Ph.D. student

Title of thesis: Nesting and Brood-rearing Habitat Requirements of Cavity Nesting Waterfowl: Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead. 

Supervisors: Fred Cooke, David Lank, Sean Boyd (CWS)

Short biography: B.Sc. Zoology, 1993, University of Calgary. Began M.Sc. at SFU in 1997. Upgraded to a Ph.D.

Summary of current research:

Both Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) and Bufflehead (B. albeole) are secondary cavity nesters and rely heavily on nest sites created by primary cavity nesters such as Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) and Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus), respectively. However, studies of natural cavity selection and success by these birds are lacking. Prior studies have predominantly made use of artificial nest boxes. This study examines the biophysical characteristics of cavity nest sites (tree species, decay class, dbh, distance from water, and distance from forest edge) and compares reproductive parameters between birds nesting in cavities to those in nest boxes. Sources of nest failure and patterns of nest site philopatry for both cavities and nest boxes are also being examined. 

Obtaining a suitable nest site is generally of paramount importance to breeding success in secondary cavity nesting birds.  Barrow's Goldeneye is a cavity nesting duck that defends exclusive brood rearing areas on ponds, and this defense has been interpreted as defense of food, suggesting that variation in pond quality is also quite important. Furthermore, reproduction in birds is timed so that the breeding cycle coincides with maximum availability of food for nesting adults or developing young. Recruitment among waterfowl may be particularly sensitive to the quantity and quality of food resources available, both in terms of the energy and nutritional requirements of egg-laying females as well as the growth and developmental requirements of ducklings. Protein acquisition via invertebrate consumption potentially limits clutch size in waterfowl, hence availability of invertebrates may be a cue affecting wetland use and ultimately recruitment. Therefore, habitat quality significantly effects reproductive parameters such as 1) timing of reproduction; 2) propensity to breed; 3) clutch size; 4) egg mass and composition; 5) offspring growth and survival; and 6) overall reproductive success. We are currently examining these and other aspects of Goldeneye and Bufflehead breeding ecology. The period of growth and development is one of the most important, yet, least studied, periods in the life cycle of waterfowl. Nutrition during the growth period is likely to influence duckling survival and future reproduction by its effect on size and nutrient reserves. Growth characteristics of interest to us are: 1) asymptotic size approached by a sigmoidal growth process; 2) growth rate: a measure of the total amount of time required to reach the asymptotic limit, expressed as the rate of amount of body mass gained per unit time; and 3) the path or trajectory taken by the growth process to approach the asymptote (see Brisbin et al. 1986).

Funding Agencies: 

NSERC, Science Horizons, Forest Renewal British Columbia, Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, West Fraser Mills Ltd., Riverside Forest Products Ltd., and Simon Fraser University.

Recent Publications: 

Manuscripts:

M. Evans, D. Lank, F. Cooke, and W.S. Boyd. The Breeding Ecology of Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead in Natural Cavities and Nest Boxes. Submitted to The Auk, September, 2000.

Technical Reports:

M. Evans.  Sea Duck Joint Venture Species Account For Barrows Goldeneye Populations Across North America. North American Sea Duck Joint Venture (2000).

M. Evans.  Sea Duck Joint Venture Species Account For Bufflehead Populations Across North America. North American Sea Duck Joint Venture (2000).

Oral Presentations given at Scientific Meetings:

M. Evans, D. Lank, F. Cooke, and W.S. Boyd. The Breeding Ecology of Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead in Natural Cavities and Nest Boxes. Joint Ornithological Meeting between The Society of Canadian Ornithologists, The American Ornithological Union, and The British Ornithological Union. St. John's, Newfoundland (2000).

M. Evans, D. Lank, F. Cooke, and W.S. Boyd. Brood Rearing Habitat Selection by Barrow's Goldeneye and Its Effect On Duckling Growth, Survival, and Return Rates. North American Duck Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (2000).

Poster Presentations Given at Scientific Meetings (1999-2000):

M. Evans, D. Lank, F. Cooke, and W.S. Boyd. Natural Cavity Selection by Barrows Goldeneye and Bufflehead, and a Comparison to Nest Box Usage. North American Duck Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (2000).

M. Evans, D. Lank, F. Cooke, and W.S. Boyd. Brood Rearing Habitat Selection by Barrow's Goldeneye and Its Effect On Duckling Growth, Survival, and Return Rates. Joint Ornithological Meeting between The Society of Canadian Ornithologists, The American Ornithological Union, and The British Ornithological Union. St. John's, Newfoundland (2000).

M. Evans, D. Lank, F. Cooke, and W.S. Boyd.  Natural Cavity Selection by Barrows Goldeneye and Bufflehead. Cooper's Ornithological Meetings, Riverside, California. (2000).

M. Evans and A. Breault.  Identification of Bufflehead Moulting Sites in Interior British Columbia. Cooper's Ornithological Meetings, Riverside, California. (2000).

Presentations made by co-authors at Scientific Meetings (1999-2000):

W.S. Boyd and M. Evans.  Juvenile Survival in Barrows Goldeneye. North American Duck Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (2000).

B. Smith, W.S. Boyd, and M. Evans. Modeling Predation Events and Juvenile Survival in Barrows Goldeneye. North American Duck Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (2000).

A. Breault and M. Evans.  Identification of Seaduck and Waterbird Moulting Areas in the B.C. Interior. Pacific Flyway Symposium, Newport, Oregon. (2000).

A. Breault and M. Evans.  Waterfowl Moulting Sites in Interior British Columbia. North American Duck Symposium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (2000).