The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal)
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Seasonal occurrence of waterbirds in Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2010 to 2012
Get PDFWe determined patterns of seasonal abundance and diversity of seabirds and coastal waterfowl in Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada using quantitative, shore-based point surveys from mid-March to late August and mid-October to December 2010 to 2012. This area experiences the world’s highest tides and greatest tidal currents. We showed that species and seasonal cycles of waterbirds in Minas Passage reflect patterns typical of the inner Bay of Fundy and the northeast Atlantic coast of North America. The study highlights the importance of Minas Passage as an important local migration pathway for waterbirds including Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) and Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) passing through the Bay of Fundy. Large numbers of sea ducks (Black Scoter, Surf Scoter [Melanitta perspicillata], White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca), and Long-tailed Duck [Clangula hyemalis]), and Red-throated Loon were observed at the site in spring and fall, corresponding to known peak movements elsewhere in the Bay of Fundy. Fewest species and smallest abundances of waterbirds overall occurred in summer and early winter, while most species and largest abundances occurred in April-May and early November. Of the 46 species observed, resident breeders such as Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), Common Eider (Somateria mollissima), Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle), and Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), were most abundant in spring to early summer during breeding and migrants including Red-throated Loon, Black Scoter, Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), Surf Scoter, and Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) occurred in moderate numbers during migration periods
Coyote (Canis latrans) predation of colonial rodents facilitated by Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos)
Get PDFInteractions between Coyote (Canis latrans) and Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) are complex and likely not yet fully documented or understood. I observed a Coyote prey on a Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) at the edge of a large colony in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. The prairie dogs were vigilant toward three Golden Eagles circling above, and the Coyote apparently used this to its advantage. As such, the eagles appeared to facilitate the ability of the Coyote to rush in virtually undetected and prey on a prairie dog that was distracted by the avian predators. This observation is of scientific interest because it is another example of the varied interactions between Coyotes and Golden Eagles, which is competitive and includes kleptoparasitism
Functional Changes to the Slate Islands Provincial Park Ecosystem with Successive Arrival of Wolves, Canis lupus, from the Lake Superior Coast
No full textObservations from 1974-2016 of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) on the archipelago that comprises Slate Islands Provincial Park allowed us to infer direct and indirect effects of the arrival of Wolf (Canis lupus) pairs in winters of 1993-94 and 2003-04. Wolves created conditions that led to the near demise of Caribou from the islands, including some, but not all, behavioural changes in Caribou consistent with avoiding predators. Caribou on SIPP did not appear to return to calving locations near shoreline areas, nor use them to escape from Wolves by entering water. Shorelines and locations of Patterson Island near a Wolf-occupied Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) den were the most common Caribou kill locations. Wolves also functionally shifted the ecosystem in Slate Islands Provincial Park via direct and indirect effects on North American Beavers (Castor canadensis), Red Foxes and Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus)
Diel activity patterns of urban Woodchucks (Marmota monax) revealed by camera traps at burrows in southwestern Ontario, Canada
Get PDFAnimals display a range of diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns and, among mammals, a high proportion of species are crepuscular or nocturnal. Daily activities are often endogenous and oscillate on a light:dark regime. Such cycles are referred to as ‘circadian’ and are generally influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. I investigated the daily activity of urban Woodchucks (Marmota monax) by using 24-hour camera traps at backyard burrows in London, Ontario, Canada, in June. Cameras enabled the collection of data that would otherwise have been labour intensive by direct observation. Statistical modelling showed that Woodchucks exhibited a strictly diurnal activity pattern. The unimodal activity pattern started at sunrise and ended before sunset. The general daily activity trend was similar to the pattern described by others who used direct observations and telemetry to monitor Woodchucks in more rural settings. Temperature and wind were not included in the best-fit model. Camera trapping is a non-invasive method that could give insight to diel activity as it can easily monitor extended periods and reduce the effort required by direct observation
Year-round patterns of mineral lick use by Moose (Alces americanus), deer, and Elk (Cervus canadensis) in north-central British Columbia
Get PDFNatural mineral licks are important to the physiological ecology of several species of ungulates in North America and abroad. Information on year-round patterns of mineral lick use by ungulates in Canada is poorly understood. We used camera traps to record patterns of mineral lick use by four ungulate species visiting five naturally occurring mineral licks located within the John Prince Research Forest and surrounding area, near Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada. Our cameras detected over 1800 mineral lick visits by ungulates from February 2017 to January 2018. Mineral licks were visited year-round, however, most visits were made between May and September during morning hours. We observed variable lick visitations among sites, species, and sex and age classes. The species observed in descending number of lick visits included Moose (Alces americanus), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Elk (Cervus canadensis), and Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Some licks were visited by all four species, while others were visited by fewer. Female ungulates were recorded at licks more frequently than males or juveniles, which likely reflected the underlying sex and age structure of the population. Elk spent more time at licks than Moose and deer and there was no difference in visit durations between Moose and deer. Most visits were made by single animals, but group visits were also observed. Our findings provide evidence that mineral licks are used year-round by ungulates and appear to be important habitat features on the landscape
"The Bowhead Whale Balaena mysticetus: Biology and Human Interactions" edited by J.C. George and J.G.M. Thewissen, 2020. [book review]
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An overview of experimental Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) poisoning programs in northern Ontario, 1956 to 1964
Get PDFIn the late 1950s, the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests commenced an experimental Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) poisoning program in northern Ontario, the results of which were documented in a series of unpublished reports. Most projects consisted of distributing baits poisoned with strychnine on frozen lakes in late winter; 12 were conducted by district staff and typically consisted of <10 bait stations monitored for two to four months. An intensive three-year program was completed in the Allanwater area, about 250 km north of Thunder Bay, where up to 56 bait stations were distributed on a grid covering >25 000 km2. Thirty eight wolf kills were reported in the district projects and 81 in the Allanwater study. In total, where sex was identified 56% were male and 44% female. Adults made up 51% of the kill in the Allanwater study, subadults (<2 years old) 44%, and 5% were of unknown age. Two hundred and sixty five kills of species other than wolves were documented from all studies, comprising 10 mammal and nine bird species. Common Raven (Corvus corax) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) made up 54% and 24% of the non-target mortality, respectively, and were recorded in most studies. Kills of wolves and non-target species were probably under-reported because animals left bait stations before dying, were buried by snow, were removed by bounty hunters, or monitoring for non-target species was poor. Although completed over 50 years ago, the studies summarized here provide context on the ecological impacts and ethics of poison use to control wolves
