James Bay Shorebird Surveys 2015 - Reports

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This is Jean Iron's first report for the period 31 July to 4 August 2015 from North Point (Lat 51.489737N, Lon -080.447598W) on the southwest coast of James Bay in Ontario. I get Jean's messages by DeLorme inReach two-way satellite communicator with GPS. North Point is 25 km north of Moosonee. See location on map in link #1 below. The vast tidal mudflats and prairie-like coastal marshes make James Bay one of the most important shorebird staging areas in North America. The seven crew members are Ross Wood (crew leader), Theo Cull, Jacqueline Goldstein, Danielle Hosick, Jean Iron, Lizzie Moore and Walter Wehtje. Two other survey crews are at Little Piskwamish and Longridge Point. Surveys are under the direction of Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service with partners the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bird Studies Canada, Trent University, Nature Canada and the Moose Cree First Nation.

SHOREBIRD OBSERVATIONS: 19 species to date. Maximum counts and dates for each species reported below. This report pertains only to North Point.

Black-bellied Plover: 33 adults on Aug 4.

American Golden Plover: 1 adult on Aug 4.

Semipalmated Plover: 90 mostly adults on Aug 3.

Spotted Sandpiper: 1 on Aug 3.

Solitary Sandpiper: 1 on Aug 3.

Greater Yellowlegs: 185 on Aug 4 (20% juv).

Lesser Yellowlegs: 242 (60% juv) on Aug 3. Also flocks of yellowlegs, probably both species, observed flying high and calling probably departing James Bay.

Whimbrel: 64 adults on Aug 1.

Marbled Godwit: 34 on Aug 3. Three juveniles on Aug 1. A local pair on territory was calling at observers. Ross Wood saw an adult and 1 young. An isolated population breeds on southern James Bay. Surprisingly, the James Bay population migrates southwest to the Gulf of California.

Hudsonian Godwit: 390 molting and fattening adults on Aug 4. Most will fly non-stop to South America.

Ruddy Turnstone: 35 adults on Aug 4.

RED KNOT: Endangered rufa subspecies. 107 molting adults on Aug 3. James Bay knots traditionally concentrate at a few favoured stopover locations with smaller numbers seen elsewhere. North Point normally has small numbers compared to the much larger numbers at traditional sites such as Little Piskwanish and Longridge Point. Knots fatten and undergo variable amounts of body molt before most make the long non-stop flight to South America.

Sanderling: 8 molting adults on Aug 1.

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 6,150 on Aug 3 (5% juv). They fatten over 2-3 weeks before making a non-stop flight of several days to northern South America. James Bay and the Bay of Fundy are the two most important stopover sites for southbound Semipalmated Sandpipers in North America. Flocks of peeps, probably Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers, were seen flying high probably leaving James Bay.

Least Sandpiper: 44 on Aug 4. Percentage of juveniles increasing daily.

White-rumped Sandpiper: 10,000 molting adults on Aug 4. James Bay is the most important fall staging area for this sandpiper in North America. After fattening most overfly southern Canada and the United States going to South America.

Pectoral Sandpiper: 165 adults on Aug 4.

Dunlin: Subspecies hudsonia. 85 molting adults on Aug 4.

Wilson's Snipe: 2 on Aug 4.

WHOOSH: Jean described the "great feeling in the rain at high tide" while surveying with Jacqueline on August 4 as "1000s of shorebirds whooshed past our heads".

NANO-TAGGING SHOREBIRDS: A system of nano-tagging shorebirds begun in 2013 at James Bay and Motus tracking towers follows migrating shorebirds such as Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, Hudsonian Godwit and Red Knot. Nano-tags are tiny and their signals can be received within a 15-20 km radius of a tower. Tags are placed on shorebirds when banded and each tag has a different frequency. There are several towers along southern James Bay and more along Lakes Ontario and Erie, St. Lawrence River and East
Coast.

