This is Jean Iron's second report by satellite phone for the period 30 June
to 6 July 2012 from Burntpoint Creek Research Station on the Ontario coast
of Hudson Bay. Burntpoint is operated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (OMNR).  See map link below. The Burntpoint crew comprises Julie
Belliveau (OMNR and Trent University), Matt Birarda (OMNR), Jean Iron (OFO
volunteer) and Jim Sauer (volunteer). The recent daily weather has been
variable ranging from 5 to 25 Celsius affected by wind direction and the
camp's close proximity to Hudson Bay. The coast is 3.5 km from camp and
regular visits while monitoring plots are made to the coast. The sea ice is
now not visible from shore, but there is a lot of floating ice.

WATERBIRD/INVERTEBRATE STUDY: Julie Belliveau is conducting a Trent
undergraduate thesis research project with assistance from the crew. Ken
Abraham reports that Julie's project title is "Waterbirds and invertebrates
of tundra wetlands in Ontario". It is a baseline study. Her goal is to
determine the aquatic invertebrate species in three different wetland types
and determine waterbird-wetland associations. Specific objectives include:
to determine the species composition of aquatic invertebrates in tundra
wetlands, to determine the relative and seasonal abundance and biomass of
the invertebrate species, and to determine a preliminary idea of the
relative use of different wetland types by waterbirds. Julie is supervised
by Ken Abraham and David Beresford (Trent).

SHOREBIRDS: Crew is monitoring nests. American Golden-Plover nest with eggs
on July 6. Presumed migrant shorebirds moving southeast along coast included
20 Dunlin, 3 Least Sandpipers, 5 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Hudsonian Godwits and
high flying Whimbrel. Some of these birds such as Dunlin and godwits are
likely going to productive staging areas in James Bay. Whimbrels are
probably going directly to the Atlantic Coast or farther.

SOME OTHER BIRDS: 15 Green-winged Teal on July 2. Tundra Swan on July 3. Two
Pacific Loons on July 6. Three Northern Harriers are apparently preying on
young birds because vole numbers are very low. Peregrine Falcon, 1 on 2nd
was possibly a wandering introduced bird as most Tundra Peregrines are now
in the High Arctic and Peregrines do not nest in the Hudson Bay Lowlands.
Several broods of Willow Ptarmigan and one nest still with 8 eggs on July 6
near camp and several dust baths near camp. Ptarmigan eating the blossoms of
White Mountain-Avens. Small colony of Arctic Terns on tundra ponds. The
Parasitic Jaegers (all light morph birds) regularly hunting over the tundra
are presumably taking mostly young birds. One Ruby-crowned Kinglet on July
1. Four Yellow-rumped Warblers on 5th. One Palm Warbler on 5th. One Tree
Swallow on 5th. Two Barn Swallows on 4th. SPARROWS - 8 species in study area
are American Tree Sparrow, Savannah, Nelson's (subspecies alter), 1 singing
on July 1 and 2 singing on July 2, Fox, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated and
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow - although this area is described as the zone
of intergradation between the nominate subspecies leucophrys and gambelii,
all birds seen were like gambelii. 90% of White-crowneds in Churchill,
Manitoba, are gambelii  (Jehl 2004 in Birdlife of Churchill Region). Ten
male Smith's Longspurs near the coast were agitated presumably because
females and nests were nearby. Common Redpolls are frequent including a few
whiter probable Hoaries. Summer redpolls are worn and darker than winter
birds making them more difficult to distinguish. Both Common and exilipes
subspecies Hoary Redpolls breed in northern Ontario (Leckie and Pittaway in
Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 2007).

MAMMALS: Caribou - a large herd of about 3000 went through camp on July 2.
The crew was surrounded by Caribou on both sides that were visible as far as
they could see. There was a good number of calves in the herd. The Caribou
movement upset Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits as it moved across their
territories. Numbers down to 38 on 3rd and 1 on 6th. A Gray Wolf seen on
July 2 was presumably following the Caribou. Taxonomically, all Caribou in
Ontario are considered Woodland Caribou comprising two ecotypes: forest and
tundra populations.

BUTTERFLIES: Brown Elfin is the one new species added since the last report.
Jutta Arctic is the most frequently seen butterfly on the few sunny and warm
days suitable for butterflies.

Maps and photo showing location of Burntpoint Camp
http://www.jeaniron.ca/Burntpoint/camp.htm

Snow Ice Cover Map shows extensive sea ice off the Ontario coast.
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Burntpoint camp is under the direction of Ken Abraham,
Waterfowl and Wetlands Scientist (OMNR). Rod Brook (OMNR) and Sarah Hagey
(OMNR) provide logistical support to the station.

Report #3 in about a week.

Ron Pittaway
Minden, Ontario
Canada