Westham Island
- Lake name:
- Westham Island
- Location:
- British Columbia
- Latitude:
- 49.115255
- Longitude:
- -123.183705
- Surface area (km2):
- 60.9
- Basin type:
- non-reservoir
- Primary emergent vegetation:
- cattail (Typha latifolia)
- Management agency:
- Port of Vancouver; Environment Canada; City of Delta; British Columbia Waterfowl Society; International Joint Commission
- Region associations:
- Vancouver; Fraser River; George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- Comments:
- At mouth of Fraser River and Strait of Georgia.
Summary of Surveys (2)
Survey Citation:
Weber, W. C., and J. Ireland. 1992. Tidewater breeding records of the Western Grebe near Vancouver, British Columbia. Western Birds 23:33-34.
-
Time period
August 1986, October 1988 -
Source
Notes -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 101 to 500 | 130 | 1986 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 60 | 1988 |
| Max Nests | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Nests | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | 2 | 1986, 1988 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 1 to 100 | 2 | 1988 |
Comments:
1986 observations by Ireland, September 1988 observations by Weber and October 1988 observations by Brian G. Self and D. Michael Price, all off of Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary at the mouth of the Fraser River. These two breeding records may be the first records for western grebe breeding on the B.C. coast on tidewater anywhere. At the mouth of the Fraser River, the marshes have brackish water and have a mean tidal range of 3.1 m to 4.8 m at the extreme, making it a challenge to nest there. The chicks were observed late in the season, suggesting they may have hatched from renesting efforts after an unsuccessful nesting attempt. They could have also hatched from nests further up the Fraser River but that is unlikely. Most summers, there are 50 to 100 grebes in the summer near Westham Island but no evidence of breeding before 1986.
Survey Citation:
Burger, A. E. 1997. Status of the Western Grebe in British Columbia. Wildlife Working
Report WR-87, Wildlife Branch, Ministry of the Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada.
-
Time period
1986, 1988 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | ? |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | ? |
| Max Nests | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Nests | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | 2 | 1986, 1988 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 1 to 100 | 2 | 1988 |
Comments:
There was rare breeding on this lake with two years of a single brood of 2 chicks each year (Weber and Ireland 1992). Tidal flux impacts the Fraser River delta marshes where they may have nested, possibly the first tidewater breeding record for Western grebes. Most summers (years not given), 30 to 100 grebes are present but no observed breeding prior to 1986 nor since 1988 (J. Ireland, pers. comm.).