Observations of the summer birds of Tukarak Island (Belcher Islands, Nunavut), Nastapoka Islands (Nunavut), and Lac Guillaume-Delisle (northern Quebec)

Authors

  • Christopher W. Swarth Natural Reserve System, University of California, Merced, California 95343
  • Wouter Bleeker Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v128i4.1633

Keywords:

Breeding birds, Hudson Bay, Belcher Islands, Tukarak Island, Lac Guillaume-Delisle, Nastapoka Islands

Abstract

In a survey of land and water birds of Tukarak and Nastapoka Islands and Lac Guillaume-Delisle in summer 2011, we recorded 22 of the 30 species known to breed on the Belcher Islands, as well as five non-breeding species, and we observed 32 species in Lac Guillaume-Delisle. In all areas surveyed, we observed a total of 43 species: 10 waterfowl, 2 gallinaceous birds, 3 loons, 2 hawks, 3 shorebirds, 1 auk, 3 gulls, 2 falcons, and 17 songbirds. In this area of Hudson Bay, a number of species reach the southern or northern limit of their breeding distribution in eastern Canada. In light of the impact that climate change may have on bird distribution in northerly latitudes, the Belcher Islands and adjacent mainland areas could be particularly useful locations for monitoring changes in the breeding range of birds.

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Published

2015-02-04

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Section

Articles