Reports from the Canadian Arctic indicate a generally much better breeding year for most shorebirds compared to the late snow melt and cold nesting season in 2009.
Map shows the Canadian Arctic is mostly snow free and the sea ice in Hudson Bay is almost gone whereas ice remained well into August in 2009. www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif Counting juvenile shorebirds south of the breeding grounds will give an indication of breeding success in 2010, which is a good reason to learn how to distinguish the age classes. A crew led by Mark Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum arrived at Longridge Point on southern James Bay on Wednesday, July 14. They are surveying migrating shorebirds with a particular focus on the endangered rufa subspecies of the Red Knot. Jean Iron will file their first report soon. Acknowledgements: I thank Ken Abraham, Vicky Johnston, Guy Morrison, Erica Nol and Paul Smith for information. Ron Pittaway Minden, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
