Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Jun 15/01) - Most people spend some time during the summer listening to the birds.
Steve Baryluk is going to get paid to do it.
Since early May Baryluk has been a field biologist with Inuvialuit Environmental and Geotechnical. His main task will be to help conduct bird surveys (songbirds and waterfowl) around the Delta, as part of a Mackenzie Delta Biophysical Survey.
So far Baryluk is researching past studies done on the area, but before long he'll be flying out via helicopter to do surveys.
The waterfowl are to be counted without the helicopter landing, but Baryluk will set down to count the songbirds.
"You basically go to a point for five minutes, and then you count all the birds you hear and see," Baryluk explained.
"Most of the time you actually don't even see the birds, you just hear them."
As a result, Baryluk is touching up on bird calls.
He said that after the fieldwork is done he'll make habitat models.
"If you go out somewhere and you find a certain type of vegetation community, then you're going to be likely to find this type of animal out there, these types of birds," Baryluk said.
"It's a very exciting thing for me. It follows quite closely in line with what I've been studying in school."
Baryluk, who is from Inuvik, returns this fall to the University of Alberta, where he will complete his zoology studies.
He said he's always wanted to work with wildlife in some way. In previous years he's worked for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Inuvik Research Centre, and Parks Canada.
Baryluk also camped some near Tuktoyaktuk while growing up, and said he spends as much time outdoors as he can.
"I'm doing a lot more than I used to, because I've got a lot better appreciation of what's out there."
He also has some unusual pets, including three snakes and three lizards.
Baryluk likes the fact he has a fair amount of responsibility this summer.
"It makes you feel important and gives you good experience."
He said that one of his favourite bird calls belongs to the white crown sparrow, and that falcons and snow buntings are two of the prettiest birds.
