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Nest site selection by Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) was studied in Laskeek Bay, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia in June and July, 2001. Eight islands were included in the study, of which seven were less than 250 ha in area. Black Oystercatcher density was found to decrease with increasin...
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| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.528.5780 http://www.laskeekbay.org/docs/reports/2001/Charest_S_and_Gaston_A_J_Studies_of_Black_Oyster_catchers_in_Laskeek_Bay.pdf |
| Summary: | Nest site selection by Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) was studied in Laskeek Bay, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia in June and July, 2001. Eight islands were included in the study, of which seven were less than 250 ha in area. Black Oystercatcher density was found to decrease with increasing island size. The birds were found to nest only on those islands that were inaccessible to terrestrial predators, such as raccoons (Procyon lotor). Compared to randomly selected sites, actual nest sites were situated where there was a more gradual sloping intertidal area, a moderate slope to the high tide line, in closer proximity to low lying shoreline vegetation, further away from the canopy periphery and finally also where a field of vision of less than 180 ° was available. Nest sites with all these characteristics were shown to exist on Louise Island, the largest island. Hence, the absence of breeding Black Oystercatchers from this island was attributed to the presence of terrestrial predators, namely raccoons. |
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