EYE IN THE SKY
by Berry Wijdeven
by Berry Wijdeven
![Haida Gwaii East Beach](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-2.jpg?1565896663)
On a clear day, and yes, we do get our share of those on Haida Gwaii, we can see the British Columbia mainland. In geographic terms the archipelago isn’t all that far from that coast, some eighty kilometres. But on a blustery winter day, when hurricane winds are pounding the islands and two story waves are once again delaying the ferry carrying our much needed groceries, the mainland can seem a long way away. The people of Haida Gwaii have learned to adapt to this relative isolation. We (grudgingly) accept that it takes a letter, or bill payment, 10 days to get to Vancouver. We don’t expect to see movies within weeks (or months) of release. And we freeze and can our local bounty, stock up on non-perishable items and buy fresh fruit and vegetables with a vengeance when available.
![Haida Gwaii - Old growth Forest](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-3.jpg?1565896463)
The Haida Gwaii flora and fauna have adapted to the isolation and local circumstances as well. Migratory species such as blue herons and
saw-whet owls have apparently decided that all that long distance travel is for the (other) birds and stay put year-round. Because the rainforests on Haida Gwaii tend to be dark, birds such as goshawks, saw-whet owls and hairy woodpeckers have responded by favouring darker plumage. And because those coastal forests are dense, local goshawks have adapted with decreased wingspans to manoeuvre more easily through the narrow flyways below the tree canopy. Haida Gwaii bears have developed the largest skulls of any North American Black Bear, likely due to a different suite of available prey items, while critters such as marten and ermine sport skull shapes and sizes substantially different from those of their cousins on the mainland.
saw-whet owls have apparently decided that all that long distance travel is for the (other) birds and stay put year-round. Because the rainforests on Haida Gwaii tend to be dark, birds such as goshawks, saw-whet owls and hairy woodpeckers have responded by favouring darker plumage. And because those coastal forests are dense, local goshawks have adapted with decreased wingspans to manoeuvre more easily through the narrow flyways below the tree canopy. Haida Gwaii bears have developed the largest skulls of any North American Black Bear, likely due to a different suite of available prey items, while critters such as marten and ermine sport skull shapes and sizes substantially different from those of their cousins on the mainland.
![Haida Gwaii - Sawwhet Owl](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-4.jpg?1565896299)
More interesting, perhaps, and something which isn’t obvious from examining specimen but can only be discovered through years of careful study of a (sub)-species, are the changes in behaviour, the adaptation to the unique ecosystem of Haida Gwaii. During glacial periods when the ocean levels were substantially lower, the islands were accessible from the BC mainland. But that accessibility didn’t last very long, relatively speaking, so entire groups of species never made it to Haida Gwaii. The islands have no wolves, coyotes, bobcats, large ungulates, snakes, salamanders, the list goes on and on. As a result, the species which did make it across Hecate Straight
have developed a food web with relationships and adaptive behaviours which differ from their cousins
on the mainland.
An example is the Haida Gwaii subspecies of saw-whet owl, brooksi, the only native species of owl on-island. This local subspecies has discovered that intertidal zones have an abundance of food, such as beach hoppers and other invertebrates. And since the owls are not threatened by other night time predators, they can freely gorge themselves on these intertidal critters, a food source generally thought not available to mainland saw-whet owls since larger owl species would pick them off as tasty snacks.
have developed a food web with relationships and adaptive behaviours which differ from their cousins
on the mainland.
An example is the Haida Gwaii subspecies of saw-whet owl, brooksi, the only native species of owl on-island. This local subspecies has discovered that intertidal zones have an abundance of food, such as beach hoppers and other invertebrates. And since the owls are not threatened by other night time predators, they can freely gorge themselves on these intertidal critters, a food source generally thought not available to mainland saw-whet owls since larger owl species would pick them off as tasty snacks.
These changes in species relationships and interactions makes studying wildlife on Haida Gwaii a fascinating undertaking with the opportunity for surprises around every corner. When the Haida Gwaii Sooty Grouse Research Project started seven years ago, however, the researchers weren’t looking for the unexpected; grouse behaviour had been studied pretty comprehensively elsewhere. The research team was interested in finding out why the local grouse population had, anecdotally and compared to populations in other regions, declined so much. Was it the habitat changes brought on by forest harvesting? The habitat changes brought on by the large number of introduced deer? Or were there other factors which had brought on the observed reductions?
![Haida Gwaii - Banded Sooty Grouse](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-6.jpg?1565899764)
To find out what was going on, how the grouse were using the often altered landscape, the team caught more than a hundred and seventy grouse and fitted them with radio collars. This way, the birds’ movement patterns could be recorded as well as what habitat they were using at different times throughout the year. It also allowed the team to locate grouse nests. When, during the breeding season, a tagged female stopped moving for a few days, it was a good bet she had started nesting. Using radio telemetry the nest could then be located and a motion detection camera would be deployed facing the active nest.
