This is Jean Iron's report for period 3 - 5 August 2008 via satellite
phone from Akimiski Island in James Bay. Jean is a volunteer
surveying shorebirds to support studies on birds and habitat use by
the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Trent
University. There are 50 shorebird species on the Ontario Bird
Checklist (Ontario Field Ornithologists 2008) with 35 species
occurring regularly in the province (Ontario Shorebird Conservation
Plan 2003). There are 31 species on the Nunavut Bird Checklist for
the Bay Islands Region (Richards et al. 2002). Aerial surveys by the
Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and OMNR indicate that tens of
thousands of shorebirds use Akimiski's north coast in fall migration,
however, Jean's migration chronology from 1 - 25 August will be the
first extended ground survey for one location on the island.
Shorebird Study: Master's student Lisa Pollock of Trent is studying
the importance of the Akimiski north shore habitats to migrating
shorebirds under the co-supervision of Dr. Erica Nol (Trent) and Dr.
Ken Abraham (MNR/Trent). Her study includes taking core samples to
determine food availability on the tidal flats, quantifying habitat
use by recording birds according to macro and micro-habitat location,
colour banding shorebirds to determine how long individuals use the
study area, and monitoring numbers species and age composition of
shorebirds over the migration period. Dr. David Beresford of Trent is
assisting with the identification of invertebrates in the mud samples
and advising Lisa with sampling methodology. In addition to Jean,
summer students Danica Hogan, Andree Daoust-Messier, and Trent M.Sc.
student Ben Walters are all assisting with various aspects of the
study. Recent sightings below.
Semipalmated Plover: several adults.
Killdeer: several, not aged.
Greater Yellowlegs: 23 with a mix of adults and juveniles on 4 Aug.
Lesser Yellowlegs: 91 on 4 Aug, mostly juveniles.
Whimbrel: 1 on 4 Aug, not aged but probable migrating adult at this date.
Hudsonian Godwit: 52 molting adults and 4 juveniles on 5 Aug. World
population estimated at 70,000 birds and probably relatively stable
(Morrison et al. 2006). A small number probably breed on Akimiski
Island at the southern range limit. About 50% of the world's
population stages along the west coast of James Bay (Sutherland and
Peck in Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 2007). Southbound migration is
concentrated in a narrow lane a few km wide along the west coast of
Hudson and James Bays. Most adults reach James Bay in late July and
early August, while at the same time a few hundred over-flying adults
appear in the Madeleine Islands (Quebec) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
and Maritime Provinces. Most adults depart James Bay in the last 10
days of August after fattening for a non-stop flight to South
America. Juveniles gather on the west coast of James Bay and leave
mid-September to early October (Godfrey 1986, The Birds of Canada).
Occasional flocks are seen in southern Ontario including a recent
flock. Dave Martin sent me a photo taken by Don Taylor of 24 adults
photographed near London (ON) on 4 July 2008. These observations are
usually associated with big thunderstorms.
Marbled Godwit: 1 on 3 Aug, not aged.
Ruddy Turnstone: 6 adults on 3 Aug, 1 on 4 Aug.
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1600 with 20-30% juveniles.
Least Sandpiper: 4 juveniles on 5 Aug.
White-rumped Sandpiper: 2500 molting adults.
Pectoral Sandpiper: 150 adults. First juveniles not expected until mid August.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 3 juveniles on 5 Aug including 1 banded by
Ben Walters. Most adults have departed the breeding grounds by this date.
Other Birds: Snow Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck (23 on 2 Aug,
more common than Mallard), Northern Pintail (commonest puddle duck),
Common Goldeneye, 3 Sandhill Cranes on 3 Aug, Common Loon 1 worn and
faded year-old Glaucous Gull on 4 Aug, 3 adult and 1 juvenile
Bonaparte's Gulls on 4 Aug, 5 Arctic Terns on 3 Aug, 3 Caspian Terns
on 4 Aug (small numbers breed on James Bay), Boreal Chickadee, Yellow
Warbler with young, Wilson's Warbler, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned
Sparrow feeding young, 12 White-winged Crossbills on 5 Aug.
Mammals: On Sunday at noon a female Polar Bear and cub were swimming
at high tide in front of camp. Seven Polar Bears including 2 females
each with a cub have been keeping researchers close to camp, in
accordance with a well-established safety policy designed for the
purpose of keeping both researchers and bears safe. These bears are
curious and not aggressive. Explosive bangers and other noise-makers
are used to scare them. The camp is protected by a combination of
electric fence and 10 foot enclosure fencing. On Sunday a Lynx ran
onto the mudflat chasing geese, but soon gave up. One Snowshoe Hare
sighted near camp.
Voles: OMNR has done extensive live trapping this summer. Small
mammal numbers are very low, for example, no Meadow Voles have been
caught. Other small mammals are low. This is reflected in the absence
of Short-eared Owls and very few sightings of Northern Harriers.
Selected References: (1) Ontario Shorebird Conservation Plan by K.
Ross, K. Abraham, R. Clay, B. Collins, J. Iron, R. James, D.
McLachlin, and R. Weeber. 2003. Canadian Wildlife Service,
Environment Canada. Hard copies available; email
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with full postal address. (2) Morrison,
R.I.G., B.J. McCaffery, R.E. Gill, S. K. Skagen, S. L. Jones, G.W.
Page, C. L. Gratto-Trevor, and B. A. Andres. 2006. Population
estimates of North American shorebirds 2006. Wader Study Bulletin.
(3) Richards, J.M., Y.R. Tymstra and A.W. White. 2002. Birds of
Nunavut: A Checklist. Birders Journal.
I thank Ken Abraham for information. Next update in a few days.
Ron Pittaway
Toronto / Minden ON
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