurasian Wigeon 2.6 21 11.2 1.6 7 10.9 1.3 3 7.1 3.4 9 14.1 . . . 1.3 2 18.2 American Wigeon 169.5 119 63.6 73.4 48 75.0 38.7 20 47.6 373.4 42 65.6 6.6 3 50.0 148.9 6 54.5 Canvasback 32.8 14 7.5 12.1 4 6.3 . . . 43.2 9 14.1 . . . 1.0 1 9.1 Redhead 1.5 2 1.1 1.0 1 1.6 . . . 2.0 1 1.6 ...... Ring-necked Duck 18.5 13 7.0 30.6 5 7.8 20.0 1 2.4 2.9 4 6.3 6.0 1 16.7 22.0 2 18.2 Greater Scaup 116.6 66 35.3 84.5 27 42.2 35.6 11 26.2 180.6 25 39.1 1.0 1 16.7 45.0 2 18.2 Lesser Scaup 77.3 25 13.4 114.4 8 12.5 18.5 2 4.8 45.5 14 21.9 . . . 162.4 1 9.1 King Eider 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Harlequin Duck 14.8 98 52.4 15.4 42 65.6 19.5 27 64.3 11.3 22 34.4 4.6 5 83.3 6.7 2 18.2 Oldsquaw 44.0 59 31.6 22.0 37 57.8 11.6 8 19.0 106.7 13 20.3 2.0 1 16.7 . . . Black Scoter 29.5 56 29.9 29.8 21 32.8 40.1 13 31.0 27.2 19 29.7 11.3 2 33.3 1.0 1 9.1 Surf Scoter 463.8 127 67.9 139.2 53 82.8 74.3 23 54.8 1263.8 36 56.3 24.3 6 100.0 31.2 9 81.8 White-winged Scoter 116.0 88 47.1 37.1 47 73.4 51.7 15 35.7 272.5 19 29.7 28.7 5 83.3 12.2 2 18.2 Common Goldeneye 16.5 145 77.5 13.8 59 92.2 21.5 27 64.3 20.6 49 76.6 7.8 4 66.7 5.3 6 54.5 Barrow's Goldeneye 34.9 100 53.5 22.3 36 56.3 9.4 13 31.0 50.0 42 65.6 8.6 6 100.0 18.8 3 27.3 Bufflehead 27.5 159 85.0 34.8 62 96.9 19.5 32 76.2 19.3 51 79.7 8.9 6 100.0 49.5 8 72.7 Page 4

