Sky Lark Alauda arvensis This information was scanned from The Birds of British Columbia (Campbell et al.), Volume III, pages 112-119. Volumes I, II and III of The Birds of British Columbia can be ordered electronically at: orders@ubcpress.ubc.ca from UBC Press in Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

Range In North America, introduced and established on extreme southeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Small numbers have spread and are now resident on San Juan Island in adjacent Washington state. Naturally breeds from the British Isles, Scandinavia, and northern Siberia south to northwestern Africa, the Mediterranean region, Asia Minor, northern China, Korea, and Japan; winters from the breeding range south to northern Africa, the Persian Gulf, and eastern China. The Sky Lark is established as an introduced species in the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and New Zealand.

Status Introduced and established as a local resident in the Georgia Depression Ecoprovince only on the Saanich Peninsula of southeastern Vancouver Island; an uncommon to fairly common resident there; population low but apparently stable. Casual elsewhere in the Georgia Depression, including the Gulf Islands and Municipality of Delta; accidental on northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Breeds.

Status Change In 1903 the British Columbia Natural History Society, with financial support from the provincial government and local residents, imported 100 pairs of Sky Larks (formerly known as Eurasian Skylarks) from Great Britain. Two birds died in transit. Half of the consignment was held in Vancouver until the spring of 1903 and released at various points throughout the Lower Mainland. The remainder was held in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, and released in the autumn of 1903 (Anonymous 1903). Ninety-nine birds were liberated in the vicinity of Duncan, North Saanich, Colwood, and Cedar Hill, and in Victoria in fields near the Jubilee Hospital and at Beacon Hill Park (Grinnell 1936; Scheffer 1935; Sprot 1937; Cooke and Knappen 1941). In April 1913, an additional 49 birds were released on the Saanich Peninsula in the following locations: 34 at Rithet's Farm, 9 at Lansdowne Road, and 6 at Cadboro Bay (Phillips 1928; Sprot 1937). Six more were released privately, at Royal Oak, in 1919 (Tonkin 1971). By the mid-1920s numbers had increased and the species was considered "locally abundant" (Preece 1925). The mainland introductions were unsuccessful, although Brooks and Swarth (1925) mention that the species had "secured a permanent foothold at the mouth of the Fraser River." A decade later Sky Larks were reported at Sidney near the north end of the Saanich Peninsula, nearly 24 km from the closest release site. The first census, carried out in November and December 1935, found 219 Sky Larks at 9 locations (Sprot 1937). Consecutive mild winters and the conversion of forests to cultivated land allowed the species to thrive (Meugens 1944; Harwell 1946). By the mid-1940s the Sky Lark had become "firmly established" in Victoria and on the Saanich Peninsula (Munro and Cowan 1947). The increase continued through the 1950s and 1960s, until the Sky Lark appeared to have occupied all available habitat. During the same period it extended its range north to Duncan, west to Saltspring Island (Scheffer 1955; Davidson 1958,1967; Poynter 1960), south to Sidney Island, and even to San Juan Island in Washington state (Bruce 1961). In March 1962, another census was completed for Vancouver Island (Stirling 1962; Stirling and Edwards 1962). A total of 694 Sky Larks were counted, mostly in the following areas: Victoria International Airport (129), Saanich Experimental Farm (40), Keating Cross Road (38), Martindale Road (313), Gordon Head (138), and Cedar Hill Cross Road (19), all localities on the Saanich Peninsula. Stirling and Edwards (1962) estimated the provincial population at about 1,000 birds. The year-end census of 1965 again led to an estimate of just over 1,000 birds (Stirling 1966). This was the highest estimate up to that time and revealed that the Sky Lark had continued to increase despite some loss of habitat. In early 1969, severe weather appeared to threaten the Sky Larks and grain was distributed in an attempt to supplement available feed. On 2 February 1969, 777 birds were counted using the supplemental feed, mostly in the central and north Saanich areas. Only 5 birds were counted in the University-Gordon Head area and 14 elsewhere (Stirling and Beckett 1969). During the 1970s, urbanization and the accompanying loss of habitat further affected populations of Sky Larks by reducing and fragmenting suitable habitat. On the Saanich Peninsula, they disappeared from the Gordon Head area and the University of Victoria (Tatum 1970a, 1971, 1972, 1973). A few still remained in the Duncan and Cowichan Bay areas north of Victoria (Chambers 1969; Lemon 1970). The decline in numbers continued during the 1980s and early 1990s. In December 1980, Sky Larks were not found on the Christmas Bird Count (Shepard 1981), for the first time since 1957. In spring 1983, 42 singing males were seen in 12 locations on the Saanich Peninsula (MacLeod 1983), and in the winter of 1984 to 1985 a maximum of 59 birds was estimated for the Martindale and Victoria International Airport areas (Carder 1985). In January 1993, the census total for the entire peninsula was 206 Sky Larks. On 17 March 1993, a similar survey of singing birds resulted in a total of 64 Sky Larks, distributed as follows: Lochside Trail (4 pairs), Maber's Flats (2 pairs), Vantreight's farm (12 pairs), and Victoria International Airport (14 pairs). The birds now appear to be confined to the above 4 areas within a 9.5 km linear distance, down from 57 km historically. Two of these remaining locations are threatened by development (Begg 1990). In 1970 small numbers of Sky Larks became established in fields surrounding Cowichan Bay, just south of Duncan. Although several pairs nested in the area and birds were occasionally reported into the early 1990s, the population apparently no longer exists. In autumn 1953 a few residents of Comox "secretly" released 6 Sky Larks in the vicinity of York Swamp. Adults and young were seen in the summers of 1954 and 1957, after which none was reported. In early spring 1977, a "few" Sky Larks were released privately near the Vancouver International Airport, south of Vancouver. That introduction failed. Unless suitable habitat is protected from urban development, it is unlikely that a viable population of the Sky Lark can be maintained on Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands.

