The Barrow’s goldeneye is a small diving duck named after Sir John Barrow, an English statesman and writer who lived from 1764 to 1848. Barrow served as Second Secretary to the Admiralty for over 40 years and was a founder of the Royal Geographical Society. He sponsored and encouraged many Arctic voyages and explorations during his career, including expeditions led by John Ross and William Edward Parry to find the Northwest Passage. It was during one of these exploratory voyages to the Canadian Arctic in 1824 that the Barrow’s goldeneye was first collected and named in Barrow’s honor by the ornithologist George Robert Gray.
Who was Sir John Barrow?
Sir John Barrow was born in 1764 in the village of Dragley Beck, Lancashire, England. After a brief career at sea, Barrow began working for the Admiralty in 1804 and was appointed Second Secretary, a position he held for the next 41 years. As Second Secretary, Barrow was responsible for overseeing the Admiralty’s exploration activities and he became a tireless advocate for Arctic exploration and discovery. Through his influence and leadership, Barrow helped plan and finance a series of voyages in search of a Northwest Passage over northern Canada that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Barrow promoted and supported explorers like John Ross, William Parry, James Clark Ross and John Franklin and many important geographical discoveries were made under expeditions he sponsored.
In addition to his accomplishments with Arctic exploration, Barrow was a founder of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830 and served as the Society’s first vice president. He was made a baronet in 1835 in recognition of his long service to the Admiralty. Barrow wrote extensively about his geographical interests as well, publishing numerous articles and several books before his death in 1848 at the age of 84.
The Barrow’s Goldeneye Species
The Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is a medium-sized sea duck that inhabits subarctic and arctic regions. The Barrow’s goldeneye distinctively has golden-yellow eyes, unlike the more widespread common goldeneye which has dark brown eyes. The male Barrow’s goldeneye also has glossy black plumage on the head and back that turns to white on the breast and belly. The female is gray-brown all over.
The Barrow’s goldeneye habitat ranges across northern Canada, Alaska, Iceland, and Scandinavia. They breed in forested areas around small lakes inland and spend the winter in coastal bays and estuaries. During the breeding season, Barrow’s goldeneye construct nests in cavities of trees near water. Females lay between 5-15 cream-colored eggs. Ducklings hatch in early summer and fledge by late summer. Barrow’s goldeneye predominately eat insects and crustaceans in freshwater and small fish in saltwater environments.
Discovery and Naming
The Barrow’s goldeneye was first obtained by members of an Arctic expedition organized by the Admiralty and sponsored by Sir John Barrow himself. Between 1819 and 1827, Barrow promoted and planned four Royal Navy voyages to find a Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic under commanders John Ross and William Edward Parry. Though a passage was not located, these expeditions mapped new territories and collected valuable scientific information.
It was during Parry’s second expedition on board the HMS Fury and HMS Hecla between 1821-1823 that the Barrow’s goldeneye was first collected. Parry’s ships overwintered in the Foxe Basin off what is now the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Here the naturalist George Robert Gray procured several specimens of an unknown goldeneye duck. Gray named the new goldeneye species Bucephala islandica in honor of Sir John Barrow’s Arctic explorations and the duck’s discovery on islands in the Canadian north.
Taxonomy
The Barrow’s goldeneye belongs to the genus Bucephala within the family Anatidae, which contains ducks, geese, and swans. There are only two Bucephala species, the Barrow’s goldeneye and the common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula). They were originally classified as the same species, but were split into separate species based on differences in morphology, habitat, and behavior. The two goldeneye species are still very closely related.
There are no known subspecies of the Barrow’s goldeneye. They are most closely related to the North American buffleheads and the long-tailed ducks of Eurasia based on anatomy and genetics.
Importance of Barrow’s Expeditions
While Sir John Barrow never saw the goldeneye species that bears his name, the exploratory voyages he organized proved critical for natural history discoveries in the 19th century. Expeditions like those led by Parry provided opportunities to document unknown Arctic plants and animals. Over 63 native Arctic species were first described from specimens collected on Barrow’s expeditions, including the Barrow’s goldeneye.
Barrow-sponsored voyages also yielded extensive mapping and documentation of Canada’s northern coastline and islands. Geographic features like Barrow Strait, Point Barrow, and Barrow Mountains were named after Sir John Barrow due to his central role in their discovery. Overall, Barrow’s position in the Admiralty allowed him to greatly expand Europe’s geographical knowledge of the Canadian Arctic even though a Northwest Passage was never found.
Conservation Status
The Barrow’s goldeneye has a large range across northern North America and Eurasia. Its total population is estimated at between 200,000-500,000 mature individuals. Populations are generally stable, with strongholds remaining in Iceland and Alaska. Due to its large population and range, the Barrow’s goldeneye is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
However, some local and regional threats exist. Hydroelectric developments and logging practices have reduced nesting habitat in parts of Canada. Oil spills, contamination, and climate change impacts also pose concerns for certain goldeneye populations. Conservation efforts for the Barrow’s goldeneye focus on preserving key breeding and wintering sites across its circumpolar range.
Conclusion
The Barrow’s goldeneye is a diver duck named after Sir John Barrow’s 19th century Arctic voyages that led to its discovery. As Second Secretary of the Admiralty, Barrow promoted geographic discoveries in northern Canada like the Barrow’s goldeneye, even though his expeditions never located the Northwest Passage. Barrow’s support expanded European knowledge of the Canadian Arctic significantly. Today, the Barrow’s goldeneye remains a widely distributed sea duck, with stable populations across northern regions where it was first collected and identified nearly 200 years ago.