This is Jean Iron's second report by satellite phone for the period 30 June to 6 July 2012 from Burntpoint Creek Research Station on the Ontario coast of Hudson Bay. Burntpoint is operated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). See map link below. The Burntpoint crew comprises Julie Belliveau (OMNR and Trent University), Matt Birarda (OMNR), Jean Iron (OFO volunteer) and Jim Sauer (volunteer). The recent daily weather has been variable ranging from 5 to 25 Celsius affected by wind direction and the camp's close proximity to Hudson Bay. The coast is 3.5 km from camp and regular visits while monitoring plots are made to the coast. The sea ice is now not visible from shore, but there is a lot of floating ice.
WATERBIRD/INVERTEBRATE STUDY: Julie Belliveau is conducting a Trent undergraduate thesis research project with assistance from the crew. Ken Abraham reports that Julie's project title is "Waterbirds and invertebrates of tundra wetlands in Ontario". It is a baseline study. Her goal is to determine the aquatic invertebrate species in three different wetland types and determine waterbird-wetland associations. Specific objectives include: to determine the species composition of aquatic invertebrates in tundra wetlands, to determine the relative and seasonal abundance and biomass of the invertebrate species, and to determine a preliminary idea of the relative use of different wetland types by waterbirds. Julie is supervised by Ken Abraham and David Beresford (Trent). SHOREBIRDS: Crew is monitoring nests. American Golden-Plover nest with eggs on July 6. Presumed migrant shorebirds moving southeast along coast included 20 Dunlin, 3 Least Sandpipers, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Hudsonian Godwits and high flying Whimbrel. Some of these birds such as Dunlin and godwits are likely going to productive staging areas in James Bay. Whimbrels are probably going directly to the Atlantic Coast or farther. SOME OTHER BIRDS: 15 Green-winged Teal on July 2. Tundra Swan on July 3. Two Pacific Loons on July 6. Three Northern Harriers are apparently preying on young birds because vole numbers are very low. Peregrine Falcon, 1 on 2nd was possibly a wandering introduced bird as most Tundra Peregrines are now in the High Arctic and Peregrines do not nest in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Several broods of Willow Ptarmigan and one nest still with 8 eggs on July 6 near camp and several dust baths near camp. Ptarmigan eating the blossoms of White Mountain-Avens. Small colony of Arctic Terns on tundra ponds. The Parasitic Jaegers (all light morph birds) regularly hunting over the tundra are presumably taking mostly young birds. One Ruby-crowned Kinglet on July 1. Four Yellow-rumped Warblers on 5th. One Palm Warbler on 5th. One Tree Swallow on 5th. Two Barn Swallows on 4th. SPARROWS - 8 species in study area are American Tree Sparrow, Savannah, Nelson's (subspecies alter), 1 singing on July 1 and 2 singing on July 2, Fox, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated and Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow - although this area is described as the zone of intergradation between the nominate subspecies leucophrys and gambelii, all birds seen were like gambelii. 90% of White-crowneds in Churchill, Manitoba, are gambelii (Jehl 2004 in Birdlife of Churchill Region). Ten male Smith's Longspurs near the coast were agitated presumably because females and nests were nearby. Common Redpolls are frequent including a few whiter probable Hoaries. Summer redpolls are worn and darker than winter birds making them more difficult to distinguish. Both Common and exilipes subspecies Hoary Redpolls breed in northern Ontario (Leckie and Pittaway in Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 2007). MAMMALS: Caribou - a large herd of about 3000 went through camp on July 2. The crew was surrounded by Caribou on both sides that were visible as far as they could see. There was a good number of calves in the herd. The Caribou movement upset Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits as it moved across their territories. Numbers down to 38 on 3rd and 1 on 6th. A Gray Wolf seen on July 2 was presumably following the Caribou. Taxonomically, all Caribou in Ontario are considered Woodland Caribou comprising two ecotypes: forest and tundra populations. BUTTERFLIES: Brown Elfin is the one new species added since the last report. Jutta Arctic is the most frequently seen butterfly on the few sunny and warm days suitable for butterflies. Maps and photo showing location of Burntpoint Camp http://www.jeaniron.ca/Burntpoint/camp.htm Snow Ice Cover Map shows extensive sea ice off the Ontario coast. http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Burntpoint camp is under the direction of Ken Abraham, Waterfowl and Wetlands Scientist (OMNR). Rod Brook (OMNR) and Sarah Hagey (OMNR) provide logistical support to the station. Report #3 in about a week. Ron Pittaway Minden, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