All Survey East Vancouver Gulf Lower Mainland Sunshine West Vancouver Sites IslandIslands & Squamish Coast Island No. of Survey Sites 187 64 42 64 6 11 No. of Species 113 92 68 103 47 68 Species Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Avg. #Sts %Sts Hooded Merganser 3.9 73 39.0 4.4 35 54.7 3.4 13 31.0 3.6 17 26.6 2.0 2 33.3 2.4 6 54.5 Common Merganser 10.3 135 72.2 12.9 53 82.8 8.2 31 73.8 9.4 37 57.8 3.5 5 83.3 6.1 9 81.8 Red-breasted 37.6 118 63.1 18.6 52 81.3 12.5 29 69.0 94.6 29 45.3 3.8 5 83.3 5.1 3 27.3 Merganser Ruddy Duck 36.4 8 4.3 3.0 1 1.6 . . . 38.4 7 10.9 ...... Turkey Vulture 2.7 6 3.2 4.0 2 3.1 2.0 3 7.1 2.0 1 1.6 ...... Osprey 1.3 6 3.2 . . . 1.0 2 4.8 1.3 3 4.7 . . . 2.0 1 9.1 Bald Eagle 4.7 172 92.0 3.4 61 95.3 6.3 41 97.6 5.9 54 84.4 2.3 6 100.0 2.0 10 90.9 Northern Harrier 3.5 17 9.1 ...... 3.6 16 25.0 . . . 1.0 1 9.1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1.2 13 7.0 1.0 4 6.3 1.0 2 4.8 1.3 6 9.4 . . . 1.0 1 9.1 Cooper's Hawk 1.1 10 5.3 1.0 4 6.3 1.0 1 2.4 1.3 3 4.7 1.0 1 16.7 1.0 1 9.1 Northern Goshawk 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Red-tailed Hawk 1.4 45 24.1 1.0 12 18.8 1.0 2 4.8 1.6 29 45.3 1.0 1 16.7 1.0 1 9.1 Rough-legged Hawk 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Golden Eagle 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... American Kestrel 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Merlin 1.1 18 9.6 1.1 10 15.6 1.0 1 2.4 1.1 7 10.9 ...... Peregrine Falcon 1.6 16 8.6 1.1 5 7.8 1.0 1 2.4 1.7 9 14.1 . . . 6.0 1 9.1 Gyrfalcon 1.010.5...... 1.011.6...... Virginia Rail 1.6 5 2.7 1.0 1 1.6 . . . 2.0 2 3.1 . . . 1.5 2 18.2 Sora 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... American Coot 16.5 19 10.2 30.2 4 6.3 . . . 13.0 13 20.3 . . . 9.9 2 18.2 Black-bellied Plover 142.5 24 12.8 25.7 19 29.7 . . . 626.1 5 7.8 ...... Semipalmated Plover 2.0 1 0.5 2.0 1 1.6 ...... Killdeer 3.0 43 23.0 3.6 17 26.6 3.3 10 23.8 1.8 13 20.3 . . . 3.7 3 27.3 Black Oystercatcher 4.7 60 32.1 4.0 27 42.2 5.6 18 42.9 4.6 9 14.1 6.7 4 66.7 3.4 2 18.2 Greater Yellowlegs 4.1 34 18.2 6.9 8 12.5 2.1 11 26.2 5.2 12 18.8 . . . 1.0 3 27.3 Lesser Yellowlegs 1.2 5 2.7 1.0 1 1.6 1.3 3 7.1 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Solitary Sandpiper 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 9.1 Spotted Sandpiper 1.2 8 4.3 1.0 3 4.7 . . . 1.2 4 6.3 . . . 2.0 1 9.1 Whimbrel 2.0 2 1.1 2.0 1 1.6 . . . 2.0 1 1.6 ...... Long-billed Curlew 1.0 1 0.5 ...... 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Marbled Godwit 1.0 2 1.1 1.0 1 1.6 . . . 