Blue Jay, vol.60, issue 1

70 Pages·2002·7.5 MB·English

by  Saskatchewan Natural History Society

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Blue Jay, founded in 1942 by Isabel M. Priestly, is a journal of natural history and conservation
for Saskatchewan and adjacent regions. It is published quarterly by Nature Saskatchewan,
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abstract Blue Jay for Recent Ornithological Literature. Blue Jay is abstracted by BIOSIS.
Common names are used for birds, mammals and butterflies. Bird names follow the Checklist
of North American Birds by the American Ornithologists’ Union (7th edition, 1998); mammal
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COVERS: Front -Young male wapiti on a slope in the mist. W. Ray Salt, 1982
Back - Snow Geese silhouetted at sunset. R. E. Gehlert
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Blue Jay
Vol. 60 No. 1 March 2002 1-62
Birds
60th ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - 2001.
Wayne C. Harris.2
RECENT EXTRA-LIMITAL BREEDING RECORDS OF THE RED-NECKED
GREBE IN THE ROSETOWN-BIGGAR DISTRICT OF SASKATCHEWAN.
Wayne E. Renaud, Robert A. Wapple and Guy J. Wapple.30
RURAL BANDERS IN THE SASKATOON AREA.
C. Stuart Houston and Mary I. Houston.35
Mammals
SASKATCHEWAN CHRISTMAS MAMMAL COUNT - 2001.
Wayne C. Harris.38
Plants
ARNICAS IN SASKATCHEWAN. Vernon L. Harms.49
Notes and Letters
BULLSNAKE ON A BARBED WIRE FENCE. Daisy D. Meyers.56
SUGGESTIONS FOR PROTECTING LILY BLOSSOMS FROM HOUSE
SPARROW ATTACKS. F. J. H. Fredeen.56
SNOWY OWLS SOUTHEAST OF REGINA. Linda Ungar.56
TURKEY VULTURE IN THE WESTERN ARCTIC. Nic Larter.57
Nature Library
LICHENS OF NORTH AMERICA.
Irwin M. Brodo, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff and Stephan Sharnoff.60
Mystery Photo.62
60 (1). March 2002 1
BIRDS
60th ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - 2001
Wayne C. Harris, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Box 5000,
350 Cheadle Street West, Swift Current SK S9H 4G3
This, the 60th year of annual Christmas Bird Record numbers of participants turned out
Counts in Saskatchewan, marks a number of for this years count. There were 912 people
milestones. First, recognition to two longtime compared to last year's 804. They travelled
contributors to Christmas Bird Counts, Stuart over 803 km on foot and over 14, 084 by
Houston and Frank Roy. A check of the 1942 vehicle in a combined 1065 hours; an
counts published in the Blue Jay finds both additional 414 hours were spent watching
names present, as they have been almost every feeders (Table 2).
year since. It is an amazing record and
contribution both have made to ornithology The birds
in Saskatchewan. This year, 108 species were seen on count
day with an additional five seen during count
Secondly, the growing interest in period for a total of 113 (second only to
Christmas Bird Counts from the eight 1998’s 121 species). Fort Walsh set a new
counts in 1942 to a record 105 counts this single count species high with 51 seen on
year. count day. This is the first Saskatchewan
count to break the “50 species” mark. Both
Thirdly, the increasing diversity of Fort Qu’appelle (43) and Saskatoon (40)
wintering birds in Saskatchewan. The last were in the “40’s” and an additional 11
is a result of increased habitat modifications counts reached 30 or more. This is far above
(open water), and the increasing popularity the average for species diversity on counts.
of feeding birds. Those first counts recorded
30 species of birds, while this year the total The abundance of birds was also up, with
was 113, the second highest ever. Also, 14 more than 171, 000 individuals recorded.
of this year's counts equalled or exceeded This was almost double last year's total.
1942’s total of 30 species for the Christmas Surprisingly, the most abundant bird was
Count that year. Canada Goose (36, 515), followed by
Mallard (26, 781), and then Snow Bunting
The weather leading up to this year's count (25, 234), House Sparrow (24, 087), and
period (December 14 to January 5) was mild Common Redpoll (16,651). The dominance
and dry. The mild conditions continued of waterfowl is a further indicator of the mild
through the counts, with the overall average open conditions experienced this year.
