This is report # 5 from Jean Iron via satellite phone for period 31
May to 2 June. She is a volunteer with the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (OMNR) which administers the research camp on
Akimiski Island. Recent temperatures have been warmer (17C on 1 June)
and closer to normal daily highs of about 15C. Wide temperature
changes depending on wind direction. Wednesday's forecast is a high
of 22C. At high tide there is a narrow band of open water along the
coast. The sea ice is grounded at low tide with no open water.
However, there is a wide band of mudflats at low tide where
shorebirds and geese feed. Sunrise today was about 5:09 and sunset
tonight about 21:47. Huge mirages over James Bay caused by the sun,
warm air and sea ice. Some good displays of northern lights.
"Interior" Canada Goose (subspecies interior): 950 nests and many
hatched young to date. First molt migrants seen on 31 May. These are
"Giant" Canada Geese (subspecies maxima) arriving from southern
Ontario and the northern United States. Yesterday's molt migrants
included flocks of 50-70 birds continuing northward. They generally
comprise year-old birds and failed breeders. Successful breeders do
not undertake molt migrations. They remain with the young and molt
locally while the young grow to full size as a family group.
"Lesser" Snow Goose (subspecies caerulescens): 1000 nesting pairs on
west side of island. No goslings to date because hatching is later
than in Canada Geese. Ken Abraham (OMNR) estimated that 80% of the
colony is blue morph birds. Many older birders remember when the Blue
Goose was considered a distinct species. The Blue Goose was
reclassified as a morph of the Snow Goose in 1973 by the American
Ornithologists Union. Historically the two forms nested and wintered
in separate areas and mixed pairs were unknown. They began
interbreeding about 50 to 90 years ago, probably because of human
alterations to their winter habitat that brought the two forms
together. Harry Lumsden (1987) in the first Breeding Bird Atlas
reported that there were about a 100 pairs at Cape Henrietta Maria at
the junction of Hudson and James Bays in 1974. Ken Abraham (2007) in
the second Breeding Bird Atlas reported 130,000 pairs in 2005 in the
Cape area. There is a tendency to think of bird populations as fixed,
but the changes documented in the second Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas
(2007) for the Snow Goose and for many other bird species are
staggering and ongoing.
Nest Predation: Increased nest predation this year on goose nests and
small flightless goslings by Red Foxes, Herring Gulls and Northern
Ravens because of low small mammal populations such as voles. In
years when voles and lemmings are abundant in the north, predation is
much less on nesting geese and shorebirds by gulls, jaegers, ravens,
raptors, foxes, weasels, etc.
First ever record of a Gadwall for Akimiski on 31 May.
Shorebird Migration: Many distant large flocks of unidentified
shorebirds migrating across James Bay from the southeast to
northwest. On 2 June there were 85 Black-bellied Plover, 5 Red Knots,
4 Sanderlings and 130 Dunlin on mudflats between sea ice and shore.
Short-billed Dowitcher: Jean observed 8 individuals on 2 June. They
were the expected nominate subspecies griseus based on the cinnamon
coloration being restricted to the chest area.
Gyrfalcon: An intermediate (gray) morph bird killed a Northern
Pintail on 31 May. While the Gyr ate its prey, a Herring Gull and
several Northern Ravens tried to get a piece of the action.
Peregrine Falcon: Three along coast chasing longspurs and pipits.
These are migrants (mainly subspecies tundrius) going much farther
north to breed. No cliffs for nest sites on Akimiski and along
Ontario's coast of Hudson and James Bays.
Other Bird Sightings: 31 May: First 2 Arctic Terns (65 migrants
fishing yesterday along shore at high tide), scattered small groups
of American Golden and Black-bellied Plovers, 2 Bank Swallows,
singing Horned Larks on territory (nominate subspecies alpestris),
Yellow Warbler, 100s of Lapland Longspurs. 1 June: American Kestrel
at camp, singing Blackpoll and Wilson's Warblers, 1 Tree and 1 Barn
Swallow. 2 June: 1 Cedar Waxwing, and many Lincolin's Sparrows singing loudly.
Follow daily changes in snow and ice conditions.
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif
Next update 6 June.
Ron Pittaway
Minden/Toronto ON
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