‘The painters today spotted twelve orcas including babies swimming through the reserve. A possibly dead elephant seal was noticed washed up in the intertidal -but still partially submerged) this morning. Black oystercatchers have chicks! In the S surge channel beneath the science house, two chicks were noticed with a parent. They are still very small. The three baby geese are growing still. Every day they are growing stronger and venturing further and further from their parents. There is an old goose on the SE side of the keeper”s house that is looking very frail -this has been going on for a while now). I would expect that it is on its last legs.’, ‘Adam’, ’12:29:50 ,
Tag Archives: Black Oystercatcher
Black Oystercatchers hatch today
On June 22, 2008, the Black Oystercatcher nest which was located on the rock just above the docks produced two chicks. They hatched in the morning and this set of clips was taken from a screen capture of camera 3 in intervals between 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. They returned to spend the night at the nest, and left the next morning.
Video of Black Oystercatchers nesting today June 22,2008: by Garry Fletcher[/caption]
Camera on Oystercatcher
(‘2008-06-12’, 2, ‘Erik delivered Oil to RR in Second Nature. Garry installed new temp/humidity sensor, and changed cameras on nesting oystercatcher.. now camera 3. ‘Garry,07:45:12
Black Oystercatcher, (Haematopus bachmani) Nest
These pictures were taken in June 2005 of a nest in the surge channel off the engine room. The images show how well the eggs are camouflaged.
Black Oystercatcher nest photo by Garry Fletcher
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- Black oystercatcher on nest, photo by Ryan
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- Camouflage of nest
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- At a distance the eggs blend in with the shells
Return to the black Oystercatcher taxonomy file
The Ecological Niche of the Black Oystercatcher
OBJECTIVES: After doing this field lab, students will be able to:
1. Quantify various aspects of the ecological niche of a seabird.
2. Do statistical comparisons using several sets of data collected in the field.
3. Demonstrate an ability to plan the procedure of an investigation.
PROCEDURE:
1. We will collect the evidence for predation in the vicinity of one of the current years oystercatcher nests at Race Rocks Marine protected Area. A previous class may have already done this for you.
2. Your class will be asked to decide on how to analyze this evidence in order to quantify as many aspects as possible about the ecological niche of the oystercatcher. Write down your plans for the investigation before starting.
3. Some hints for your planning:
— How can we estimate the biomass of the food species?
— Are all the prey species at the same trophic level?
— Can you tell something about energy expended by the bird in foraging by looking at the range of the mussel sizes?
— Just how much force (energy) does it take to extract at intertidal organism from it’s habitat?
— What can you contribute in terms of scientific information to this web page?
–Can we make a dichotomous key for identification of the prey species?
–How can we apply the concepts of pyramids of numbers, biomass , and energy with our information?
4. See the results of the Fall 1999 collection of shells from the midden of the oystercatchers. Use these results to help in the planning of this lab. It is assumed you will be able to build on these results and go further in the investigation.
5. –Use the diversity index calculator from the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program at the Center of Marine Biotechnology to compare the two year’s data. Explain how we may use a diversity index such as this as a monitor of various environmental concerns. Be sure to see the page which describes the application of various indices of diversity.
Other possibilities:
— Use the “Odum” energy symbols to model the ecological Niche of the Black Oystercatcher. (remember – there are NO oysters at Race Rocks!–Can some further media production be done on the oystercatchers?
Students end project week
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.1 ºC »» Min. 7.3 ºC »» Reset 8.5 ºC »» Rain 1.9 mm
MARINE LIFE:Still seeing fish balls but they are small and not as frequent as in the past weeks. Daily visitors are the usual gulls, Starlings,Crows,Black Turnstones, Surf Birds, Cormorants,Sparrows, Harlequin Ducks,a group of about 30 Black Oyster Catchers and the geese-usually 6 but every couple of days the 7th joins the group for at least part of the day. The Sealion population is still fairly low for this time of year as many of them have left the area since the last series of blasting on Bentinck Island.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Chris in with 2nd Nature to return Rosie, Ahmad and Jeremias to Campus. Garry out in 2nd Nature with guests also 4 Ecotour boats and 2 pleasurecraft through today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:19 PM
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.1 ºC »» Min. 7.3 ºC »» Reset 8.5 ºC »» Rain 1.9 mm
MARINE LIFE:Still seeing fish balls but they are small and not as frequent as in the past weeks. Daily visitors are the usual gulls, Starlings,Crows,Black Turnstones, Surf Birds, Cormorants,Sparrows, Harlequin Ducks,a group of about 30 Black Oyster Catchers and the geese-usually 6 but every couple of days the 7th joins the group for at least part of the day. The Sealion population is still fairly low for this time of year as many of them have left the area since the last series of blasting on Bentinck Island.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Chris in with 2nd Nature to return Rosie, Ahmad and Jeremias to Campus. Garry out in 2nd Nature with guests also 4 Ecotour boats and 2 pleasurecraft through today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:19 PM
Good morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 10 Miles »» Wind North 11 Knots »» Sea Choppy
Goodbye RR, thanks for our marvellous project week.posted by Race Rocks Relief at 7:48 AM
Good Evening
Temperature: Max. 9.1 ºC »» Min. 7.1 ºC »» Reset 8.0 ºC
Rainfall: 9.0mm
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 10 Miles »» Wind North 11 Knots »» Sea Choppy
Goodbye RR, thanks for our marvellous project week.posted by Race Rocks Relief at 7:48 AM
Good Evening
Temperature: Max. 9.1 ºC »» Min. 7.1 ºC »» Reset 8.0 ºC
Rainfall: 9.0mm
Our last evening on the island has arrived, we’ll spend it editing
the rest of our projects.
