James Bay is of hemispheric importance to shorebirds. In late May and early
June 2006, we posted 7 reports on the birds of Akimiski Island (Nunavut
Territory) in James Bay. Jean was a volunteer with the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (OMNR) under the direction of Ken Abraham, research
scientist, studying Canada Geese and shorebirds. Akimiski Island with an
area of 2300 sq km is the largest island in James Bay. It is about 20 km
from the Ontario coast. The island is in the boreal forest zone about 500
km south of the treeline east and west of Hudson Bay. Akimiski is near the
southern edge of permafrost. Its vegetation comprises almost entirely
native species with arctic affinities because of the cooling effects of
Hudson and James Bays reaching deep into central Canada (Blaney and Kotanen
2004). The 3 photo pages show some birds and their habitats from Akimiski
Island. Photos include the breeding habitat of an isolated northeastern
breeding population of Marbled Godwits and photos of Short-billed
Dowitchers with comments on subspecies in the captions.

Akimiski photos & map http://jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2006/akimiski/index.htm

Ontario Shorebird Conservation Plan
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/plans/shorebirdplan-e.html

Blaney, C.S. and P.M. Kotanen. 2004. The Vascular Flora of Akimiski Island,
Nunavut Territory. University of Toronto.

Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway
Ontario Field Ornithologists
Toronto & Minden
Ontario, Canada