The Ross’s Gull breeds primarily in eastern Siberia, but several pairs breed at known sites in Arctic Canada. Because of its rarity, its remote breeding range, and its tendency to skip breeding in sub-optimal years and change its breeding locations, monitoring information is poor. The best available information from periodic surveys suggests relatively little change in the size of the Canadian breeding population since about 1970, though some previously occupied breeding sites are no longer in use, and the only known nesting sites over the past decade have been in a small area of Nunavut. Ross’s Gull was designated as Special Concern in 1981 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Its status was then re-assessed as Threatened in 2001, which was re-confirmed in 2007 (COSEWIC 2007g). Enhanced monitoring information is perhaps the most critical management need for this poorly studied species. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The Ross’s Gull’s small population size places it at risk. Predation of chicks by Arctic Terns has been identified as a significant contribution to reproductive failure (Maftei 2014). Defining and protecting critical habitat, identifying other currently unknown breeding locations, and developing and implementing a rigorous monitoring program are considered priorities for the management of this Species at Risk (Environment Canada 2007a). Gaining a better understanding of the non-breeding distribution for Ross’s Gull is also a priority in order to develop conservation plans, though work is underway to clarify the species’ wintering range (e.g., see Maftei et al. 2014, and Maftei et al. 2015a). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view the Recovery Strategy, see the SARA Registry.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