![Haida Gwaii - Ross listening for radio signal](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-7.jpg?1565900085)
Radio telemetry is, at times, more of an art than a science. While the basics are pretty straightforward - you put a radio trans-mitter on a critter, release it and then use a receiver to lock onto its unique radio signal to help guide you to its current location - in the real world this guiding is less straight forward then one might think. The radio signals don’t travel in straight lines, but bounce off slopes, are re-directed by trees or rocks, affected by high moisture content in the air or nearly silenced when the
source signal is located in a depression. When a field crew is new at this, their initial searches involve a lot of unnecessary
bush-wacking, bog traversing and fighting off salal attacks, in search of an ever changing, at times seemingly illusive signal. The crew members quickly learn to “read the sign”, however, to be aware of topographical or vegetation impacts to the signal, check directions frequently and constantly adjust their path forward.
source signal is located in a depression. When a field crew is new at this, their initial searches involve a lot of unnecessary
bush-wacking, bog traversing and fighting off salal attacks, in search of an ever changing, at times seemingly illusive signal. The crew members quickly learn to “read the sign”, however, to be aware of topographical or vegetation impacts to the signal, check directions frequently and constantly adjust their path forward.
![Haida Gwaii - Gerry locates a grouse nest](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-8.jpg?1565900200)
When you walk towards a signal, you judge your progress by how strongly the signal is received. When the signal gets stronger, the beep gets louder, you are getting closer. This aural assistance disappears however, when you get within 20-30 meters of the source, the grouse carrying the transmitter. At this point, the signal is as strong as it is going to get and it now becomes a matter of visually locating the grouse, somewhere close by. Crews tread carefully at this stage, not just to prevent the grouse from moving off her nest, but also, literally, from not stepping on a grouse, for it is a well known fact that Sooty Grouse are ground nesters.
![Picture](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-9.jpg?1565900260)
Sooty grouse belong to the family Tetraoninea which also includes Spruce grouse, Ruffed grouse, Sharp-tailed and Sage grouse as well as Ptarmigan and Prairie chickens. This family has a wide distribution ranging from Iceland and Greenland to Eurasia and North America. While they have adapted to a wide variety of ecosystems, one characteristic which has remained commonplace is their
choice of nesting sites, be it on the arctic tundra, a coastal rainforest or on inland plains: a shallow depression or scrape on the ground, often beneath cover, with a
thin lining of plant material. Not the most secure of locations, but somehow it has been sufficiently successful to maintain
the species.
choice of nesting sites, be it on the arctic tundra, a coastal rainforest or on inland plains: a shallow depression or scrape on the ground, often beneath cover, with a
thin lining of plant material. Not the most secure of locations, but somehow it has been sufficiently successful to maintain
the species.
![Haida Gwaii grouse nesting in a tree](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-10.jpg?1565901157)
On Haida Gwaii, however, the research crew started to discover that somehow the island grouse must not have gotten that ground-nesting memo. (Blame perhaps that before-mentioned atrocious mail service). It started innocently enough with the find of some grouse nests located on high stumps, which was unexpected and interesting, but soon thereafter a grouse nest was detected 2.5 meters up in the air on a 45 degree leaning tree. That created some excitement amongst the crew along with declarations of having located the highest grouse nest in North America.
![Haida Gwaii grouse nesting in a tree](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/editor/eye-12.jpg?1565901236)
But that was only the beginning. By the next field season new champions emerged, nestled ever higher in the crooks of trees or on mossy platforms on tree branches. While exciting, trying to find these nests often proved problematic. Locating nests in dense understory was one thing, but looking up into a cluster of trees, hoping to spot a remarkably well camouflaged grouse took time, skill and a healthy dose of lucky. Mossy platforms, those more often associated with Marbled Murrelet nests turned out to be a favourite site for the non-conformist tree dwelling grouse. Sometimes, after extensive circling, using binoculars and zoom lenses, looking for the right angle to get a glimpse, it would be the tail feathers, sticking up or sticking out which would given the grouse away. Or, surprisingly perhaps, often it was the eye in the sky, staring intently at the interlopers below.
![Haida Gwaii grouse nesting way up in a tree](/uploads/1/2/6/9/126967338/eye-15_orig.jpg)
By the end of the study, some 15 grouse tree nests had been located with the highest one hidden away some 18 meters up high. Straight up. And they say grouse aren’t good flyers! Mind you, not all Haida Gwaii grouse nested in trees, in fact they nested just about anywhere: on stumps, on logs, on top of root wads, on a cliff, inside hollow trees, inside waste wood piles and in a variety of tree species. Some even nested using a shallow depression on the ground, often beneath cover, with a thin lining of plant material. Every nest search created excitement as the crew would never know what nest location choice that particular grouse had made. Or why. Was it to get away from predators? Get away from the wet understory? Hopefully the project data will tell. Meanwhile, the research team remembers this particular study fondly. In spite of the aches and pains, the ineffectiveness of their rain gear for the Haida Gwaii weather, the miles and miles of searching and bushwacking, they gained a new respect for the adaptiveness of the Sooty grouse. And for the surprises and adaptations Haida Gwaii keeps throwing at them. Now if only that storm would subside so the ferry could show up. Some fresh milk would be nice. Though I could mix up some of that powdered stuff. I guess.