This is Jean Iron's report for the period 6 - 8 August 2008 from
Akimiski Island, Nunavut, in James Bay. She is a volunteer with the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Trent University
under the direction of Research Scientist Ken Abraham. The camp is on
the island's northeast coast (53 deg 06 min N, 80 deg 57 min W).
Nights are cool and day temperatures reach 15C. Morning fog and 9
Polar Bears are restricting surveys. Recent observations below.
"Lesser" Snow Goose: 41 near camp on 6 Aug.
Black-bellied Plover: 25 adults on 8 Aug.
Semipalmated Plover: 92 on 6 Aug.
Greater Yellowlegs: 49 on 7 Aug, 50% juveniles.
Lesser Yellowlegs: 105 on 7 Aug, 90% juveniles.
Whimbrel: 15 on 8 Aug, not aged because of distance.
Hudsonian Godwit: 50+ on 8 Aug including 10 juveniles. Correction -
the flock of Hudsonian Godwits photographed in London, Ontario,
reported in the previous post # 2 was on 4 August 2008, not 4 July.
Marbled Godwit: Bridget Olsen reports that 3 of the 5 godwits fitted
with satellite transmitters in late May 2008 have departed Akimiski.
(1) 75688 that was captured 3 km east of camp on 25 May departed
Akimiski Island sometime after the evening of 31 July. It was in
South Dakota on 2 August and subsequently moved into North Dakota.
(2) 80794 was captured with 80795 at Byer's Creek 7 km west of camp
on the morning of 27 May. It migrated along the north shore of Lake
Superior on 29 July and was in central South Dakota on 31 July, then
also moved into North Dakota. (3) 80795 was last on Akimiski Island
around 6 p.m. on 29 July. On 31 July it transmitted, apparently in
flight, over Nebraska and is currently in southeastern Colorado.
Bridget and Adrian Farmer soon will be working on a publication with
all the details. Until recently the James Bay population was thought
most likely to winter along the southeastern coast of the United
States (Morrison et al. 2006), where counts estimated 2226 birds a
few years ago (Winn et al. 2006). The origins of the southeast
Atlantic wintering birds remain a mystery. Bridget Olsen is going to
Georgia in September with 8 transmitters to mark the wintering birds
to resolve that question.
Ruddy Turnstone: 6 adults on 8 Aug.
Sanderling: 21 molting and faded adults on 8 Aug.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1000+ on 6 Aug, 40% juveniles.
White-rumped Sandpiper: 3000+ molting adults on 6 Aug, 1800 on 8 Aug.
Pectoral Sandpiper: 136 adults on 7 Aug.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 12 juveniles on 8 Aug.
1. Shorebird and Waterfowl Breeding Success in 2008: In July, Ken
Abraham (OMNR) was along the northwest coast of Hudson Bay and on
Southampton Island, Nunavut. He reports (fide Jim Leafloor of
Canadian Wildlife Service) that lemming numbers are generally high in
the Eastern Arctic from Churchill, Manitoba, to Bylot Island
(latitude 73 deg), Nunavut. Waterfowl and shorebirds are having a
good breeding season because nest predators (foxes, gulls, jaegers,
hawks, owls, etc.) are preying on lemmings instead of birds. When
lemmings are scarce, nest depredation is much higher on birds and
breeding success is low. Tundra lemmings, Brown and Collared, are not
found south to Akimiski so the situation is different there. This
summer voles and other small mammals are low on Akimiski so nest
depredation was high (OMNR). The above are examples of the
alternative prey hypothesis.
2. Birds whose most southerly breeding range is the James Bay area:
Snow Goose (most southerly breeding is Akimiski), Ross's Goose,
Tundra Swan, King Eider, "Hudson Bay" Common Eider (subspecies
sedentaria), Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, American Golden-Plover,
Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin
(subspecies hudsonia), Purple Sandpiper (subspecies belcheri), Stilt
Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Parasitic
Jaeger, Northern Shrike, American Tree Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow,
Lapland Longspur, Smith's Longspur, and Hoary Redpoll.
3. Diurnal Raptors and Shorebirds: Osprey, Northern Harrier, and an
adult Merlin with juvenile learning to prey on shorebirds. Merlins
breed near camp. Recent studies elsewhere indicate that shorebirds
are flushing more frequently and spending shorter periods of time at
staging areas apparently linked to increasing numbers of Peregrine
Falcons, Merlins, etc. Peregrines do not breed in the James Bay area
because of the flat topography.
Snow and ice map link. Note the last remaining sea ice in Hudson Bay.
This long lasting ice and cold water contribute to subarctic
conditions extending deep into Eastern Canada. The ice persisting
longest at the bottom end of Hudson Bay is due to water circulation
patterns, making that coastline one of the best places for Polar
Bears in summer, and that coast is a major fall staging area for
Polar Bears waiting for freeze-up.
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif
Polar Bear and Climate Change research.
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Newsroom/LatestNews/MNR_E004159.html
We thank Ken Abraham and Bridget Olsen for information. Next report
in a few days.
Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron
Toronto / Minden ON
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