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January 4

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Places to Visit and Explore Nature in Stanley Park Ecosystem Guides: Marine Stanley Park Visitor Map: with Park Features, Trails, and Destinations Second Beach - South

Harlequin Ducks Small groups of harlequin ducks gather along two stretches of Stanley Park's rocky shoreline; one to the north between Siwash Rock and the First Narrows and the other to the north of English Bay beach. These wintering areas are of special importance to the local population of harlequin ducks. By late October male harlequin ducks return to the same stretch of rocky beach used by previous generations of male harlequins. This special 'love of place' makes brings the males back, year after year. It is here that the males will attempt to attract a mate for next year's breeding season. Female harlequin usually arrive after the males have taken up winter residence. It is the female who chooses her mate and she will assess the males in residence and the quality of their winter territory before making her choice. Large boulders close to shore provide the harlequin ducks with safe and convenient places to rest and preen. Both activities are essential to their survival. By mid-winter most breeding adults will have formed pairs like the ones in this photograph. Visitors who walk Stanley Park's seawall in early winter are can observe harlequin courtship behaviour with visual displays accompanied by calls. The pairs will remain together through the winter before returning to their breeding grounds. The female will return to the mountain stream where she was born, with her mate following.       Field Guide Entry: Harlequin Ducks

Stanley Park Explorer http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.ca Produced by Peter Woods naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.ca           Revised: May 20, 2011