Report # 6 from Jean Iron by satellite phone on 7 June 2006 from Akimiski Island in James Bay. Akimiski is the largest island between Ontario and Quebec in James Bay. It is about 100 km long and 50 km wide at widest point. The island interior has considerable stunted spruce forest, dwarf birch and interior fens/wetlands. Researchers are working mainly on the coastal fringe. High temperature today forecasted to be 27C (normal 18C) at Attawapiskat, nearest Cree community on Ontario mainland. Usually somewhat cooler on the island. Jean is a volunteer with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). She's assisting researchers and students doing long term studies of waterfowl and shorebirds for OMNR and Trent University. Yesterday, Jean photographed Polar Bear tracks on a tidal flat. Some OMNR staff are licenced to carry 12 gauge shotguns loaded with rifled slugs and/or SSGs (12 large lead balls/shell). Jean has explosives to scare bears. Firearms would be used only to protect human life. Also, the chopper pilot keeps in radio contact and survey areas are checked from the air for bears before drop off. Most Polar Bears come ashore after early July when the sea ice melts. Last year there were about 50 Polars Bears summering on the island. This is the most southerly population in the world. It was warm and calm this morning as the crews headed out. A good day for mosquitoes! Here's a summary of observations for 5 - 6 June. Canada Goose (subspecies interior): About 50,000 on island. Chris Sharp, a Master's student at Trent, is studying their breeding biology. Feather isotope analysis is being done too. About 580 downies in nests have been web tagged to date. It's a good breeding year. Adults from inland fens are leading recently hatched young to the near-shore flats where they will grow to full size while walking along the coast. Adults are "behaviourly flightless" when tending/guarding young. Herring Gulls and American Crows frequently prey on very small downies. Females now appear smaller than expected because they fasted during incubation and are quite thin. Adults will soon undergo their annual definitive prebasic molt including a flightless period of several weeks. Lesser Snow Goose: About 2500 pairs (mainly blue morph) on island. Most southerly major breeding area for the species. Camp is not close to main colony so only a small number are being web tagged. The colour of the morph (light or dark, few intermediates) is evident even in downy young and recorded. Pacific Loon: Two seen on 5 June in open water along north edge of island. Shorebirds: Many shorebirds are still migrating and going farther north to breed. Scattered small flocks in the distance (700 m) on the tidal flats including Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings, Dunlin. Marbled Godwit: Breeding pairs seen daily in hummocky coastal marshes with small potholes, Festuca grasses and knee high willows. Breeding habitat is being studied. Nests are extremely difficult to find. Hudsonian Godwit: Migrant flock of 50 seen on Monday (5 June). Some landed on distant tidal flats. Purple Sandpiper: Jean is watching for Purples because some nest on nearby North Twin Island which is about 50 km east of Akimiski. North Twin is the southernmost breeding location in the world with an estimated population of 50. North Twin Island also has the most southerly breeding Dunlin (subspecies hudsonia) with estimated population of 150. Gray Jay: Three found yesterday (6 June) by Steve Belfry (OMNR) behind camp in a recent "burn" surrounded by spruce and fens. Jean saw a fully grown blackish juvenile near camp this morning. Other Birds: Caspian Tern on 6 June, many singing Yellow Warblers, Lincoln's Sparrows. This morning Jean heard a strange "shorebird flight song" from camp which she hopes to check today. Northern Mockingbird: The mockingbird photographed by Steve Belfry (OMNR) on 2 June created a lot of interest. In the previous post, I wondered if this were the first record for Nunavut. Several people e-mailed with additional information. There are at least 3 earlier records. First (specimen) on 20 June 1960 from the McConnell River (Birds of Canada, Godfrey 1966/1986). Second record (sighting) on South Twin Island (near centre of James Bay about 50 km east of Akimiski) on July 25 in early 1970s (year not stated clearly) in "Birds of the Twin Islands, James Bay, N.W.T., Canada" by T. H. Manning (1981), Syllogeus No. 30, National Museums of Canada. Third record is from Akimiski Island reported in Provisional Checklist of the Birds of Akimiski Island by Ken Abraham (2000, unpublished). Jean and I are grateful to Darrell Parsons, Jim Richards, Roy Smith, and Alan Wormington for information. Ice and snow cover map http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SNOW/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif Next update in 2 days. Ron Pittaway Toronto & Minden ON