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Discovering Kwilakm
  • Discovering Kwilákm
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  • Changing Climate
    • Hotter Ocean Temperatures
    • Changing Ocean Chemistry
    • Rising Sea Levels and Intensifying Winter Storms
    • When Seashore Temperatures Spike – Killer Heat Dome 2021
  • Terminal Creek
    • Where does Terminal Creek’s Water Come From?
    • Signal Crayfish
    • Terminal Creek Fish Hatchery
  • The Lagoon
    • The Tidal Inlet that became the Lagoon
    • Aquatic Plants
    • Chum Salmon
    • The Beaver
    • Canada Geese
    • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • Shores
    • Nearshore Forests
    • Beaches
    • The Terminal Creek Sand Flats
    • The Curious Clay Beds of Kwilákm
    • Blue Mussels
    • Clams
    • Purple Stars
    • Oysters in Kwilákm
  • Shallows
    • Eelgrass
    • Young Chum Salmon
    • Winter Bay Birds
    • Year-Round Bay Birds
  • Deeper Waters
    • Plankton
    • Northern Anchovy
    • Harbour Seal
    • Octopus
Conservancy logoBowen Island Conservancy
    • About
    • Get Involved
  • Discovering Kwilákm
    • About
    • Get Involved
  • Changing Climate
    • Hotter Ocean Temperatures
    • Changing Ocean Chemistry
    • Rising Sea Levels and Intensifying Winter Storms
    • When Seashore Temperatures Spike – Killer Heat Dome 2021
  • Terminal Creek
    • Where does Terminal Creek’s Water Come From?
    • Signal Crayfish
    • Terminal Creek Fish Hatchery
  • The Lagoon
    • The Tidal Inlet that became the Lagoon
    • Aquatic Plants
    • Chum Salmon
    • The Beaver
    • Canada Geese
    • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • Shores
    • Nearshore Forests
    • Beaches
    • The Terminal Creek Sand Flats
    • The Curious Clay Beds of Kwilákm
    • Blue Mussels
    • Clams
    • Purple Stars
    • Oysters in Kwilákm
  • Shallows
    • Eelgrass
    • Young Chum Salmon
    • Winter Bay Birds
    • Year-Round Bay Birds
  • Deeper Waters
    • Plankton
    • Northern Anchovy
    • Harbour Seal
    • Octopus
Flock of Barrow's Golden eye swimming on the water.

Photo: Will Husby

Shallows

Barrow’s Goldeneye

(Bucephala islandica)

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Discover Kwilakm » Story » Shallows » Barrow’s Goldeneye
Flock of Barrow's Goldeneye
Photo: Mary Le Patourel

When winter’s freeze forces Barrow’s goldeneye from their nesting ponds in BC’s interior, the ducks head to the coast. Starting late October, you can often find goldeneye gathered along Bowen’s shores and sometimes in Kwilákm.

Goldeneye are here for the sheltered waters and fine food. Eighty per cent of their winter diet is blue mussels and the rocky shores of Kwilákm have a good supply.

Goldeneye swimming in the water
Photo: Mary Le Patourel

Goldeneye are strong swimmers. They can dive down to four metres with tail fully spread as a rudder, propelled by strong kicks with their webbed feet. Wings are closed and held tight to body. They can stay beneath the surface for over 30 seconds.

Drawing of a Goleneye threat display
Drawing: Myles Myres

From the moment, the male goldeneye arrives on their wintering grounds, they begin an elaborate variety of postures and bizarre sounds as they court the females and launch disputes with perceived rivals. Threat displays (sketch above) seen from water level, consist of a male or female swimming low in the water with head stretched forward. If the intruder does not leave, the defender may dive and swim towards the intruder underwater, with neck extended, to come up head-first right at the belly of the victim.

When a number of feeding goldeneye come together you can see courtship displays, mixed with brief bursts of threat and counterthreat. As quickly as it began, this activity relapses back into feeding or preening. These complex courtship behaviors help form and strengthen pair bonds. In March, when herring spawn, Barrow’s goldeneye may depart Kwilákm to feast on eggs and fatten up for spring migration to the interior of BC and breeding.

This pair was observed mating in the Bay just offshore of Sandy Beach.

Goldeneye in Deep Bay mating sequence
The female (foreground) lowers her head near the water surface to signal her interest in mating.
Goldeneye in Deep Bay mating sequence 2
The male (right) responds with a “heads-up display.

Goldeneye in Deep Bay mating sequence 3
The male mounts the female and begins to mate with her.

Photo sequence: Will Husby

Courtship begins on the wintering grounds. Copulation occurs once the nest has been established near the nest site. Egg laying occurs over +- 14 days, 1 egg every second day.

Migration north for most pairs is initiated by the female. She tends to head to the pond she was born. The male follows. These two birds in the photo above may have a nest nearby. Why have these birds chosen not to migrate? She must like it on Bowen.

Goldeneye are cavity nesters, using natural cavities in live or dead trees close by water. Heights to entrance of nest holes is 2 to 15 metres.

More About the Shallows

  • Shallows
  • Eelgrass
  • Young Chum Salmon
  • Winter Bay Birds
  • Barrow’s Goldeneye
  • Common Loon
  • Surf Scoter
  • Winter Bay Bird Conservation
  • Year-Round Bay Birds


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