The First Confirmed Record of a Blue-Footed Booby in Canada

Blue-footed Booby - Towers et al. 13

The first confirmed record of a Blue-footed Booby in Canada

Jared R. Towers1, Roy Atkins2, Kyle Howard3, Julian Sykes2 and Geoff Dunstan3

1 MERS Marine Education and Research Society, Box 554, Alert Bay, B.C., V0N 1A0, Canada. email: [email protected] 2 Speyside Wildlife, Wester Camerorie, Ballieward, Grantown on Spey, Cairngorms National Park, PH26 3PR, Scotland. 3 Stubbs Island Whale Watching, Box 2-2, Telegraph Cove, B.C., V0N 3J0, Canada.

Abstract: During the summer and autumn of 2013, Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii) irrupted north of their usual range in greater numbers than ever previously documented. A sub-adult photographed off northeastern Vancouver Island, B.C. on 2013 September 24 is the first confirmed record of this species in Canada.

Key Words: British Columbia, extralimital occurrence, Blue-footed Booby, Sula nebouxii

Towers, J.R., R, Atkins, K. Howard, J. Sykes, and G. Dunstan. 2015. The first confirmed record of a Blue-footed Booby in Canada. British Columbia Birds 25:13–16. First published online November 2014.

The Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) is a tropical Dunn 1981; Roberson 1993; Patten et al. 2003; Hamilton seabird known mainly from near shore waters of the Pa- et al. 2007; Johnson et al. 2012; Tietz and McCaskie cific Ocean from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, south to cent- 2014). Blue-footed Boobies have also been observed on ral Peru (Díaz et al. 2011). The species normally breeds rare occasions in Ariz. (McCaskie 1970; Rosenberg and from December through July on islands throughout this Witzeman 1998; Rosenberg et al. 2011), Nev. (Meyers range (Peña 2009). Two subspecies are recognized, with S. 2014), N.M. (Williams 2010), Utah (Howell et al. 2014) n. excisa occurring in the Galápagos, and the nominate and Texas (Lockwood and Freeman 2014). It is likely that race, S. n. nebouxii, elsewhere (Carboneras et al. 2014). northerly extralimital records have been S. n. nebouxii Blue-footed Boobies are not considered migratory but from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico (McCaskie 1970; Patten et have occasionally been known to travel great distances al. 2003; Hamilton et al. 2007). beyond their usual range (McCaskie 1970). Most extralim- In 2013, many Blue-footed Boobies dispersed to the ital records have been post-breeding season dispersals of northern extent of their range. The first extralimital sight- immature birds (McCaskie 1970; Jaramillo 2003; ing occurred a few kilometres west of the southern Calif. Hamilton et al. 2007; Howell et al. 2014). coast in July (eBird 2014) (Fig. 1). In August, single birds Blue-footed Boobies have been observed as far south were documented on lakes in N.M., Ariz. (eBird 2014) and as Concepción in central Chile (Guerra 1983). The north- Calif. (G. McCaskie, pers. comm. 2014 October 02) (Fig. ernmost record of this species was a juvenile photographed 1). Following these sightings, Blue-footed Boobies began at Samish Island, Wash., USA, on 2006 August 06 to appear at several locations in Calif. on September 11 (Aanerud 2011). A sub-adult collected near Everett on (eBird 2014). By the end of autumn, more than 100 birds 1935 September 23 is the only other record from Wash. had been recorded along the coast from the mouth of the (Tweit and Skriletz 1996). The only Blue-footed Booby Tijuana River to as far north as Samoa Beach (G. Mc- documented in Ore. was a sub-adult photographed at Ya- Caskie, pers. comm. 2014 October 02) (Fig. 1). Additional quina Head from 2002 September 07-09 (Horvath 2003). Blue-footed Boobies were recorded inland (Fig. 1), includ- Along the west coast of Calif. there have been 14 accepted ing at the Salton Sea where 104 birds were counted on Oc- records of Blue-footed Boobies between Point St. George tober 06 (G. McCaskie, pers. comm. 2014 October 02). and San Clemente Island (Hamilton et al. 2007; Tietz and On 2013 September 24, a Blue-footed Booby was also McCaskie 2014). Other records in Calif. come from inland observed in Weynton Passage (50˚36.2' N, 126˚48.3' W) off locations including the Salton Sea, where notable summer northeastern Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada (Fig. 1). The and autumn irruptions were documented during several bird was first spotted from the upper deck of a Stubbs Island different years. Totals of 32, 48, 45, 11 and 17 Blue-footed Whale Watching vessel by RA, KH, JS and GD. Immedi- Boobies were reported at this lake in 1969, 1971, 1972, ately recognizing that this was an unusual bird for the area, 1977 and 2009 respectively (McCaskie 1970; Garrett and they approached to within 30 metres where the following

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Figure 1: Locations (colour-coded by month) of northerly extralimital sightings of Blue- footed Boobies in USA and Canada during 2013. Inset shows location of 2013 September 24 sighting relative to other local points of interest. USA Data: eBird Basic Dataset and California Bird Records Committee. discerning features were readily apparent: i) the head was footed Booby. During the 10-15 minutes that it was ob- pale with brown streaking along the crown, nape, cheek and served, the bird remained at rest on the water near a foraging throat (Fig. 2a), ii) the bill was bluish-green with bare grey aggregation of several hundred Common Murres (Uria skin at the base and surrounding the dark eyes (Fig. 2a) and aalge), Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) and iii) the breast and what could be seen of the tail mostly sub- Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus). The Blue-footed Booby merged in water were white, contrasting greatly with the did not feed, dive, fly or show any apparent reaction to the uniform brown colouring of the folded wings (Fig. 2b). vessel or other birds. Despite suitable weather and daily Based on these field markings captured in photographs by search efforts during the following week by GD, KH and RA and KH, JS confirmed the bird to be a sub-adult Blue- JRT, this was the last time the Blue-footed Booby was seen.

