Jean Iron just phoned me from Moosonee before flying out at 5:00 p.m.
by Ontario Government Twin Otter aircraft to Akimiski Island
(Nunavut) in James Bay. She is a volunteer with the Ontario Ministry
of Natural Resources (OMNR) under the direction of Research Scientist
Ken Abraham. She is also assisting Professor Erica Nol and her
students from Trent University who are studying shorebirds such as
the Semipalmated Plover and Marbled Godwit.
Earlier today on the 186 mile train trip from Cochrane to Moosonee
they observed Rough-legged Hawk, Bonaparte's Gulls, Sandhill Cranes,
yellowlegs, and lots of Wilson's Snipe. The train went slowly because
the frost is coming out of the rail bed on the muskeg. At the bird
feeder at the OMNR staff house in Moosonee there were about 50 Purple
Finches, lots of redpolls, a few Pine Siskins, Rusty Blackbird,
Brown-headed Cowbird, White-crowned and American Tree Sparrows. On
the Moose River there were 3 terns, probably Arctic and 5 Black
Scoters. 3 Belted Kingfishers were near the airport.
Jean will call me every few days by satellite phone from Akimisiki
and I'll post sightings to Ontbirds.
Here's a satellite photo of Akimiski Island, which is the largest
island in James Bay.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17995
Ron Pittaway
Toronto/Minden ON
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