Reports from the Canadian Arctic indicate a generally much better
breeding year for most shorebirds compared to the late snow melt and
cold nesting season in 2009.

Map shows the Canadian Arctic is mostly snow free and the sea ice in
Hudson Bay is almost gone whereas ice remained well into August in 2009.
www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/ims/ims_gif/DATA/cursnow_usa.gif

Counting juvenile shorebirds south of the breeding grounds will give an
indication of breeding success in 2010, which is a good reason to learn
how to distinguish the age classes.

A crew led by Mark Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum arrived at Longridge
Point on southern James Bay on Wednesday, July 14. They are surveying
migrating shorebirds with a particular focus on the endangered rufa
subspecies of the Red Knot. Jean Iron will file their first report soon.

Acknowledgements: I thank Ken Abraham, Vicky Johnston, Guy Morrison,
Erica Nol and Paul Smith for information.

Ron Pittaway
Minden, Ontario