This is Report # 2 by satellite phone from Jean Iron on 29 May 2006 before
crews left camp to do fieldwork. Jean is with an Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (OMNR) and Trent University crew studying waterfowl and
shorebirds on Akimiski Island. Akimiski Island is the largest island in
James Bay, which is the southeastern extension of Hudson Bay. It has no
permanent human inhabitants. The vegetation comprises mosses, lichens,
sedges and grasses, freshwater pools, willows and stunted spruce. The
shoreline consists of wide tidal mudflats and wide marshes which are
starting to thaw. Temperatures are returning to more normal highs of 14C
(very warm tomorrow - 30C) so an influx of migrants is expected. Here's a
summary of this past weekend's observations.
Canada Geese (subspecies interior): 425 nests located to date and first
young are hatching. First "molt migrants" from the south arrived on Sunday,
28 May. These are mainly year-old nonbreeding Giant Canada Geese (maxima)
which come from southern Ontario/Quebec and northern United States to molt.
Brant: The crew is seeing hundreds of Atlantic Brant (subspecies bernicla)
on Akimiski Island and many thousands of Brant are now staging on James
Bay. These Brant will fatten (hyper-feeding) for 2-3 weeks before flying
nonstop to Southampton Island and other Arctic Islands to nest. Some get so
heavy they can hardly lift off departing James Bay.
Marbled Godwits: First Marbleds arrived on 26 May. Yesterday 7 pairs were
circling and displaying (butterfly flights) and calling. They will nest
nearby. The OMNR-Trent study is part of the "Marbled Godwit Continental
Conservation Working Group". This group is studying the three widely
separate breeding populations. The largest population (nominate subspecies
fedoa) breeds on the northern prairies of the United States and Canada.
There is a small very remote population (beringiae) in Alaska and the third
isolated breeding population (subspecies fedoa?) of western and southern
James Bay. The plan is to eventually get transmitters on James Bay Marbled
Godwits to see where they migrate and winter. Also, genetic work is planned
for this population.
Semipalmated Plover: The first birds arrived yesterday (26 May) which
pleased graduate student Nigel (sorry I missed his last name) from Trent
who is studying Semipalmated Plovers. His thesis advisors are Erica Nol
(Trent) and Ken Abraham (OMNR).
Other Shorebirds: Small numbers of American Golden Plover and Black-bellied
Plover seen on the weekend will go farther north to breed. A few Hudsonian
Godwits are displaying, doing butterfly flights and calling, breeding on
Akimiski is suspected. Short-billed Dowitchers are displaying. Jean is
checking dowitchers closely and hopes to photograph some to determine
breeding subspecies or intergrades. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are
present. The first Semipalmated Sandpiper arrived on the weekend. Shorebird
migration will really pick up soon.
Other Observations: American Black Ducks are common on Akimiski. Hundreds
of Lapland Longspurs and smaller numbers of American Pipits are migrating
north. First Yellow-rumped Warbler arrived yesterday. Fox, White-throated,
White-crowned and Lincoln's Sparrows are common and singing. Northern James
Bay is ice covered so Polar Bears haven't come ashore yet for the summer.
Jean will update us in two or three days.
Good birding,
Ron Pittaway
Toronto and Minden ON