Nonbreeding The Sky Lark is mainly confined to 4 areas on the Saanich Peninsula of southern Vancouver Island, although small numbers of birds can occasionally be found in suitable habitat as far north as Cassidy. Populations at Comox, Cowichan Bay, and Cobble Hill near Duncan probably no longer exist, although individuals are reported irregularly on southeastern Vancouver Island as far north as the Cassidy airport. Vagrants have been seen on Saltspring Island, Pender Island, and Sidney Island in the Strait of Georgia, and on the mainland only on the Fraser River delta (Weber 1975a; Poynter 1977). There are single sight records for northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands, which are likely vagrants from Asia. The Sky Lark prefers open country such as beaches, pastures, short-grass fields, cultivated land, golf courses, playing fields, and airfields. As Stirling and Edwards (1962) point out, "the horizon about such places must be low to be suitable, for [the birds] avoid narrow valleys and small fields bordered by trees." The most suitable habitats have low or sparse vegetation, often with a high proportion of bare soil. In winter, depending on snowfall, the Sky Lark aggregates in grain or corn stubble fields. In order of preference, the birds can be located in late crops of wheat or oats; light stubble where, on poorer soils, the crops have matured and have been harvested early; and coarse stubble on rich soils that have been cleanly farmed (Sprot 1937). By the early 1960s, the Sky Lark was found in winter at various localities on the Saanich Peninsula where open ground carried weeds, grasses, and fields of vegetable crops (Stirling 1962).As crops changed, the Sky Lark also began to frequent daffodil fields, and occasionally lawns and drainage ditches. The Sky Lark is resident on southern Vancouver Island, and populations are relatively sedentary. There is no evidence of migratory or dispersal patterns similar to those in Europe. It is suspected, however, that there is a movement in summer, away from wintering areas. Movements on the Saanich Peninsula are local and most noticeable in winter, when flocks shift between snow-covered fields and snow-free fields (Begg 1991). The Sky Lark is present throughout the year in British Columbia.

Breeding Nests Eggs Nest Success The Sky Lark now breeds only near the Victoria International Airport in North Saanich and in the vicinity of Central Saanich Road and Island View Road in Central Saanich. One or 2 pairs may still nest between Keating Cross Road and Wallace Drive. Formerly it nested locally, near Comox and Cowichan Bay. It prefers to nest in dry, manage d, open habitats such as fields of short to moderately tall grass, and those that have been cultivated before initiation of the breeding seas on and have a cover of short wild grass and weeds (Tatum 1971). The Sky Lark shuns areas with isolated trees, hedges, shrubs, gravel patches, and extensive sandy areas. The Sky Lark has been recorded breeding in the province from 7 April (calculated) to 18 July.

