I had a satellite phone call from Jean Iron last night on Akimiski
Island in James Bay. She is assisting researchers with the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Trent University. There are
16 people in camp on the northeast coast including a cook (smaller
camps cook for themselves) and a helicopter pilot who transports
researchers to study sites. Much of James Bay is covered with sea
ice. It is a late spring and temperatures for the next few days will
be below average. The earliest Canada Goose (subspecies interior)
eggs are about 10 days from hatching, which is 5-7 days later than in
2006 and 2007.
"Lesser" Snow Goose: Yesterday Ken Abraham (OMNR) saw a high flock of
200 Snow Geese flying in the direction of Baffin Island. Of
approximately 1000 breeding pairs of Lessers on Akimiski in 2005, 77%
was blue morph birds (Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 2007). They are the
most southerly breeding Snow Geese.
Brant: About 700 on 23 May with most yet to come.
Semipalmated Plover: First bird arrived on the 24 May. Erica Nol and
her students from Trent University have long-term studies of
Semipalmated Plovers on Akimiski and at Churchill, Manitoba. Breeding
success is much lower on Akimiski than farther north in Churchill.
Erica thinks that the larger Killdeer, which are more common on
Akimiski than in Churchill and they arrive earlier, are competing
with Semipalmated Plovers and limiting their southern breeding distribution.
Hudsonian Godwit: Scattered birds sighted yesterday. Small numbers
probably breed on Akimiski at the southern limit of the species range
(Ontario Atlas 2007).
Marbled Godwit: First two pairs arrived yesterday on 24 May. They
were feeding in mud along the northeast coast. The wintering grounds
of the isolated subarctic James Bay population are unknown. Last year
two birds were fitted with satellite transmitters. One transmitter
either fell off on Akimiski or the godwit died before migrating
south. The second bird left Akimiski in the late afternoon of 17
August 2007 and 8 hours later crossed Lake Superior. It was tracked
to New Mexico where the signal was lost on 29 August. The projected
route suggested it was heading for the Pacific coast of northern
Mexico. This was surprising because James Bay birds were thought to
winter on the Atlantic coast. However, one bird is too early to make
a conclusion. This summer American researchers Adrian Farmer of the
US Geological Survey in Colorado and Bridget Olsen of the Bear River
Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah hope to place 5 transmitters on Marbled Godwits.
Other Bird Sightings: 4 Sandhill Cranes, American Bitterns singing, 6
Bonaparte's Gulls, Merlin nest near camp, Hermit Thrushes singing,
Swamp, Lincoln's and Fox Sparrows singing on territories, with
American Pipits, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings and Common Redpolls
(some breed locally) on the move.
Mammals: No Polar Bears yet on the island because James Bay north of
the island is still mostly sea ice. Two Red Foxes have researchers
concerned because of nest predation on study birds. Last year a fox
killed a Marbled Godwit. Snowshoe Hares are around camp.
Frogs: Jean said the Wood Frog and Chorus Frog calls were deafening
as I talked to her last night.
Map link below shows snow and ice conditions. Akimiski (note green
island) is close to Ontario coast half way up west side of James Bay.
Also note large area of open water south of the island.
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif
Update in 2-3 days.
Ron Pittaway
Toronto/Minden ON
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