OTHER BIRD SIGHTINGS: Canada Goose, 420 on Aug 2. American Wigeon. American Black Duck, 12 on Aug 2. Mallard, 143 on Aug 3. Northern Pintail, 1 on Aug 2. Green-winged Tail, 23 on Aug 2. Common Loon, 3 on Aug 3. Double-crested Cormorant, 1 on Aug 1. Sandhill Crane, 32 on July 31. American Bittern, 2 on Aug 2. Northern Harrier, 1 female on Aug 2. Peregrine Falcon, 1 on Aug 4 flushed a flock of 7000 roosting shorebirds at high tide. Yellow Rail, 2 ticking in coastal marshes on Aug 3. Little Gull, 1 adult on Aug 2, most Little Gulls in North America probably breed in Hudson Bay Lowlands. Common Tern, 3 on Aug 3. Arctic Tern, 1 on Aug 3. Norther Flicker, 1 on 2/3 Aug.
Olive-sided Flycatcher. Alder Flycatcher, 3 on Aug 2. Tree Swallow, 2 on Aug 2. Cedar Waxwing, 15 on Aug 3. Swainson's Thrush. American Robin, 50 on Aug 2. Gray Jay, family group of 2 adults and 2 juveniles taking handouts at camp - they love oatmeal. Gray Catbird, 1 on Aug 3. Brown Thrasher, 1 on Aug 2. Tennessee Warbler. Le Conte's Sparrow, 4 on Aug 2. Nelson's Sparrow, 13 on Aug 2 (subspecies alter, previously spelled alterus). Clay-colored Sparrow, 1 on Aug 1. Savannah Sparrow, 105 on Aug 3. White-throated Sparrow, 40 on Aug 2. Fox Sparrow. Red-winged Blackbird, 800 on Aug 2. Red Crossbill, 3 on July 31, White-winged Crossbill, 1 on Aug 3. Common Redpoll, 8 on Aug
1.

MAMMALS: Beluga (White Whale), 2 at high tide on Aug 1. Black Bears near camp eating buffaloberries (Shepherdia canadensis). Polar Bears rarely occur south of Akimiski Island where a sizable population spends the summer. Pine Marten on Aug 1. Jumping Mouse (more likely Meadow than Woodland). Snowshoe Hare, adults and young. Meadow Voles and shrews also observed.

1. Map of southern James Bay showing location of North Point
http://jeaniron.ca/2015/JB15/m...

2. Population Estimates of North American Shorebirds 2012
http://bit.ly/1zPebsP

3. Ontario Shorebird Conservation Plan
http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebi...

WESTERN HEMISPHERE SHOREBIRD RESERVE: The hope is that James Bay or portions of will be designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve of Hemispheric Importance. "These sites act as staging, nesting or breeding grounds for at least 500,000 shorebirds annually, or at least 30% of the biogeographic population of any species." James Bay greatly exceeds the minimum criteria for a "Hemispheric Importance" designation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Survey camps are rented from the Moose Cree First Nation. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) provides accommodations in the staff house while crews are in Moosonee. Thanks to Rod Brook, Sarah Hagey and Kim Bennett of OMNRF for logistical support. The data collected on these surveys would not be possible without the many hours of dedicated volunteer effort. Jean thanks an anonymous donor for financial assistance.

Second report in 6-7 days.

Ron Pittaway
Toronto, Ontario

Report # 2 on 14 August 2015

This is Jean Iron's second report for the period 5 - 14 August 2015 from North Point on the southwest coast of James Bay 25 km north of Moosonee, Ontario. See location on map in link #1 below. The seven crew members are Ross Wood (crew leader), Theo Cull, Jacqueline Goldstein, Danielle Hosick, Jean Iron, Lizzie Moore and Walter Wehtje. Two other survey crews are at Little Piskwamish and Longridge Point. All three survey sites are globally significant Important Bird Areas. See North Point IBA in ink #2. Surveys are under the direction of Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service with its partners the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bird Studies Canada, Trent University, Nature Canada and the Moose Cree First Nation.

SHOREBIRD BREEDING SUCCESS in 2015: Reports indicate a poor breeding season in parts of the Eastern Arctic, which may be more widespread. It was a cold late start to summer with snow staying late in many areas. Paul Smith (pers. comm.) of the Canadian Wildlife Service said that shorebird breeding success was very low at East Bay on Southampton Island, Nunavut, in northern Hudson Bay. Paul reported "The lowest densities and perhaps the worst hatch success we've seen since 1999. At nearby Coats Island, the breeding densities were moderate and breeding success was poor, but not quite as bad. The poor weather, low numbers of breeding geese, and absence of lemmings made for very high predation rates. The foxes were working hard and very few of our shorebird nests survived to hatch."