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Ruddy Turnstone 4.0 2 1.1 4.0 2 3.1 ...... Black Turnstone 18.6 50 26.7 15.7 30 46.9 29.4 10 23.8 3.7 4 6.3 40.3 3 50.0 19.6 3 27.3 Surfbird 33.3 16 8.6 8.3 3 4.7 43.6 5 11.9 69.7 3 4.7 108.7 2 33.3 14.5 3 27.3 Sanderling 44.0 16 8.6 12.1 7 10.9 . . . 24.3 7 10.9 . . . 192.2 2 18.2 Western Sandpiper 58.1 12 6.4 21.7 5 7.8 101.7 2 4.8 67.8 5 7.8 ...... Least Sandpiper 14.7 3 1.6 18.0 1 1.6 22.0 1 2.4 4.0 1 1.6 ...... Rock Sandpiper 3.1 4 2.1 1.0 1 1.6 5.7 1 2.4 1.5 1 1.6 1.0 1 16.7 . . . Dunlin 1458.7 43 23.0 243.9 22 34.4 17.8 5 11.9 3312.1 15 23.4 . . . 6.0 1 9.1 Short-billed Dowitcher 71.3 4 2.1 1.0 1 1.6 . . . 94.7 3 4.7 ...... Long-billed Dowitcher 3.8 5 2.7 ...... 3.8 5 7.8 ...... Common Snipe 3.8 8 4.3 2.0 3 4.7 . . . 4.7 4 6.3 . . . 3.7 1 9.1 Red Phalarope 1.0 1 0.5 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Franklin's Gull 88.5 1 0.5 . . . 88.5 1 2.4 ...... Bonaparte's Gull 19.2 42 22.5 23.0 16 25.0 9.7 13 31.0 29.8 10 15.6 10.7 3 50.0 . . . Heermann's Gull 7.0 4 2.1 3.0 2 3.1 . . . 13.0 1 1.6 3.0 1 16.7 . . . Mew Gull 89.0 138 73.8 80.7 57 89.1 80.3 27 64.3 119.1 45 70.3 19.5 6 100.0 109.2 3 27.3 Ring-billed Gull 17.7 43 23.0 6.3 13 20.3 4.3 3 7.1 21.2 26 40.6 . . . 1.0 1 9.1 California Gull 22.1 44 23.5 31.6 27 42.2 5.4 5 11.9 6.2 8 12.5 . . . 10.3 4 36.4 Herring Gull 13.3 41 21.9 4.7 19 29.7 39.0 10 23.8 2.9 6 9.4 5.2 2 33.3 1.8 4 36.4 Thayer's Gull 47.6 75 40.1 53.8 33 51.6 95.4 16 38.1 11.4 23 35.9 1.0 1 16.7 2.7 2 18.2 Iceland Gull 1.0 1 0.5 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Western Gull 1.9 18 9.6 1.5 11 17.2 14.0 1 2.4 1.7 4 6.3 . . . 3.0 2 18.2 Glaucous-winged Gull 77.0 173 92.5 124.4 62 96.9 59.5 36 85.7 39.9 59 92.2 28.1 6 100.0 63.7 10 90.9 Glaucous Gull 2.2 4 2.1 2.5 3 4.7 . . . 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Caspian Tern 2.5 2 1.1 ...... 2.5 2 3.1 ...... Common Tern 66.2 5 2.7 ...... 66.2 5 7.8 ...... Common Murre 12.6 37 19.8 8.4 19 29.7 32.0 2 4.8 26.4 9 14.1 5.7 2 33.3 4.8 5 45.5 Pigeon Guillemot 5.3 54 28.9 5.3 35 54.7 7.4 12 28.6 2.7 3 4.7 1.0 2 33.3 1.0 2 18.2 Marbled Murrelet 3.3 46 24.6 2.9 26 40.6 2.9 9 21.4 3.2 6 9.4 5.6 4 66.7 3.5 1 9.1 Ancient Murrelet 7.2 8 4.3 8.4 5 7.8 1.5 2 4.8 6.0 1 1.6 ...... Cassin's Auklet 1.0 1 0.5 1.0 1 1.6 ...... Rhinoceros Auklet 11.2 12 6.4 13.4 8 12.5 . . . 2.0 2 3.1 1.0 1 16.7 1.0 1 9.1 Short-eared Owl 1.1 4 2.1 ...... 1.1 4 6.3 ...... Belted Kingfisher 1.4 75 40.1 1.6 35 54.7 1.5 11 26.2 1.2 23 35.9 1.5 2 33.3 1.3 4 36.4 American Dipper 1.0 2 1.1 ...... 1.0 1 16.7 1.0 1 9.1 Total 5647 2434 1612 9605 475 1279 Page 5

IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS in BC: by Barry Booth Some Current News! Community Conservation Planner BC Important Bird Areas Program

Canadian Nature Federation/ Federation of BC

Naturalists/Wild Bird Trust of BC

An Important Bird Area (IBA) is a site providing essential Successful BC Community Action Fund Projects habitat for one or more species of breeding or non- breeding birds. These sites may contain threatened Site name Title of Project species, endemic species, species representative of a Baynes Sound Construction of a biome, or highly exceptional concentrations of birds. The (Comox Valley Project Biofiltration Wetland goal of the IBA program is to identify a network of sites Watershed Society) that conserve the natural diversity of Canadian bird Baynes Sound Conservation of the Black species, to determine the type of protection or (Bird Studies Canada) Turnstone stewardship required for each site, and to ensure the Boundary Bay Use of Habitats by (Simon Fraser University) sandpipers in Boundary conservation of sites through partnerships of local Bay IBA stakeholders who help develop and implement Burrard Inlet Updating the Burrard Inlet appropriate on-the-ground conservation plans. (Wild Bird Trust of BC) Environmental Action Program data set Site selection/identification Laskeek Bay Laskeek Bay Community The site selection process in BC began in 1996. At that (Laskeek Bay Conservation Outreach Program time over 260 areas were proposed as potential IBAs. Society) Of these, only a portion have gone through the various Osoyoos Oxbows Conservation of Yellow- screening stages that will ultimately lead to recognition (Okanagan Similkameen breasted Chat as official IBAs. As of May 5, 2000, 28 sites have been Conservation Alliance) formally approved, and 61 have been formally Salmon Arm Raven's Fencing Project (Salmon Arm Bay Nature nominated. The sites being considered include the Enhancement Society) following categories of sites: wetland and inland sites, Scott Islands Conservation of Seabird marine sites, seabird colonies, Marbled Murrelet forest (Simon Fraser University) Foraging Zones (nesting) and marine (foraging) sites. Squamish Valley Eagle Watch Volunteer (The Squamish Estuary Interpreter Program Conservation planning: Conservation Society) A subset of the IBAs is eligible for conservation planning Tofino Mudflats Integrated Resource activity. Presently this planning is taking place in 5 (Friends of Clayoquot Sound) Management Team for the areas: Baynes Sound, Lambert Channel, Osoyoos development of wildlife Oxbows/South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area, viewing plan for the Tofino Douglas Lake Plateau Area, and Strathcona Provincial Mudflats WHA/IBA Park, and other alpine areas on Vancouver Island. In each case I have been working with natural history groups, government and non-government organizations If you wish to receive additional information about any of in order to determine threats, and means to alleviate the sites that I am working on, if you would like to get threats to birds in these areas. Areas that are soon to involved, or would like me to give a presentation about follow are Skookumchuck Prairie and Cecil Lake in the the Important Bird Areas program, please let me know. Kootenays and northeastern BC, respectively. You can contact me by e-mail: [email protected], by telephone: (250) 564-1997, or by regular mail at 1323 Community Action Fund Projects Connaught, Prince George, BC, V2L 3X7. The IBA program provided funding for a number of projects across Canada through the Community Action Fund. A total of $289,747,25 was requested for 61 different projects. Of this, $168,545 was awarded to 48 different projects. The following is a list of the nine successful BC projects.

Sketch by Ian Willis, Owls of Europe

Page 6

News and Notes…

An Owl Monitoring A Call for Stories and Artwork!

Program for BC! The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey is in need of sketches, drawings, photographs and stories Birders are invited to participate about coastal waterbirds. in a new survey of owl populations in British Columbia - If you have artwork or pictures that you are the BC Nocturnal Owl Survey! willing to let us use for future newsletters, articles or the web page, please send them Because of their nocturnal habits, owls are notoriously difficult along. to count. Owl populations have not been surveyed effectively by any large-scale program in North America. However, Please include a note indicating that we have recent pilot studies undertaken by Bird Studies Canada and your permission to us them and if you need other groups in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario originals returned. Naturally, we will credit any have shown that owl populations can be monitored using material we use. volunteer-based surveys of calling birds.

The BC Nocturnal Owl Survey will monitor trends in owl populations through road-based methods similar to those used in the Breeding Bird Survey. Participants will survey their route once per year, with the survey only taking about an hour! Another bonus for participants is that you can choose Great Blue Heron: your own routes and you’re not allowed out in bad weather! an Environmental We also have a pumpkin rule - the surveys must be done before midnight, so no-one will fall asleep at the wheel on some remote mountain road! Indicator!

The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund provided support for the

BC Nocturnal Owl Survey. For more information about the BC Sketch by Nola Johnston Nocturnal Owl Survey, contact Dick Cannings – BC Program Manager, Bird Studies Canada, (Telephone/Fax) 1-250-496- 4049 (E-mail) [email protected] (Web Page) www.bsc- eoc.org/bcprograms.html. The coastal Great Blue Heron is decreasing in numbers because of problems where they live, where they nest and what they eat. Eight out of ten herons on the coast live around the Strait of Upcoming presentations on the BC Georgia, but this is also where two thirds of BC’s Coastal Waterbird Survey human population lives. The specific habitat requirements for herons and their susceptibility to In addition to the annual newsletter, BC Coastal human disturbances pose an increasing threat to Waterbird Survey data and results are summarized in this species in BC. Bird Studies Canada’s newsletter, BirdWatch Canada, The Canadian Wildlife Service, the BC Ministry of the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey web page Environment and the Wild Bird Trust of BC have (http://www.bsc-eoc.org/bcprograms.html), and through established the Heron Stewardship Program, a presentations to the public and other conservation program to reduce the impact of humans at nesting professionals. colonies and important heron feeding areas.

