BREEDING CONDITIONS REPORT, 2000


RESPONDENT

Paul Smith

SITE NAME

East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada

Contact details (phone/fax//e-mail//address):
(613)990-2384/(613)998-0458(fax) // paulallen.smith@ec.gc.ca // National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada

PROJECT DETAILS

Project name:

Shorebirds of East Bay

Start of survey:

End of survey: Team size:

1.06

30.07

5


WEATHER CONDITIONS

Season phenology: late

Weather conditions:

Snow cover reduced to 50% on 19 June and completely melted on 23 June. There is typically a violent storm in late June at this site. During this time, we have observed some abandonment of nests, and some instances of interrupted laying. It is difficult to assess the full extent of the impact of this annual storm, as most nests are found after its passage.

 

Season temperature: cold
Season humidity: rainy
Date of 50% snow-cover: 19.06
Date of ice-break on rivers:
Date of final loss of snow: 23.06

BIOTIC CONDITIONS

Rodents abundance evaluation:

low

Breeding conditions:

This was considered a late year with average lemming abundance. Reproductive success was average for the species studied intensively. Roughly 30 Brant nests were found in the study plot in 2000; Brant did not nest at East Bay again until 2005. Shorebird densities were lower for most species compared to 1999, but were high in comparison to 2001 and 2002. Densities for a plot survey repeated from 1999-2005 summarise these trends; data are available upon request. Mayfield estimate of hatch success in shorebirds was 0.32, and hatching success in Sabine's Gulls was 63%.
 

Rodent dynamics:

Lemmings were at a low in this year. No capture data.

Rodent species recorded:

LatinAbundance
Lemmus trimucronatusrare
Dicrostonyx groenlandicusrare

Summary of fauna studies:

In 2000 we conducted detailed studies of Herring Gulls, Sabine's Gulls and shorebirds. All parameters of basic breeding ecology were recorded, such as nest success, nesting densities, timing of peak lay and hatch, etc.

 

FAUNA IN STUDY AREA

Group of speciesPresenceAbundanceBreedingDetailed studiesComment
arctic foxesYescommonbreeding  
lemmingsYesrarebreeding  
wadersYesabundanthatchingYes 
swansYesrarebreeding  
geeseYesabundanthatching  
ducksYescommonhatchingYes 
birds of preyYesrare   
buzzardsYesrare   
ptarmigansYesrare   
cranesYesrare   
skuasYescommonbreeding  
pomarine skuasYesrare   
gulls/ternsYesabundanthatchingYes 
owlsYesrare   
passerinesYesabundantfledgingYes 
diversYescommonhatching  
reindeersYesabundantbreeding  

 

SEABIRD COLONIES

speciesComment

 

WATERBIRD NON-BREEDING AGGREGATIONS

speciesAggregation typeNumberComment
Anser caerulescensmoulting2 000.00 

 

HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THE STUDY AREA

Human activityComment
seasonal fishing/hunting 
summer field camp 

 


Recommended citation

Smith, P. . (2000). Breeding conditions report for East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada, 2000. ARCTIC BIRDS: an international breeding conditions survey. (Online database). Eds. M.Soloviev, P.Tomkovich. . Updated 11 Dec. 2008. Accessed .

 more on citation guidelines

 

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