NORTH POINT OBSERVATIONS: To date 23 shorebird species recorded. Maximum counts and dates listed below for each species.

HIGH COUNT DAY: 26,055 shorebirds counted on Aug 7 at North Point.

Black-bellied Plover: 650 adults migrating south in big Vs on Aug 11.

American Golden Plover: 3 adults on Aug 11. First juvenile on Aug 13.

Semipalmated Plover: 285 mostly adults on Aug 8. First juvenile on Aug 7.

Killdeer, 6 on Aug 8.

Spotted Sandpiper: 1 on Aug 10.

Solitary Sandpiper: 1 on Aug 7.

Greater Yellowlegs: 385 (60% juv) on Aug 7.

Lesser Yellowlegs: 350 (95% juv) on Aug 10.

Whimbrel: 56 adults on Aug 6. First juvenile on Aug 12.

Hudsonian Godwit: 700 on Aug 6. First juvenile on Aug 6.

Marbled Godwit: 11 mostly juveniles on Aug 9.

Ruddy Turnstone: 81 adults on Aug 10.

Red Knot: 510 adults flying south on Aug 11.

Sanderling: 22 molting adults on Aug 7.

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 12,050 (20% juv) on Aug 7. On Aug 6 an adult Parasitic Jaeger chased a Semipalmated Sandpiper which escaped.

Least Sandpiper: 950 juveniles on Aug 12. 772 juveniles on Aug 8 in grass with small ponds refreshed by tide and rain. Very tame and curious. Jean has never seen such high numbers of juveniles as this year.

White-rumped Sandpiper: 12,000 adults on Aug 7. Juveniles first arrive somewhat later in August, with most coming in September.

Pectoral Sandpiper: 798 adults on Aug 6. First juvenile on Aug 13.

Dunlin: 73 adults on Aug 10.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 1 juvenile on Aug 9 found by Ross Wood.

Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 adult on Aug 8, this species doesn't stage on James Bay with most going directly to the East Coast.

Wilson's Snipe: 10 on Aug 7. Juvenile on 9 Aug.

Red-necked Phalarope: 1 juvenile on Aug 13.

SHOREBIRD FOODS: Mud samples taken along 13 transects for shorebird food analysis. Also took blood samples to determine carbon/nitrogen ratios, which also will give information on diet. Previous studies indicated that shorebirds in Hudson and James Bays feed on the abundant larvae of the bivalve Macoma balthica (clam), and in southern James Bay, the gastropod Hydrobia minuta (snail), as well as a variety of crustaceans (shrimps/crabs and relatives), worms and dipteran (fly) larvae (Ontario Shorebird Conservation Plan 2003).

NANO-TAGGING: Nano-tags placed on 5 priority species: Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, Hudsonian Godwit and Red Knot. Tags placed on light weight (low fat) birds rather than heavy individuals to determine how long they stay to fatten before departing James Bay.

