At Sea with the Marine Birds of the Raincoast

Recently released by Rocky Mountain Books, the nonfiction book At Sea with the Marine Birds of the Raincoast shares the unique story of conservation scientist Dr. Caroline Fox as she sails thousands of kilometers along the British Columbian coast, surveying marine birds. Trailed by curious albatrosses and encountering puffins, cranes, and storm-petrels, Fox calls attention to the urgent conservation challenges faced by a diversity of marine bird species.

To purchase the book via Raincoast’s website, visit Raincoast’s shop and gallery.

Fox, a conservation scientist with Raincoast Conservation Foundation, notes “in 2004, we initiated five years of unprecedented marine surveys to address outstanding knowledge gaps relating to the distribution and abundance of both marine birds and mammals in coastal BC. Several proposed oil and gas developments were looming. Now, as our current federal government works to implement an oil tanker ban on BC’s northern coast, we wanted to add to the already convincing body of evidence that highlights how little we know, and what’s at stake for vulnerable marine bird species and ecosystems.”

Fox adds, “While the threats marine birds face are real – and extinctions are on the horizon – solutions are readily apparent. These include the protection of important habitats, removing introduced species on breeding colonies, reducing fisheries bycatch and curbing the flood of pollutants, contaminants and debris that enter coastal ecosystems.”

Accompanied by images of marine birds and coastal scenes, drawings, and both archival and modern photography, this book reveals the fascinating – and often secret – lives of marine birds at sea. Serving to raise awareness, this book comes at a critical time as the spectre of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline and oil tanker project is seemingly on the rise again. In addition, with the implications of a changing climate and an increasingly industrialized coast being felt, the book calls for renewed efforts to conserve marine birds and the habitats upon which they rely.

A portion of proceeds from book sales will support Raincoast’s marine conservation efforts.
Contacts:
Author: Dr. Caroline Fox, email: carolinehfox [at] gmail [dot] com, telephone: (250) 812-1956

For all other requests, including review copies and book excerpts for publication purposes, contact
Rick Wood, Rocky Mountain Books, email: rick [at] rmbooks [dot] com, telephone: (250) 360-0829

You can help

Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.

We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.