Report # 3 by satellite phone from Jean Iron on 31 May, 2006 from Akimiski
Island in James Bay. James Bay is about 480 km (300 mi) long and about 230
km (140 mi) wide between northern Ontario and central Quebec. About 8 large
rivers and numerous streams flow into James Bay making it quite brackish.
Jean (volunteer) is one of 10 people including a helicopter pilot with the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Trent University.
Yesterday's warm south winds brought in many birds and others departed.
Here's a summary of observations for 29-30 May.
Canada Goose (subspecies interior): Peak hatch expected 2-3 June. Chicks
will be web tagged so when they are banded in late July their growth rates
can be determined from weight and measurements. A Red Fox is preying on
some incubating females.
Brant: Large numbers of Brant departed northeast on yesterday's warm south
winds. Correction to report # 2. These departing Brant have been fattening
on James Bay for 2-3 weeks; they won't be staging for another 2-3 weeks as
stated in report # 2.
Semipalmated Plover: They are displaying. Graduate student Nigel Ward from
Trent University is studying this interesting plover. Birders who see
shorebirds only on southern mudflats would be astonished by shorebird
vocalizations, displays and behaviours on breeding territories.
Marbled Godwit: About 14 pairs along a 35 km route. Their breeding biology
is being studied by graduate student Katie Walker of Trent University.
Other Shorebirds: Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Ruddy Turnstone,
Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, Least Sandpiper. Migrating Whimbrel
expected soon.
Other Birds: Best bird yesterday was a dark morph Gyrfalcon. Peregrine
Falcons are seen daily. American Kestrel near camp and 3 pairs of calling
Merlins. Rough-legged Hawks and Short-eared Owls (hunting during the day)
are seen daily. American Bittern, Hermit Thrush, Rusty Blackbird,
Red-winged Blackbird. Large flocks of Lapland Longspurs and American Pipits
left on yesterday's south winds.
Inventory of Snow Geese: Ken Abraham (OMNR) is leaving Akimiski today to
join Ken Ross of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). The two Kens will be
doing aerial inventories of Snow Goose colonies around Cape Churchill on
Hudson Bay in Manitoba. The last surveys were done 10 years ago.
Interestingly, both Ken Ross and Ken Abraham studied Snow Geese when they
were graduate students at La Perouse Bay east of Churchill. Their
supervisor was Professor Fred Cooke (now retired) of Queen's University in
Kingston, Ontario. Fred (a keen birder) is a recent past president of the
American Ornithologists' Union.
Other Observations: A female Polar Bear with a cub was seen yesterday on
the island. Wood Frogs and Chorus Frogs are calling.
Update in two or three days.
Ron Pittaway
Toronto and Minden ON