• BC Field Ornithologists Annual General meeting, 11- See the full report on Great Blues Herons 13 August, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. and other Environmental Indicator species at www.ecoinfo.org/env_ind/default.htm!

Page 7

September Start-Up!

Waterbird monitoring starts again this September! The waterbirds will soon be returning, and we will be there to count’ em!

If you have any questions about the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey, give me a call on our toll-free line: 1-877-349-2473 (BIRD) or e-mail me at [email protected]!

-Stephanie Hazlitt BC Coastal Waterbird Survey Coordinator

Sketch by Joanne Beaulieu

The People Involved…

The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey is a success because of the hard work and tireless efforts of the volunteers that donate their time and skills to monitoring waterbirds. We would like to thank all the participants for their dedication!

Dave Aldcroft, David Allinson, Jean Allen, Gladys Anderson, Jerry Anderson, Steve Baillie, Donna Baker, Jenny Balke, Alice Bandoni, Bob Bandoni, Gene Barker, Ron Barre, Geoff Bate, Lonny Bate, Ron Beal, Yur Bekker, Kevin Bell, Monica Belko, Linda Bernard, Margaret Beswetherick, Jan Bevan, Chris Bibby, Maija Bismanis, Don Blood, Jim Borrowman, Mary Borrowman, Neil Bourne, Edna Bowen, Liz Bredberg, John Brighton, Betty Brooks, Doug Brown, Janice Brown, Bev Bullen, John Butterworth, Lynda Butterworth, Mike Callahan, Sheila Calvert, Hazel Cannings, Rob Cannings, Steve Cannings, Douglas Carrick, Lyn Carmichael, Sheila Carrick, Alice Cassidy, Bob Chappell, Carole Chambers, John Chandler, Trudy Chatwin, Vi Chungranes, Peter Clarkson, Paul Clemens, Paul Colton, Fred Cooke, John Cooper, Marian Coope, Bruce Cousens, Joyce Craig, Rela Cripps, Sean Cullen, Daryl Dancer-Wade, Carol Davies, Steve Diggan, Gabriel David, John Dove, Michael Dunn, Phil Edgell, Yorke Edwards, Kyle Elliott, Patrick Fawkes, Chris Ferris, Kerry Finlay, John Fletcher, Dennis Forsyth, John Ford, Blake Fougere, Dave Fraser, Jeremy Gatten, Bonny Glambeck, Betty Goodman, Pam Gordon, Barbara Graves, Bob Graves, Jude Grass, Kate Grauer, Tony Greenfield, Jeff Griffen, Denise Gubersky, Donald Gunn, Lea Haggert, Jack Hammonds, Peter Hamel, Jack Hansed, Sherri Hannay, Vicki Hansen, Heather Harbord, Joann Harrison, Keith Harrison, Amanda Heath, Margo Hearne, Bill Heidrick, Audrey Henry, Nathan Hentze, Bill Heybroek, Kate Hickok, Jared Hobbs, Doug Hopwood, Frank Hovenden, Roberta Hower, Jean Hudson, Doug Innes, Marian Innes, John Ireland, Harvey Janszen, Pam Janszen, Dale Jenson, Daryl Johnson, Paul Jones, Liz Kaarremaa, Keith Keller, Gail Kenner, Rex Kenner, Ruth Keogh, Dayna Kneeland, Anne Knowles, Allan Kokorudz, Edward Kooi, Rhonda Korol, Marilyn Lambert, Monika Lamm, Wendy Lambert, Andrew Lang, Donald Lang, Reina LeBaron, Charlene Lee, Will Lemmon, Ken Lertzman, Pat Levitt, Dan Lewis, Eric LoFroth, Gail Loughridge, Bev Lownie, Betty Lunam, Jim Lunam, Jeanette MacDonald, John MacDonald, Carolyn MacDonald, Bill MacIntyre, Hue MacKenzie, Jo Anne MacKenzie, John MacKenzie, Lois MacKenzie, May Mackenzie, Frances Madsen, Diane Maloff, Derrick Marven, Jeanette Martinolich, Monica Mather, Golo Maurer, Yvonne Maximchuk, Tiiu McCormick, Margaret McDonnell, Ann McIntosh, Nelson McInnes, Jack McLeod, Jean McLeod, Anne McNeill, Sandy McRuer, Allan Milligan, John Mills, Marilyn Miller, Guy Monty, Glen Moores, Judy Moores, Art Morgon, Mike Morrell, Norma Morton, Yolanda Morbey, Ashton Mullan, Marilyn Mullan, Heather Neville, John Neville, John Newell, John Nicholson, Rosemary Nixon, Phyllis Ogis, Marie O'Shaughessy, Carlo Pavan, Jim Phillips, Chris Pielou, Allen Poynter, Helen Poynter, Bill Proctor, Gareth Pugh, Carol Quin, Tony Quin, Ilze Raudzins, Wolf Rautenberg, John Rawsthorne, Sheila Ray, Gloria Read, Keith Riding, Karin Ristau, Geoff Robins, Mike Roberts, Murray Robertson, Neil Robins, Penny Robertson, Donald Ross, Rand Rudlund, Harnet Rueggeberg, Ron Satterfield, Brian Scott, Barbara Sedgwick, Alan Shatwell, Rick Shortinghuise, Ed Silkens, Bob Simons, George Sirk, Arnold Skie, Brian Slater, Jamie Smith, Joanna Smith, Jodi Sniders, Daphne Solecki, Joan Sommer, Sheila South, Bernie Spitmann, Prue Spitmann, Jan Steen, Dave Stirling, Bonnie Stout, Al Storey, Derek Sutton, Rosemary Talbot, Doreen Tamboline, Bev Temp, Jack Temp, Peter Thompson, Russ Tkachuk, Rick Toochin, Cathy Tuominen, Branden Vaness, Hank Vanderpol, Audrey Viken, Sally Wait, Bob Waldon, Judith Walmsley, Rozi Walmsey, Scott Wallace, Alison Watt, Robin Weber, Chris Weixelbaumer, Marja deJong Westman, Sue Wheeler, Alice Whiting, Marilyn Whipps, Michael Whipps, Jim Wisnia, Christine Woolcott, Jean Woodley, Lynne Woodhead, Julie Wright, Ken Wright, Colin Wykes, Arlene Yaworsky, Ann Zielinski

