Comox Valley Naturalists Society

Sunday, May 16, 2004
Tyler Lewis
Baynes Sound Scoters

The meeting of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society scheduled for Sunday, May 16 at 7:00 pm in the Seniors Lounge of the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay, featured guest speaker, Tyler Lewis, who discussed his research into the ecology of surf scoters and white-winged scoters within Baynes Sound.

Coastal British Columbia is a significant area for sea-ducks, particularly surf scoters and white-winged scoters. Baynes Sound supports significant populations of both scoter species. There is evidence that populations of scoters on the Pacific coast are declining, although factors leading to the declines are uncertain.

Scoters spend most of their annual cycle in marine waters in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats. Extensive knowledge of scoter ecology in these wintering areas is largely lacking. Recent research suggests that sea ducks, including scoters, are particularly sensitive to disturbance of their non-breeding habitats, leading to concerns over winter habitat attributes. To investigate these concerns, a joint study between Simon Fraser University and the Canadian Wildlife Service was initiated to study the winter ecology of scoters within Baynes Sound. The study aims to address questions regarding scoter habitat use, movements, food supply, foraging behaviours, and population status. Knowledge gained from this study contributes to larger continental efforts to understand scoter ecology in both breeding and non-breeding habitats.

Tyler Lewis grew up in Yakima Washington and received a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Oregon. He has worked on several waterbird research projects including Brant geese winter ecology in Baja, Mexico, Caspian tern research in the Columbia River estuary, and breeding ecology of waterfowl in northern Alaska. He is currently working on a Master of Science degree at the Centre for Wildlife Ecology at Simon Fraser Univeristy. His thesis focuses on the foraging ecology of scoters in Baynes Sound.

Click on a link below to view descriptions of previous guest speakers.