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If you have any questions on the information presented, or require additional report data or attachments, please contact the Report Contact
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Cleland Island is British Columbia's first Ecological Reserve and one of the largest seabird colonies along Canada's west coast. It provides nesting habitat for a wide-variety of both ground and burrow-nesting birds. This report summarizes finding from 2 visits to the island during 2004 to survey (on foot) for ground nesting activity of Black Oystercatchers, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Common Murre and Brandts Cormorant.
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Author: Clarkson, P.; Bruhwiler, F.; Hunter, T.
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Date Published: Jan 2004
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Report ID: 17743
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Audience: Government and Public
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Cleland Island is British Columbias first Ecological Reserve and one of the largest seabird colonies along Canadas west coast. It provides nesting habitat for a wide-variety of both ground and burrow-nesting birds. The island has long been used by local first nations for egg-gathering and has become increasingly popular with commercial wildlife viewing operators. Shore access is forbidden except for traditional egg harvesting which may occur in May and June. A considerable amount of wildlife research was undertaken on the island during the 1970 and 80s however few studies have been conducted since 1989. This report summarizes finding from 2 visits to the island during 2004 to survey for ground nesting activity of Black Oystercatchers, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Common Murre and Brandts Cormorant.
Using a crew of 3 persons we surveyed Cleland Island and Murre reef by foot on May 31, 2004. Two experienced observers searched all likely areas for Black Oystercatcher nests while the third person recorded all nest locations using a Trimble GPS. In addition to the nest location, observers recorded the number of eggs, and estimated the percent composition of nest material, distance to nearest glaucous-winged gull nest, distance to nearest oystercatcher nest, and distance to high tide line. We began and ended the survey at the small shell beach off the south-east end of the island (Campbell Bay) and anchored the boat just offshore. To account for the oystercatchers occasional habit of building multiple nests prior to egg-laying, sites with more than one nest within a 4 m radius were counted as one nest (unless there were eggs in more than one nest). During the first visit we confined our survey efforts to oystercatcher nests only.
We returned on July 06, 2004 with the same crew and an additional 2 volunteers to survey for Glaucous-winged Gull, Brandts Cormorant and Common Murre nests. On this visit we did not re-survey for oystercatcher nests. All occupied gull nests (either freshly-built or with eggs) were counted using hand counters. Rather than take way points for each gull nest, we divided Cleland Island into 10 polygons based on recognizable physical features, and recorded the number of nests in each polygon. Murre Reef was represented as one polygon. In addition to the foot patrol, prior to landing, we surveyed the shoreline for roosting Common Murres and Brandts Cormorants.
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Report Type
Subject
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Biogeoclimatic Zone - CWH Coastal Western Hemlock Zone |
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Region - Vancouver Island |
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