OTHER BIRD SIGHTINGS: New information since last report: Canada Goose, 604 on Aug 8, likely molt migrants subspecies maxima. Snow Goose, 4 (2 ad & 2 juv) blue morphs on Aug 8. Northern Shoveler, 1 on Aug 7. Green-winged Teal, 69 on Aug 8. Northern Pintail, 55 on Aug 7. American Black Duck, 21 on Aug 8. Mallard 210 on Aug 8. Common Goldeneye, 30 on Aug 7. Common Loon, 3 on Aug 6. Double-crested Cormorant, 1 on Aug 9. Sandhill Crane, 52 on Aug 8 & 9. American White Pelican, 55 on Aug 5. American Bittern, 2 on Aug 11 and 13. Ruffed Grouse, 1 on Aug 7. Bald Eagle, 3 on Aug 10. Osprey, 2 on Aug 8. Northern Harrier, 4 on Aug 12. American Kestrel, 1 on Aug 13 in aerial battle with a Merlin. Merlin, 1 on Aug 7 and 13. Yellow Rail, 5 singing (clicking) on Aug 8. Sora, 3 juveniles 12/13 Aug. Great-Black-backed Gull, 1 adult on Aug 8. Ring-billed Gull, 100 mostly adults on Aug 8. Herring Gull, 2 fresh very dark juveniles on Aug 11. Bonaparte's Gull, 450 adults and 4 juv on Aug 11. Little Gull, 5 (2 ad, 1 first summer/second winter, 2 juv) on Aug 10, most Little Gulls in North America probably breed in Hudson Bay Lowlands. Caspian Tern, 2 on Aug 7. Common Tern, 121 on Aug 13 with adults feeding 17 juveniles. Great Horned Owl, 1 at camp hooting 12/13 Aug. Short-eared Owl, 1 seen on Aug 7 and 12, 1 heard on Aug 9. Common Raven, Gray Jay, 4 (2 ad/2 juv) daily, storing Starry False Solomon Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) berries which are common at camp, 5 Gray Jays taking handouts at camp on Aug 14. Winter Wren, 1 daily at camp. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1 on Aug 14. Eastern Kingbird, 1 by Ross Wood on Aug 11 and 12. Olive-sided Flycatcher, 4 on Aug 12. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 1 on Aug 7. Alder Flycatcher, 1 on Aug 12. Tree Swallow, 115 on Aug 7. Red-breasted Nuthatch, 4 on Aug 8. Cedar Waxwing, 22 on Aug 8. Winter Wren, 2 daily at camp. Swainson's Thrush, 3 on Aug 13. American Robin, 50 on Aug 2. Gray Catbird, 1 on Aug 3. Brown Thrasher, 1 on Aug 2. Yellow-rumped Warbler, 15 on Aug 6. Cape May Warbler, 3 on Aug 12. Black-and-White Warbler, 1 on Aug 8 and 14. Tennessee Warbler, 10 on Aug 8 near camp feeding young. Wilson's
Warbler, 4 on Aug 7. American Redstart, 1 on Aug 12. Clay-colored Sparrow, 2 on Aug 7 and 8. Le Conte's Sparrow, 15 on Aug 7. Nelson's Sparrow (subspecies alter), 11 on Aug 7. Lincoln's Sparrow, 1 on Aug 7. Swamp Sparrow, 2 on 9 Aug. Savannah Sparrow, 60 on Aug 7. Dark-eyed Junco, 1 on Aug 10. Bobolink: 1 on Aug 13. Rusty Blackbird, 2 on Aug 13. Purple Finch, 4 on Aug 8. White-winged Crossbill, 3 on Aug 7. Common Redpoll, 8 on Aug 10.

1. Map of southern James Bay showing location of North Point
http://jeaniron.ca/2015/JB15/m...

2. North Point Important Bird Area
http://ibacanada.org/site.jsp?siteID=ON139

3. Population Estimates of North American Shorebirds 2012
http://bit.ly/1zPebsP

4. Ontario Shorebird Conservation Plan
http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebi...

5. Southbound Shorebirds in Ontario
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/vi...

WESTERN HEMISPHERE SHOREBIRD RESERVE: The James Bay surveys are vital for the conservation of critical shorebird habitat. The hope is that James Bay or portions thereof will be designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve of Hemispheric Importance. "These sites act as staging, nesting or breeding grounds for at least 500,000 shorebirds annually, or at least 30% of the biogeographic population of any species." James Bay greatly exceeds the minimum criteria for a "Hemispheric Importance" designation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We appreciate the information provided by Paul Smith (Canadian Wildlife Service), Ken Abraham (retired Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry), Don Sutherland (Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario) and Mike Burrell (Bird Studies Canada). Survey camps are rented from the Moose Cree First Nation. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) provides accommodations in the staff house while crews are in Moosonee. Thanks to Rod Brook, Sarah Hagey and Kim Bennett of OMNRF for logistical support. The research and data collected from these surveys would not be possible without the many hours of dedicated volunteer effort. Jean thanks an anonymous donor for financial assistance.

Jean is expected home on Saturday evening. She'll do a summary report #3 with photos of this summer's surveys in 5 - 10 days.

Ron Pittaway
Toronto, Ontario

Final Report # 3 on 19 August 2015

This is the third and summary report. Please see link with 6 pages of shorebird photos and videos on my website.

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2015/JB15/p1.htm

I thank Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service for the opportunity to survey shorebirds on James Bay. Ron Pittaway posted my first two reports and provided much valuable information about shorebirds.

 Happy shorebirding, 

Jean Iron, Toronto ON