Site fidelity and reproductive success of Black Oystercatchers in British Columbia

We compared reproductive success and territory fidelity in Black Oystercatc hers (Haematopus bachmani) in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. Twen ty-four of 34 nesting pairs hatched eggs in at least one year of the study, and of which 16 pairs raised chicks that fledged. Mean fledging production for 34 pairs in 1996 and 1997 was 0.44 fledglings per breeding pair per ye ar. Thirty of the 34 pairs observed used the same territory, in 1996 and 19 97. Of the 30 pairs that occupied the same territory in both years, 16 pair s failed to raise chicks in both nears, seven pairs fledged chicks in one y ear and sewn pairs fledged chicks in both tears. Oystercatchers showed stro nger site fidelity to territories where chicks were fledged than territorie s where they failed to raise young.