posted by Race Rocks Relief at 7:47 AM
Injured Northern Sealion
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 12.7 ºC »» Min. 7.7 ºC »» Reset 9.9 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: There is a Northern Sea Lion on the middle rock with a large raw looking wound on it’s back. Have not seen the goose that appeared to have a damaged wing, must have flown back to the mainland. Only a 3 degree drop in the temperature but the air is damp and feels much more like fall. The Sea lions are very quiet today, not as many birds today either. Did hear at least 2 Black Oyster Catchers vocalizing several times around 2 a.m. last night, I wonder what they are up to in the dark.
HUMAN INTERACTION:There were 8 Ecotour boats and 5 pleasurecraft through today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:16 PM
Branded Sealions
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.7 ºC »» Min. 8.0 ºC »» Reset 10.3 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: California Sea Lion hauled out in group of about 80 ( 11 Northern ) has a brand # 823 and a yellow front flipper tag # 925.The Sea Lions are still being disturbed by boats approaching too close especially along the east tip of North Rocks and along the north shore of Gr. Race. They are very used to us coming and going along the dock, in fact there are 3 that particularly like the last step on the dock as a haul out spot and often stay put as we come alongside in the boat.Unfortuately the mess they leave behind does not always wash away with the high tide! Four Black Oyster Catchers spent several hours along the east ridge but were very quiet and did not see any of them feeding, mostly resting on one foot with bills tucked under their wings.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 pleasurecraft, 2 dive boats ( 1 charter, 1 milatary dive club ) also the LGL crew via zodiac – preparing for monitoring the DND blasting exercises tomorrow.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.7 ºC »» Min. 8.0 ºC »» Reset 10.3 ºC »» Rain 0.4 mm
MARINE LIFE: California Sea Lion hauled out in group of about 80 ( 11 Northern ) has a brand # 823 and a yellow front flipper tag # 925.The Sea Lions are still being disturbed by boats approaching too close especially along the east tip of North Rocks and along the north shore of Gr. Race. They are very used to us coming and going along the dock, in fact there are 3 that particularly like the last step on the dock as a haul out spot and often stay put as we come alongside in the boat.Unfortuately the mess they leave behind does not always wash away with the high tide! Four Black Oyster Catchers spent several hours along the east ridge but were very quiet and did not see any of them feeding, mostly resting on one foot with bills tucked under their wings.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 11 pleasurecraft, 2 dive boats ( 1 charter, 1 milatary dive club ) also the LGL crew via zodiac – preparing for monitoring the DND blasting exercises tomorrow.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 10 Miles »» Wind West 7 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:13 AM
WEATHER: Sky Overcast »» Vis. 10 Miles »» Wind West 7 Knots »» Sea Rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:13 AM
Tour boats stiill out to the reserve
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 15.0 ºC »» Min. 8.2 ºC »» Reset 13.7 ºC
MARINE LIFE: 1 pair of Black Oyster Catchers spent several hours in the east bay area mostly preening and sleeping, heard no vocalizing at all.The geese flew in just after 10 am but stayed only about an hour before heading off towards Pedder Bay.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 26 Ecotour boats, 3 dive boats, 1 sail boat, 9 pleasure craft and the DFO 3M boat in the reserve.The Station boat made a trip to Pedder Bay and back.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:03 PM
A solitary cormorant
Friday, July 26, 2002
July 26- This is Ryan back on Race for a quick sojourn. The wind was brisk today, and there was little activity in the reserve. Carol saw 1 mature bald eagle being harassed away from Great Race at dawn this morning by gulls and 2 Black Oyster Catchers. A nest near the assistant keeper’s house of Glaucous-winged gulls still has two eggs in it, and one gull sits on them from time to time. A solitary cormorant (perhaps a Brandt’s) was sitting on the south-west tip of the island during the evening.
The station boat was to Pedder Bay and back at 8 this morning, and Garry brought Second Nature out to drop Joanna Brown and me off on the island while we were all treated to a presentation by Fabien of ALEC electronics. Some pretty amazing gadgets if anyone would like to save money long term on various environmental tests. Mike and Carol left around 11 for two days.
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 15 Knots Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:07 AM
The station boat was to Pedder Bay and back at 8 this morning, and Garry brought Second Nature out to drop Joanna Brown and me off on the island while we were all treated to a presentation by Fabien of ALEC electronics. Some pretty amazing gadgets if anyone would like to save money long term on various environmental tests. Mike and Carol left around 11 for two days.
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy Vis. 15 Miles Wind West 15 Knots Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:07 AM
Thursday, July 25, 2002
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 10 Miles Wind West 27 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate With Low South West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 AM
WEATHER: Sky Overcast Vis. 10 Miles Wind West 27 Knots Sea 4 Foot Moderate With Low South West Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 AM