She’s back and right on the mark.
The first Bufflehead duck of the season appeared on Roberts Bay, Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary sometime around noon Thursday, Oct. 13.
This is the third recorded occasion when a single female has been the harbinger of All Buffleheads Day.
Roberts Bay, the oldest migratory bird sanctuary on the pacific coast, is the wintering ground for about 150 Bufflehead — a small, hearty sea duck that dives up to four metres underwater to eat from the mudflats of the bay. The birds are known for their near-exact migratory timing.
“I had abandoned my observation post temporarily at 11:15 to take a short lesson in pronunciation of the Sencoten (Salish) language, and had guessed that they would not show today as they usually do first thing in the morning, and then I was pre-occupied with media inquiries, until I managed to grab my breath and pick up the binoculars. Tah, tah,” said an exuberant Kerry Finley, who observes the sanctuary.
A celebration for the timely duck was held in Lillian Hoffar Park Saturday morning to herald the arrival of the punctual birds. It consistently arrives on its coastal wintering grounds very closely around the 298th day of the solar cycle. Naturalists and scientists use the duck’s arrival as a guide to the arrival of other migrants and the timing of the winter freeze.
Green Party Leader and MP for Saanich Gulf Islands Elizabeth May will present a private member’s bill asking for Oct. 15 to be declared national All Buffleheads Day in honour of the duck.
“The Bufflehead is known as the Spirit Duck because they are such sprightly little things,” said May. “They are so punctual that when you see them arrive, you know the date instantly. However, with climatic shifts occurring, we need to keep a close eye on this little duck.”
Naturalists are watching to see if the timing of the Bufflehead migration changes, as it may provide a signal of climate change. In Britain, scientists have already noted changes in arrival and departure dates of migrant birds which they attribute to the changing climate.
“With a precise timeline like we see with the Bufflehead, it really brings home how carefully synchronized nature’s cycles are,” said May. “The Bufflehead has been very stable over many decades. If we start seeing changes in its migration patterns, it will be an indicator of environmental change that deserves notice.”
The District of North Saanich and the Town of Sidney have both worked hard to protect Bufflehead habitat in Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which was established in 1931. Both have proclaimed Oct. 15 to be All Bufflehead’s Day. The duck is also part of the official crest of the Town of Sidney.
“They’re back and they’re right on the statistical target of day 298.
Happy All Buffleheads Day,” said Finley.