Nests:  All nests were on the ground in open areas among vegetation such as grasses and forbs. Some were placed near paths, airport runways, and ground debris such as stick s and stones. Most nests were in shallow depressions and were constructed of coarse grasses, plant fibres, plant stems, leaves, rootlets, and occasion ally flower heads. The nest cup was usually lined with fine grasses. Eggs: Dates for 13 clutches ranged from 12 April to 18 July, with 600/70 recorded between 20 April and 5 June. Calculated dates indicate that nests may contain eggs as early as 7April. Clutch size ranged from 1 to 4 eggs (lE-2,2E-1,3E3, 4E-7), with 7 clutches having 4 eggs. In a sample of 89 clutches from England, Delius (1965) found that 57% had 4 eggs, while clutch size ranged from 3 to 7 eggs. The incubation period in England is 11 days (Delius 1963). In British Columbia, the Sky Lark may lay 2 clutches a year (Bent 1942; Taturn 1970a). Nest Success: Of 2 nests found with eggs and followed to a known fate, 1 produced at least 1 fledgling. Young: Dates for 10 broods ranged from 20 April to 18 July, with 64% recorded between 5 May and 10 June. Calculated dates indicate that nests may contain young as late as 1 August. Brood size ranged from 1 to 4 young (1Y-2, 2Y-2, 3Y-5, 4Y-1), with 5 nests having 3 young. The nestling period in England is 8 to 10 days and the fledgling period is 18 to 20 days (Delius 1965). Young become independent at about 25 days. Brown-headed Cowbird Parasitism: In British Columbia, cowbird parasitism was not found in 19 nests recorded with eggs or young. Also, Friedmann (1963), Friedmann et al. (1977), and Friedmann and Kiff (1985) do not report parasitism on the Sky Lark in North America.

Remarks The population of Sky Larks released on Vancouver Island was of the nominate subspecies, A. a. arvensis. A Siberian race, A. a. pekinensis, is now a regular migrant and casual summer visitant to the islands of western Alaska, with possible breeding on the Pribilof Islands (Byrd et al. 1978; Kessel and Gibson 1978; Gibson 1981). South of Alaska, it is a casual transient on the west coast of North America as far south as California. It is possible that the Sky Larks sighted in Delta (Weber 1975a), Port McNeill, and the Queen Charlotte Islands (Siddle 1992a) represent the latter subspecies (Morlan and Erickson 1983). The report of Sky Larks at the Vancouver International Airport in late July 1970 is erroneous (Crowell and Nehls 1970d). In Washington state, the Sky Lark was first found in 1960 on San Juan Island, 18 km east of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island. It was reported nesting there a decade later (Wahl and Wilson 1971). In August 1973, 63 individuals were counted on the island (Weisbrod and Stevens 1974), and by the late 1980s it was considered a "locally common breeding resident" with its centre of abundance in an area bordered by South Beach, the redoubt, and Pickett's Lane (Lewis and Sharpe 1987). Attempts to introduce the Sky Lark into North America other than British Columbia have been made off the coast of Delaware, and in Ohio, New York, California, Oregon, Quebec, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Michigan, and Montana (Cooke and Knappen 1941). All have been unsuccessful (Phillips 1928; Grinnell and Miller 1944; Bull 1974). Twomey (1936) and Garman (1956) suggest that one reason introductions have been successful on southern Vancouver Island but not elsewhere in North America is that there the temperature and rainfall for all the critical months of the year fall within the native range of the subspecies that was imported. It has also been suggested that cold winters with persistent snow cover have played a part in reducing the Sky Lark population on Vancouver Island (Stirling and Edwards 1962). For example, the winter of 1949 to 1950 was characterized by deep snow; it was suggested that this resulted in a reduction in numbers of Sky Larks in the Victoria area the following December. After that, it took 6 or 7 breeding seasons, and mild winters with little snowfall, to build populations to former levels. Even though other factors may be contributing, loss of breeding habitat through increasing urban encroachment appears to be the primary reason for the decline in Sky Lark numbers. For example, in the 1950s and 1960s, about 60 pairs nested in the extensive fields surrounding what is now the University of Victoria campus. By early 1970 the population was restricted to only a few pairs (Tatum 1970a), and by 1980 the birds had virtually disappeared, partly because of disturbance and grass-mowing activities. Their last stronghold may be in the vicinity of the Victoria International Airport, although some of the Sky Lark habitat there is now also threatened with development.  Conservation efforts that may influence Sky Lark numbers include modifying local mowing and harvesting activities to lessen the impact on breeding Sky Larks (Tatum 1971), and securing commitments from landowners to maintain some fields for breeding and foraging Sky Larks. In addition, providing grain as supplementary winter food during periods of severe weather has been suggested (Stirling and Beckett 1969); however, there is no evidence that this earlier program improved survival. If the survival of the species in British Columbia is considered important, it is imperative that research be done to determine the ultimate cause of the Sky Lark's steady decline in numbers. Only with reliable information can plans be made to improve its likelihood of survival in Canada. The Sky Lark was formerly known as the Eurasian Skylark (American Ornithologists' Union 1995). See Cramp (1988) for additional life-history information on the species in the western Palearctic.