Darrell Parsons and Rob Tymstra ascended to the Bay once again after a five-year break. This expedition was a visit to Akimiski Island, a two-fold mission to explore the island for the James Bay Islands Bird Survey, and to get breeding data for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. As the island falls partly in one of Ontario's 100x100km squares, it was deemed worthy of inclusion for the Breeding Bird Atlas even though it belongs to Nunavut. We joined Ken Abraham in Timmins and flew to Akimiski by MNR Twin Otter on June 4. There's a well-built camp (Camp Leafloor or Akimiski Research Camp) east of Houston Point on the north shore consisting of several cabins enclosed by barb wire and electric fence to protect the occupants and perhaps more importantly, the helicopter, from polar bears. A bear caused extensive damage to a previous helicopter at the camp. There were 14 other folks already there, mostly university students involved in such activities as web tagging, goose banding, and vegetation studies.
Darrell and I birded daily, sampling as many habitats as we could. We were fortunate to have a helicopter at our disposal which enabled us to visit far-flung corners of the island as well as offshore islets. Mary Ellen Pauli was our most excellent helicopter pilot, a fine helibirder in her own right.
By the time we'd left on June 12, the group had found 107 species for the year. At species #100 (Black-backed Woodpecker), we celebrated with a 'Grand Festuca' party. A king and queen were elected and adorned with crowns of willow, feathers, and lichen.
Highlights of the birding part were:
--New for the Bay Islands: Harris' Sparrow (June 6, 2002 near Houston Point, adult male: Accidental). --Hairy Woodpecker nest with young. June 8 near Houston Point. First confirmed breeding for Nunavut. Upgrade to Vagrant/Breeder. --Blue-winged Teal found to be not uncommon with up to a dozen seen daily and probably breeding, upgrade from Accidental to Vagrant, suspected breeder. --Spruce Grouse, nest found, upgrade to Permanent Resident/Confirmed Breeder. --Merlin, nest found June 6 with eggs, upgrade to Migrant and Confirmed Breeder
-Uncommon birds: a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, Belted Kingfisher,
-Additions to Akimiski Island list: LeConte's Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-backed Woodpecker
We were able to visit some islets: we landed at Gullery Island off Cape Duncan and overflew and conducted a census on the island between Gullery Island and the Cape. We also overflew and counted nests on one islet in Akimiski Straits and landed on another.
Gullery Island Small triangular island with little vegetation and no trees or shrubs. N52 37.34 W080 40.76, landed 14:00-14:25, June 9. KILL (DD), SASP 1, HOLA 2, ARTE 10, HEGU 60. HEGU Nests: 22 empty, 7 x 1 egg, 10 x 2 eggs, 10 x 3 eggs.
Island between Gullery Island and Cape Duncan N52 38.35 W080 41.95, June 9. Overflown twice on perimeter for quick aerial count: 16 HEGU nests, each with 1-2 eggs (flight too quick for more accurate counting but we felt we got most of them).
Akimiski Strait Islet#1 June 11. N53 10.31 W082 02.35. Small low-lying islet about 150m long with little vegetation and no trees. Aerial count from 17:30-17:37: HEGU nests: 5 x 2 eggs, 20 x 3 eggs, 1 x 4 eggs. CAGO nest: 6 eggs. Estimated about 100 HEGU's flying around island. Also one GBBG adult!
Akimiski Strait Islet#2 June 11. N53 10.69 W082 06.44. Landed and surveyed from 17:42-18:20 by Lyle, Mary-Ellen, Darrell, and myself. Larger low lying islet about 500m x 100m with higher central ridge with some scattered willows and occasional spruce, gooseberry border. CAGO 3 nests (5 eggs, 6 eggs, and adult sitting on nest). HEGU nests: 2 x zero eggs, 1 x 1 egg, 9 x 2 eggs, 56 x 3 eggs (66 nests with eggs). Also SNBU 22, GBBG 1, SASP 8, CAGO 25, BRAN 4, LALO 2, DUNL 1, SAND 5, HOLA 8, RUTU 2, CATE 2, ARTE 6. The terns were flying high and not particularly agitated so perhaps they hadn't started nesting yet.
Ice breakup was late, and solid immovable ice was present on the north shore for the entire period. The water in Akimiski Strait was open. Dense fog often rolled in and temperatures were quite cold (but at least it was bug-free!).
