Dickson et al. (2025)

Author Information

Rian Dickson: Laskeek Bay Conservation Society

The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society (LBCS), based in Skidegate, BC, completed their 35th field season (19 April – 20 July 2024) of monitoring marine and terrestrial ecology in Laskeek Bay, Haida Gwaii. Rian Dickson and Matthew Peck, assisted by Frédérique Poulin and Amaya Black, coordinated the various research and monitoring projects at the field station on East Limestone Island, including Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba, PIGU) nestbox monitoring by video camera, Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens, GWGU) colony censuses, Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani, BLOY) surveys, and automated recording unit (ARU) detection of Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus, ANMU), Fork-tailed Storm-petrel (Hydrobates furcatus, FTSP), and Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus, CAAU). Four boat-based transect surveys for seabirds were conducted throughout the season, monitoring trends of at-sea Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus, MAMU) and other seabirds. 

Ancient Murrelet chick departures from the East Limestone Island colony were monitored using thermal motion cameras, as has been done since 2019. Fourteen ANMU chicks were captured on camera; while this remains much lower than the historical average, numbers appear to have stabilized rather than continuing to decline. LBCS continues to do ANMU gathering ground counts during May and June every year. Black Oystercatcher surveys were completed in Laskeek Bay in early June and early July. 

Many volunteer and student assistants joined the field staff this season, and there were visits from local school and tour groups, who learned about seabird biology, local ecology, and conservation issues. The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society is a non-profit organization, with a volunteer board of directors. Dr. Anthony Gaston serves as the society’s Science Director.