Report # 7 from Jean Iron by satellite phone on 9 June 2006 from Akimiski Island in James Bay. Akimiski is the largest island in James Bay between Ontario and Quebec. Jean is a volunteer with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). She was assisting with the web tagging young geese and shorebird studies. Research on Akimiski is under the direction of Ken Abraham, Waterfowl and Wetlands Scientist, with OMNR. Recent weather typical of the north ranged from hot/sticky on Wednesday to heavy rain/cold/wind Wednesday night (roof leaked) and yesterday and continues very cold and windy today. Here's a summary of observations for 7 - 9 June. This report also corrects errors in goose numbers in report # 6. Canada Goose (subspecies interior): Report # 6 on 7 June said there were "About 50,000 on island". The following from Ken Abraham (OMNR) is a correction. "The number of geese nesting on Akimiski Island varies quite a bit, but there are an estimated 8000 pairs of Canada Geese from the Southern James Bay Population, which migrates and some winter in southwestern Ontario." Crews found about 550 nests and web tagged about 1000 downy young. Eggs in most Canada Goose nests have hatched and goose families are gathering near the coast. Lesser Snow Goose: The following from Ken Abraham (OMNR) is a correction. "There are an estimated 800-1200 pairs of Lesser Snow Geese nesting on the island." The colony is on the west side of the island. Brant: Ken Abraham reports that Akimiski is "a major Brant spring migration with an estimated 5000-10000 at various times." Brant numbers included 200-300 still around camp on the flats on 8 June. Migrating Shorebirds: Two distant large flocks (about 100 in each) migrating southeast to northwest. Too far for identification. They most likely were one or more species of either Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Red Knots, Dunlins, Semipalmated Sandpipers and/or Sanderlings. Shorebirds on Tidal Flats: Tides are flowing closer to shore now that the sea ice has melted back much farther from the island's north coast. 3 Hudsonian Godwits, 50 Black-bellied Plover, 9 Ruddy Turnstones, 3 Dunlin, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Semipalmated Plover: Two nests. Steve Belfry (OMNR) and Nigel Ward (Trent) each found nests yesterday. Marbled Godwit: Breeding habitat is prairie-like coastal marsh between intertidal mudflats and willow fringe. No nests found yet. Red Knot: Two observed yesterday close to high tide mark. Very rarely are large numbers of knots seen at Akimiski during spring migration. However, up to 15,000 have been seen in a single survey in James Bay of southbound Red Knots, representing more than 10 to 20% of the entire known wintering population, fide Guy Morrison and Ken Ross of the Canadian Wildlife Service in 2001. Brown Thrasher: Steve Belfry found a singing male this morning (9 June). Other Observations: Wednesday (7 June) was very warm - Steve Belfry watched about 20 Arctic Terns catching Nine-spined Sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) (minnows). This morning, Tennessee and Yellow-rumped Warbler singing near camp. Ice and snow cover map http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SNOW/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif This may be the final report. Some of the goose tagging crew including Jean were to depart for Moosonee and Timmins at 9 a.m. EDT this morning, but the Ontario government Twin Otter stayed in Timmins because of bad weather. If weather improves, they will fly out at 1 p.m. today and others will arrive including professor Erica Nol of Trent University to work with her students Nigel Ward and Katie Walker who are studying Semiplamated Plovers and Marbled Godwits. Northern researchers are accustomed to delays waiting for aircraft. When I talked to Jean this morning, she was sad to be leaving the shorebirds and wild coast of James Bay. Ron Pittaway Toronto and Minden ON