Offshore Flight of Buffleheads, Bucephala albeola, After Twilight in Winter: An Anti-Predation Tactic?

In winter, on Vancouver Island, Buffleheads depart from coastal marine feeding habitat shortly after the onset of civil twilight. This precisely-timed phenomenon may have evolved in response to predation pressure from Peregrine Falcons, Falco peregrinus. The dual habitat requirements of Buffleheads...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Canadian Field-Naturalist
Main Author: Finley, James K.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2007
Subjects:
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
timing
crepuscular flight
anti-predation
predator avoidance behaviour
dual habitats
British Columbia
Falco peregrinus
Online Access:https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/508
https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v121i4.508
Description
Summary:In winter, on Vancouver Island, Buffleheads depart from coastal marine feeding habitat shortly after the onset of civil twilight. This precisely-timed phenomenon may have evolved in response to predation pressure from Peregrine Falcons, Falco peregrinus. The dual habitat requirements of Buffleheads in Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (1931) and Sidney Channel Important Bird Area are to be included within the proposed Gulf Islands National Marine Conservation Area.

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