MARINE BIRD CONSERVATION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 



249 



erences include unpublished theses and re- 

 ports. This information is easily retrievable 

 not a small contribution in today's paper-pro- 

 ducing society. 



Future programs planned by the Provincial 

 Museum, in addition to the continuance of 

 some of those already mentioned, include a 

 system of monitoring colonies every 5 to 10 

 years, depending on the sensitivity of the 

 species involved, to detect changes in popula- 

 tion numbers and distribution. It is also 

 hoped that the first complete provincial cen- 

 sus, with cooperation from Federal and pro- 

 vincial agencies, naturalist groups, and the 

 like, can be budgeted and arranged for in the 

 summer of 1980. That census could conceiv- 

 ably be expanded to include the entire Pacific 

 coast of North America. 



Some research on the breeding biology of 

 seabirds has been conducted by universities, 

 notably the University of British Columbia 

 under the guidance of R. H. Drent and M. Ud- 

 vardy. We expect that graduates returning to 

 coastal universities will continue that work. 

 The section of government dealing with eco- 

 logical reserves has just recently received 

 funding to permit field studies on reserves 

 harboring marine birds. J. B. Foster, Coordi- 

 nator of Ecological Reserves, emphasizes that 

 research by other agencies is encouraged 

 under permit on ecological reserves. 



There are a number of threats to seabirds in 

 British Columbia. Along with the chemical 

 pollutants in their environment and food, log- 

 ging, and the specter of huge oil tankers ply- 

 ing the west coast, we are greatly concerned 

 by the potential threat of boating enthusiasts 

 and recreationists. Well-meaning but unin- 

 formed vacationers and boaters stopping to 

 visit or picnic at seabird islands can do serious 

 damage to nesting seabirds. The possibility of 

 loss of habitat to seabirds from people search- 

 ing for island summer homes poses a threat, 

 and indeed some seabird islands have already 

 been lost to speculators. With increased 

 leisure time and travel the potential of unin- 

 tentionally introducing predators, such as 

 rats (Rattus spp.) and snakes, to seabird is- 

 lands is great. Intentional or accidental intro- 

 duction of mammals, such as mink (Mustella 

 vison), rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.), fox (Vulpes 

 fulva), and raccoon (Procyon lotor), to islands 

 is another serious threat to the future 



existence of seabird populations. The recent 

 unauthorized and apparently unsuccessful in- 

 troduction of mink on the Queen Charlotte Is- 

 lands could have resulted in the eventual 

 devastation of seabird colonies there and on 

 adjacent islands. The destruction of habitat 

 by logging near colonies on large islands and 

 complete logging on small offshore islands 

 will no doubt adversely affect some seabird 

 populations. Competition between increasing 

 numbers of gulls (Larus spp.) and certain 

 species of seabirds (e.g., storm-petrels and 

 cormorants) may result in reduced numbers of 

 the seabirds. 



What types of programs are needed? About 

 80% of all known seabird colonies in British 

 Columbia have been investigated to date, and 

 a modest program to monitor changes has 

 been established. We do, however, require ex- 

 ploratory work along the west coast of the 

 Queen Charlotte Islands and northern main- 

 land coast. We need to know more about the 

 breeding biology and reproductive potential 

 of each of the species nesting in the Province, 

 as well as about their adaptability to different 

 habitats. Will some burrow-nesting alcids use 

 man-made tubes erected in otherwise mar- 

 ginal habitat? Can and should more man- 

 made habitat be created for cormorants that 

 have been displaced from ancestral breeding 

 grounds? 



Of immediate urgency is exploratory work 

 involving seasonal distribution, abundance, 

 and flight lanes of pelagic seabirds along the 

 coast of British Columbia especially the 

 northern portion. We lack the base-line data 

 which could help influence routes of oil 

 tankers to lessen the potential danger of spills 

 to marine birds. We know little about the win- 

 ter distribution of marine birds, especially 

 alcids. 



As a general rule, offshore islands of less 

 than 100 ha should be protected completely 

 from logging, and the larger ones supporting 

 major seabird colonies should have some pro- 

 tection from development. We must also con- 

 sider the possibility of preserving some is- 

 lands which may act as buffer areas and pro- 

 vide potential alternate habitat to seabirds. 



Another concern is the effect of commercial 

 and sport fishing in the Province on food sup- 

 plies for seabirds, and what damage, if any, 

 gillnetting may have on diving seabirds. Per- 



