FOCUS ON -WHISTLERS

by Rosemary Curley, Waterside, P.E.I.

Barrow's Goldeneye counts were conducted again in 1982, with relatively
good viewing conditions during the count period January 30 - February 7 inclusive.
Sixteen counters found a total of 85 Barrow's Goldeneyes (57 males and 28 females)
in an Island-wide survey, and turned up 2290 Common Goldeneyes, as well as a
number of other waterfowl species in the process.

Compared with the 1891 survey when 71 male and 31 female Barrow's were spotted,
sex ratios again favoured males, but less noticeably than last year. This may be
because survey participants felt more confident in identifying Barrow's females
in 1982. The overall count total for Barrow's was reduced from the 1981 total
of 102, but Barrow's were found over a wider area. Among the new locations for
Barrow's were Victoria Causeway, Stanley Bridge, Vernon Bridge, Cardigan Causeway
and Canavoy Bridge at Savage Harbour. The majority (48) of Barrow's seen were
again at West River where 1083 Common Goldeneyes were also present. Such a
concentration of Goldeneyes is pleasing to the eye on first inspection, but a
source of eye-strain when one is trying to count them.

Mary Lynn McCourt kindly tabulated all data for this wet. but due to space
limitations only data pertaining to Barrow's Goldeneyes are reproduced here. (See
Table.) Many thanks to all who participated in the surveys. Despite Counters'
Syndrome, i.e. eye-strain, the Barrow's survey provides a welcome excursion when
wintering waterfowl highlight the avifaunal selection.

BARROW'S GOLDENEYE SURVEYS

Date. _ Location Males Females Total Observer (s) *
Feb. 6 Causeway, Foxley Bay eal 6 £7 DGM & AM

Feb. 7 Grand River Bridge et 1 2 GGH & TB
Feb. 7 Victoria Causeway - ae if GGH & TB
Feb.:3 Oyster Bed Bridge : 4 3 7. HWJ, NBL, FRC
Feb. 3 Trout R. Br. (North Granville) 2 - 2 HWJ, NBL, FRC
Feb. 3 Stanley Bridge : - af 1 HWJ, NBL, FRC
Feb. 2 West River Causeway 34 14 48 RLD, MLM
Jan. 30 Vernon Bridge - aE ut GME
Feb. 7 Cardigan Causeway 4 - 4 GMac
Jan. 30 Canavoy Bridge aL 1 2 WEC
Totals By 28 85

*Observers: Tim Birt (TB), Winifred Cairns (WEC), Rosemary Curley (FRC), Randy
Dibblee (RLD), Geoff Hogan (GGH), Winston Johnston (HWJ), Norah
Longworth (NBL), Alanagh MacDougall (AM), Gerald MacDougall (DGM),
Gerald MacDonald (GMac), Glen MacEachern (GME), Mary Lynn McCourt
(MLM) .

Thanks are also due to Liz Glen, Bill Glen, Debbie Peters and Sid Watts who

surveyed the area Wood Islands to Montague but did not see any Barrow's Goldeneye.

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