Figure 2: Left (a) and right (b) side views of the Blue-footed Booby in Weynton Passage off northeastern Vancouver Island, B.C. on 2013 September 24. Note mixture of juvenile and adult characteristics (such as dark eyes and whitish head) that distinguish this individual as a sub-adult. Photos: R. Atkins.

British Columbia Birds Volume 25, 2015 Blue-footed Booby - Towers et al. 1.

The only other report of a Blue-footed Booby in Canada been a factor contributing to the northerly irruption of is an unauthenticated sighting of an immature bird in Hecate Blue-footed Boobies in 2013 as the aforementioned bird Strait, B.C., from 1995 July 15 (Davidson 1995). However, documented in N.M. in August and another that was found because there was no supporting evidence for that account, on a sidewalk in Calif. in September were both severely the sighting presented in this report represents the first re- emaciated and consequently captured and sent to rehabilit- cord of this species accepted by the British Columbia Bird ators. However, ENSO conditions were neutral in 2013, Records Committee (B.C. Bird Records Committee 2014). suggesting that localized investigations of populations, It is also the northernmost confirmed record of a Blue- prey and environmental conditions may be required to footed Booby and extends the known distribution of this fully understand some Blue-footed Booby irruptions. species by more than 300 kilometres. It is not known how the Blue-footed Booby reached the waters off northeastern Vancouver Island, but boobies have been known to land and accept passage on transiting Acknowledgements vessels on several occasions (Howell et al. 2014). For ex- ample, the first Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) docu- We wish to thank several individuals for provid- mented in B.C. landed on a commercial fishing boat in ing valuable input on this note. Ken Morgan (Environment Dixon Entrance and remained aboard until several hours Canada) made many helpful suggestions and reviewed an after the vessel arrived in port (Morgan et al. 2009). earlier draft of the manuscript. Ken Palto (Polaris Minerals Northeastern Vancouver Island does not receive a lot of in- Corporation) provided information on the September 2013 ternational shipping traffic but a ship that arrived to this schedule of shipping traffic to and from the Orca Quarry area late in the evening on September 20 had steamed dir- gravel terminal on northeastern Vancouver Island. He also ectly from Calif., departing the San Francisco Bay area on made efforts to contact and question the Captain and crew September 17 (K. Palko, pers. comm. 2014 June 16). On of the ship that may have been responsible for helping that day, Blue-footed Boobies were observed at the en- transport the Blue-footed Booby between Calif. and B.C. trance to the bay and along the nearby outer coast (eBird Guy McCaskie (California Bird Records Committee) 2014). The terminal on northeastern Vancouver Island provided data on the locations and numbers of birds in- where the ship docked on September 20 is less than 25 volved in the irruption to Calif. in 2013. Additional Blue- kilometres from where the Blue-footed Booby was photo- footed Booby sightings data from USA in 2013 were ac- graphed on September 24 (Fig. 1). Although unconfirmed, quired by request through eBird.com (Cornell Lab of it is possible that this bird was assisted to the area by this Ornithology). Sergio Ancona (University of Bath) contrib- vessel. uted insights into relationships between Blue-footed The northerly irruption of Blue-footed Boobies in 2013 Boobies and changes in their environment. Christie Mc- may have been caused by factors known to influence ir- Millan (MERS Marine Education and Research Society), ruptions of several other bird species. These factors in- Brianna Wright (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) and Eva clude unusually high population densities due to one or Stredulinksy (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) contributed more successful breeding seasons as well as reductions in materials and/or expertise towards the creation of the prey availability (Koenig and Knops 2001; Newton 2008). sightings map. We also wish to thank Heidi Krajewsky Higher than usual sea surface temperatures (SST) can re- (MERS Marine Education and Research Society), Rosie duce prey availability for Blue-footed Boobies within their Child and two anonymous individuals for reviewing this local foraging ranges (Anderson 1989; Ancona et al. manuscript. 2012). These periods of warm water can be associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events and can af- fect the breeding parameters and success of adult Blue- footed Boobies (Wingfield et al. 1999; Oro et al. 2010; Literature Cited Ancona et al. 2011; Ancona and Drummond 2013) as well as the survival and presumably the movements of imma- Aanerud, K. 2011. Eighth report of the Washington bird ture birds in search of prey (Howell et al. 2014). It is records committee. Washington Birds 11:35-55. therefore not surprising that most Blue-footed Boobies Ancona, S. and H. Drummond. 2013. Life history plasti- found north of their usual range have been immature birds city of a tropical seabird in response to El Niño an- (McCaskie 1970; Howell et al. 2014) and that the majority omalies during early life. PLoS ONE 8(9):e72665. of northerly irruptions prior to 2013 occurred at times doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072665. when the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) showed warmer than Ancona, S., I. Calixto-Albarrán, and H. Drummond. 2012. usual SST in the tropical Pacific Ocean (National Oceanic Effect of El Niño on the diet of a specialist seabird, and Atmospheric Administration 2014). There is some Sula nebouxii, in the warm eastern tropical Pacific. evidence to suggest that a lack of available prey may have Marine Ecology Progress Series 462:261-271.

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