Grey and Green islets (BC125)

Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Site Description

Grey and Green are small rocky islands lying just over 3 kilometres off the eastern coast of Dundas Island, in northern Chatham Sound, near the City of Prince Rupert. Grass covers the higher portions of the main islands, but the tidally-connected rocks off the northwest corner of Green Island are devoid of vegetation.

Birds

Surveys of Grey Islet and Green Island were conducted in 1988 when 356 breeding pairs of Glaucous-winged Gulls (1.4% of the national population) were recorded. Grey and Green support the largest colonies of breeding Glaucous-winged Gulls in the Chatham Sound area. Although occasionally nesting singly, the Glaucous-winged Gull is primarily a colonial nester. In British Columbia, all the large colonies are on islands less than 100 m in height and 25 ha in size.

Other birds that nest on the islands, although not in nationally significant numbers, include Black Oystercatchers and Pigeon Guillemots. Moulting Harlequin Ducks are commonly seen around the islets. Additionally, the waters surrounding the islands are important feeding areas for many marine birds.

Conservation Issues

Prince Rupert is a major coastal port town and so oil spills and disturbance from boaters are ever-present threats. The islands are crown lands, owned by the BC government, and there is a Canadian Coastguard lighthouse reserve on Green Island.

IBA Criteria Habitats Land Uses Potential or Ongoing Threats Conservation Status