Jean Iron called yesterday evening (26 May 08) from Akimiski Island
in James Bay. Shore ice is breaking up with the first inshore tidal
flooding yesterday, but temperatures are below average and migration
is late. Studies on the island are under the general direction of
Research Scientist Ken Abraham of the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (OMNR).
SAY'S PHOEBE found by Ken Abraham on the 25 May. Two photos were
taken. First record for Nunavut (Jim Richards, pers. comm.).
Canada Goose: 240 nests found to date. John Brunjes, Department Fish
and Wildlife Government of Kentucky, is assiting OMNR's long-term
study of the interior subspecies as part of international agreements.
Brant: 750 on 25 May and 500 on 26 May. Peak numbers yet to arrive.
Shorebird Habitat Study: Master's student Lisa Pollock and thesis
supervisor Erica Nol of Trent are studying the habitat (including
core samples) of Akimiski's north coast to quantify its important to
migrating shorebirds. Habitat protection is the focus of conservation efforts.
Marbled Godwit: Numbers increasing with 16 observed 25 May. Adrian
Farmer and Bridget Olsen have now placed transmitters on 3 godwits
with 2 more to go.
Hudsonian Godwit: 30 migrants on the coastal flats on 25 May. They
generally feed on the flats farther from shore than the Marbled and
the two species are not mixing. The Hudson Bay Lowlands may represent
50% of the Canadian population, with much of that in Ontario (Ross et
al. 2003, Ontario Shorebird Management Plan).
Shorebirds Sightings: 13 species including Black-bellied Plover,
Dunlin and Ruddy Turnstone, which are going farther north to breed.
Other Bird Sightings: Bald Eagle, Northern Harriers, 2 Peregrine
Falcons, light morph adult Parasitic Jaeger chasing a Herring Gull,
adult Glaucous Gull, large migration of hundreds of Lapland Longspurs
on 25 May with smaller numbers of American Pipits, Snow Buntings and
Common Redpolls.
Polar Bear tracks 2-3 km from camp on 25 May noted heading onto the
island and then returning to the sea ice. When the ice goes out up to
50 bears (most southerly Polar Bears in the world) will summer on the
island making life for researchers interesting.
Map of snow and ice conditions. Akimiski Island is close to the
Ontario coast half way along west side of James Bay.
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif
Next update in a few days.
Ron Pittaway
Minden and Toronto ON
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