Tag Archives: brandt’s cormorant

Animal Notes and Census

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A few days ago we had two unusual visitors to our waters. Two Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) spent several days on Great Race and North Rocks. Brown Pelicans, though the smalles of pelicans, are enormous birds weighing up to 6 kilos and measuring up to 135 cms with a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters.

A visitor from warmer climes….

Northern vacation to Race Rocks….

We have had two other unusual visitors in the last week. I discovered a Barred Owl in the boathouse attacking a Starling (another recent arrival), and Pam our avid photographer friend from England got several pictures of Peregrine Falcons that came through hunting sparrows and starlings. Pam’s pictures can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66339356@N00/sets/72157628747376295/

Another tagged e-seal showed up in the boathouse yesterday.

Might as well hang out somewhere cozy…

Tagged 7225

 Animal Census Nov 8 2012

Species Current Population (Est)
Stellar/Northern Sea Lion  30
Elephant Seal  7
Harbour Seal  200
California Sea Lion  50
Glaucous-winged Gull  150
Herring Gull  300
California Gull  30
Heerman’s Gull  80
Black Turnstones  100
Surfbird  6
Pelagic Cormorants  40
Brandt’s Cormorant  30
Killdeer   6
Dunlin  16
Harlequin Ducks  20
Canada Goose  14
Bald Eagle  3
Black Oyster-catcher  40
Sanderlings  8
Starlings  8
Race Rocks Eco-Guardian  1
Rhinoceros Auklet  100
Common Murre  100
Sparrows  20
Brown Pelican  2
Barred Owl  1
Peregrine Falcon  2

 

Animal Census

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Species Current Population (Est)
Stellar/Northern Sea Lion 175
Elephant Seal 8
Harbour Seal 200
California Sea Lion 200
Glaucous-winged Gull 150
Herring Gull 30
California Gull 6
Surfbirds 1
Black Turnstones 40
Western Grebe 2
Brandt’s Cormorant 30
Sparrows 12
Horned Lark 5
Harlequin Ducks 1
Canada Goose 8
Bald Eagle 1
Black Oyster-catcher 10
River Otter  1
Pearson Students/Staff  16
Race Rocks Eco-Guardian  1
Rhinoceros Auklet  100
Common Murre  100

Animal Census Apr 18, 2012

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Stellar Sea Lion – 20

Elephant Seal – 12

Harbour Seal – 200

Glaucous-winged Gull – 200

Brandt’s Cormorant – 250

Pelagic Cormorant – 10

Black Turnstones – 30 w/ 2 juveniles

Surfbirds – 10

Raven – 4

Crow – 1

Dunlin – 2

Sparrows – 6

Pigeon Guillemots – 150

Harlequin Ducks – 100

Canada Goose – 20

Bald Eagle (adult) – 4 (juvenile) 8

Black Oyster-catcher – 40

34 people have visited in the least 2 weeks

Animal Census Jan 2012

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Air Breathing Animal Census of Race Rocks Jan 2012

Stellar Sea Lions: 30

Elephant Seals: 6-7

Harbour Seals: 50

Bald Eagles: 5-15

Brandt’s Cormorants: 50

Glaucous-Winged Gull: 100

Herring Gull: 30

Black Turnstones: 50

Song Sparrow: 6

Peregrine Flacon: 1

Killdeer: 4

Dunlin: 2

Sandpiper: 6

Harlequin Ducks: 20

Human: 1

 

Phalacrocorax penicilatu: Brandt’s Cormorant–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Brant's cormorants

Brant’s cormorants:  Phalacrocorax penicilatu -photo by Alex Fletcher

This cormorant is numerous in the winter, with much of the British Columbia population present at that time, as it is a relatively rare bird. In 1987 a survey that reported 3 nests was done on 15 July by Wayne Campbell and was reported in: Campbell, R.W., and Preston, M. 1988. British Columbia nest records scheme. Thirty-first and thirty-second annual report 1986-1987. British Columbia Naturalist 26:12-13.

Here are the links to the Christmas Bird Counts.

In 2014 and for several years previous, there have been no cormorants nesting at Race Rocks.  The only still-thriving colonies are at Mandarte Island.

This is a  Blue-listed species in BC. This list includes species not immediately threatened, but of concern because of characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Sub-Phylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelcaniformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
Species: penicilatu
Common Name: Brandt’s cormorant
other Brandt’s Cormorant posts at Race Rocks

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. —–Garry Fletcher