Colonial Waterbirds - Pukaskwa

Herring gull (Larus arentatus, HERG), great blue heron (Ardea Herodias GBHE), double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus, DCCO) and ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis, RBGU) have been monitored in Pukaskwa National Park since 1977 as part of the colonial waterbird monitoring program. A complete count of active nests on islands found along the ~120km of coast of Pukaskwa is conducted based on the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) protocol. The nest count is carried out during the peak of breeding over a period of 2-3 weeks. From 1977 – 1981, surveys were conducted annually and used an island numbering system (Old Colony Number in datasheet). From 1989 – 2013 surveys occurred at irregular intervals and the numbering system changed (Colony Number in datasheet), partly to follow the CWS naming convention. Since 2013, surveys have been conducted every two years (2013, 2015 and 2017). Data from these surveys are used to monitor the colonial waterbird populations within Pukaskwa.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 17:28 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 17:28 (UTC)
contact_email Courtney.irvine@pc.gc.ca
contact_person {}
criticality_level ["educators", "nongovernmental_organizations", "scientists", "students"]
data_dictionary []
geographic_scope ["3"]
open_canada_collection primary
open_canada_date_modified 2023-05-03 00:00:00
open_canada_date_published 2017-10-01 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"fr": ["Oiseaux aquatiques coloniaux", "Pukaskwa", "Goéland argenté", "Larus argentatus", "Grand héron", "Ardea Herodias", "Cormoran à aigrettes", "Phalacrocorax auritus", "Goéland à bec cerclé", "Larus delawarensis", "relevés de nids"], "en": ["Colonial waterbirds", "Pukaskwa", "herring gull", "Larus argentatus", "great blue heron", "Ardea Herodias", "double-crested cormorant", "Phalacrocorax auritus", "ring-billed gull", "Larus delawarensis", "nest surveys"]}
open_canada_subject ["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Oiseaux aquatiques coloniaux – Pukaskwa
update_frequency P6M