This is the second report on 5 August 2007 from Jean Iron et al. who
are surveying Red Knots and other shorebirds at the Mingan
Archipelago (islands) on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
in Quebec. Jean and Gerry Binsfeld from Ontario are assisting Mark
Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Yves Aubry (project
supervisor) of the Canadian Wildlife Service (Quebec Region). The
Mingan Archipelago is about 870 km (540 mi) northeast of Quebec City.
The archipelago is a National Park Reserve administered by Parks Canada.

RED KNOTS: The archipelago is a major staging area. Outgoing tides
expose flat limestone bedrock with thousands of pools rich in
invertebrates. On 4 August after banding all night, the surveyors
watched about 1200 Red Knots come to roost on the rocky shore at high
tide. There were probably several thousand additional knots on three
adjacent large islands.

Migration Chronology: The following migration waves based on marked
birds and blood samples from 2006. (1) First arrivals are a mix of
males and females (may indicate failed breeders), (2) then
predominately females, (3) males and early juveniles (first juvenile
8 Aug in 2006), (4) juveniles migrate last.

Color Marking Scheme: About 10% of the eastern population is marked
with colored bands and flags. The surveyors look for leg flags
indicating where the birds were marked. So far they've found birds
banded in Chile (red), Argentina (orange), Brazil (blue), United
States (note correction from previous post for US) - Florida (lime
green on upper right), Delaware Bay (dark green and lime green on
upper left), and Canada (white). The flags have letters and numbers
that often can be read in the field giving precise information about
that individual. Last year the surveyors had about 800 readings from
marked birds. With increased coverage this year they've had over 1000
readings to date including about 200 individuals whose exact banding
locations are known. They've seen birds from Chile, Brazil,
Argentina, United States (from Delaware Bay, but no sightings of
Florida birds) and Canada. Readings provide information on age and
gender, chronology of migration, location of wintering grounds,
survival, and breeding success.

Staging: From the band and flag combinations, researchers are
tracking length of stay at the staging islands. For example, on 26
and 28 July, Mark Peck relocated the first knot marked with a white
flag YA on 17 July. On 29 July, Jean Iron relocated one banded on 18
July with white flag AA. Yves Aubry again relocated the latter bird
on 3 August. This individual knot has been there at least 21 days.
Yves saw other birds that have been there for 15, 16 and 18 days.
These observations clearly indicate the importance of the Mingan
Archipelago as a staging area for Red Knots.

Weights: Knots are fattening up well. On 3 August they banded a very
fat bird that weighed 246 grams, close to heaviest knot that Mark
Peck has banded. Another weighed 183 grams. These weights suggest the
birds will fly a long distance when they depart, perhaps going
directly to South America. These data again indicate how important
the Mingan Archipelago is for southbound Red Knots.

Genetic Studies: A blood sample and a tiny covert feather are taken
from each banded shorebird.

Concerns: Oil spills from shipping. Human disturbances are currently
minimal though islands have hikers and kayakers in summer. Peregrine
Falcons disrupt feeding shorebirds, but none have been seen so far
this summer. Merlins breed on the islands but are not a major bother
to the shorebirds. Jaegers are present in small numbers but are not
bothering the Red Knots.

Avian Influenza:  A veterinarian, Guillaume Theberge, from Centre
Quebecois sur la Sante des Animaux Sauvages, trained the banding crew
to test for Avian Influenza.

Other Shorebirds: Hudsonian Godwit (78 at banding location
yesterday), Whimbrel (fairly common), Ruddy Turnstone (1-2000 adults,
they've seen flagged birds from Delaware Bay, turnstones often
associate with knots), Black-bellied Plover (uncommon), Semipalmated
Plover (uncommon), Semipalmated Sandpiper (2000-3000 adults), Least
Sandpiper (uncommon, first juvenile on 28 July), Pectoral Sandpiper
(first adult on 23 July), PURPLE SANDPIPER (adult on 2 August),
Greater Yellowlegs (common, most in deeper tidal pools than Lessers),
Lesser Yellowlegs (common, 2-3 times more common than Greaters),
White-rumped Sandpiper (numbers are building, 3000-4000 adults in
prebasic body molt, wings and tail molted later on wintering grounds
- this molt strategy is similar in many shorebird species. Mark Peck
saw a White-rumped on 2 August that was banded in Argentina),
Sanderling (uncommon), Short-billed Dowitcher (fairly common, griseus
subspecies that breeds in Quebec/Labrador).

Other Bird Sightings: Red-throated Loons are often seen flying inland
carrying fish from the St. Lawrence to feed their young on small
often fishless nesting ponds. Carrying fish in flight to young is not
done by other loons. In flight the Red-throated Loons give loud
quacking calls. Herring Gulls were seen yesterday eating abundant
berries near a mine site about 45 km inland from coast. Jean and
Gerry saw a female Spruce Grouse with two small young trying to cross
the coast highway. Gerry directed traffic so they could cross safely.
The 1/3 grown young flew across the road into trees when the female
cooed. Grouse chicks can fly when less than a week old. Red-breasted
Nuthatches are present in good numbers. Pine Siskins and Purple
Finches are also in good numbers especially in towns with sunflower
seed feeders.

Seabirds and Whales: On Wednesday (1 August) the surveyors went on a
whale research vessel (Mingan Islands Cetacean Study) into the Gulf.
Very close views of 11 Humpback Whales, 15 Fin Whales, Minke Whales,
Harbor Porpoises and Gray Seals. Juvenile Common Murres at sea with
adult males, Wilson's Storm-Petrels, many adult Northern Gannets,
recently fledged juvenile Black-legged Kittiwakes, Parasitic and
Pomarine Jaegers and Northern Fulmars.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The Red Knot survey is a cooperative project headed
by Yves Aubry, Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service and Alan Baker,
Head of Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum in
Toronto. It is funded by the World Wildlife Fund, Royal Ontario
Museum and Canadian Wildlife Service. Six shorebird surveyors are
Yves Aubry (CWS), Mark Peck (ROM), Christopher Buidin, President of
Club d'ornithologie de la Cote-Nord (contract with CWS). Yann
Rochepault, Directeur of Club d'ornithologie de la Cote-Nord
(contract with CWS). Gerry Binsfeld (ROM volunteer). Jean Iron (ROM
volunteer). Additional people helping with surveys: Charles Kavanagh,
Chief of Conservation, Parks Canada. Yann Boudreau, Park Canada
Warden, assists with banding. Harold Rochette, Capitaine of Le
Cartier, Parks Canada boat, and boat operators Rene Desbiens and
Louis Richard provide transportation to the islands. The Red Knot
project would be impossible without the excellent logistical support
provided by the technical and conservation staff from Parks Canada.

Jean mentioned the long hours worked (days & nights) and dedicated
staff of the Canadian Wildlife Service, Royal Ontario Museum, and Parks Canada.

Ron Pittaway (on behalf of the surveyors)
Minden and Toronto ON
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