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A BIG THANK-YOU for a The BC COASTAL WATERBIRD Great First Year! SURVEY is....

We would like to extend our thanks and • A province-wide, long-term monitoring appreciation to everyone who participated in the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey this past program, developed by Bird Studies Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service to year! contribute to the conservation of coastal - Stephanie Hazlitt and Dick Cannings waterbirds in BC. • A coordination of the skills, interests and stewardship of hundreds of citizens along the BC coast. • Built on the commitment of individuals, naturalist groups, governments and non- government organizations to work in partner ship towards effective conservation. • Delivered by Bird Studies Canada, a not-for- profit organization dedicated to the study of wild birds and their habitats.

Sketch by Joanne Beaulieu

To Contact Us… BIRD WEB SITES

Partners In Flight – Canada BC Coastal Waterbird Survey Describes the PIF program in Canada, Canada’s Bird Studies Canada – BC Programs framework for Landbird Conservation. www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/canbird/pif/p_title.htm 5421 Robertson Road, RR1, Delta, British Columbia, V4K 3N2 Methods for Monitoring Bird Populations Toll Free: 1-877-349-2473 (BIRD) “Recommended methods for monitoring bird Email: [email protected] populations by counting and capture of migrants’ by D.J.T Hussell and C.J. Ralph. www.rsl.psw.fs.fed.us/pif/migmon.html

To Learn More… Bring Birds To The World Visit the Bird Studies Canada website Bird facts, bird books and bird sites. www.bsc-eoc.org www.bird-world.earthlife.net

BC Coastal Waterbird Survey Newsletter Credits

Editing & Layout: Stephanie Hazlitt BCCWS Map: Ron Ridout & Stephanie Hazlitt Printing: SCP Printing, Richmond, BC