daytime high at -8°C and falling to only -
13°C overnight (Table 1). It was relatively The most frequently encountered species
calm, with winds averaging 5-15 km/hr. was Common Redpoll (93% of counts),
Most southwestern counts had no snow on followed by Black-billed Magpie (91%),
the ground. Snow cover was below normal Black-capped Chickadee (85%), House
everywhere, but especially in the western Sparrow (81 %), and Common Raven (75%).
half of the province. Ravens continue to climb the occurrence
2 Blue Jay
scale as they expand across the southern large count and the number of counts
parts of the province. reporting them was actually fewer than the
last big year - 1998.
New species
After having no new species on last year's Both Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon
counts, this year there were five, bringing numbers were up. Grouse were down, with
the all time total to 177. The first was a both Ring-necked Pheasant and Gray
Red-bellied Woodpecker in Regina. This Partridge down appreciably. This being the
bird had been present throughout the fall and result of last year's severe winter in eastern
remained through the Christmas Count. Saskatchewan. Both Ruffled Grouse and
Next was a Gray Catbird visiting feeders in Spruce Grouse remained low in numbers.
northwest Moose Jaw. A Swamp Sparrow
was found along Eagle Creek by Wayne Both Great Horned and Snowy owl
Renaud on the Harris count. numbers were up while boreal forest owls
were very scarce after last year's irruption.
The last two new species were seen during Short-eared Owls were down, suggesting
the count period, but not on count day. A low vole numbers, as there was little snow
Long-billed Curlew was found on the snow- cover to force them south.
free grasslands northwest of Maple Creek
on December 14, and a Clay-colored Nuthatches, Creepers, and Kinglets were
Sparrow was seen at a feeder on December present in well above normal numbers and
24 on the La Ronge North count. winter finches had a very good year,
particularly the redpolls and crossbills.
Rarities
A number of rare species were present on Additional counts
this year's count. Most notable was a Pied¬ The following counts were received too
billed Grebe at Crooked Lake, only the third late to be included in the tables. "O" denotes
count record, as was the Great Blue Heron species seen during the count period, but not
at Fort Walsh, and the Greater Scaup at on the count day.
Gardiner Dam. Ring-necked Ducks had only
been found twice in the past, but this year 104. Fife Lake
both Estevan and Saskatoon had them. Dec 29. Temp-15 to-12°C. Wind 20 to
There were two Belted Kingfishers at Fort 30 km/hr. No snow cover. Sky mostly clear.
Walsh, a third count record. A Swainson’s 100km by car in 5hrs. Canada Goose 13,
Hawk at Indian Head was only the second 253; Mallard 2; Common Goldeneye 2;
record. Bufflehead 3; Bald Eagle 2; Northern
Harrier 1; Golden Eagle 1; Merlin 1; Prairie
Population trends Falcon 1; Gray Partridge 10; Homed Lark
A number of species were found in record 383; Black-billed Magpie 1; House
high numbers on the count (Table 6). The Sparrow 96; 13 species, 13,756 individuals.
most notable of these was 30,700 Canada Martin Myers, Robert Rafuse.
Geese at Coronach, 984 Black-billed Magpies
at Saskatoon, 62 Purple Finches at Swift 105. Rockglen
Current, and 386 House Finches at Saskatoon. Dec28. Temp-1 to + 3°C. Wind 10to20
km/hr. Snow less than 5cin. Sky clear. 2km
Table 7 shows population trends for a on foot in lhr, 150 km by car in 4 hours.
number of regularly occurring species. In Northern Goshawk 1; Golden Eagle 1; Merlin
general, all water related species were above O; Gyrfalcon 1; Prairie Falcon O; Gray
normal. The largest increase was for Canada Partridge 11; Ring-necked Pheasant O; Sharp¬
Goose, but this was influenced by one very tailed Grouse 78; Great Homed Owl 1; Short-
60 (1). March 2002 3
eared Owl 1 ; Homed Lark 1550; Black-billed 13. BROMHEAD. Martin Bailey, Carol
Magpie 3; American Robin 8; Lapland Bjorklund, John Whitell.
Longspur 500; Red-winged Blackbird O;
Rusty Blackbird O; Common Redpoll 24; 14. CABRI. Carman Dodge.
Pine Siskin 1; 18 species, 2249 individuals.
Bob Rafuse. 15. CANDLE LAKE. Doug Boivin, Carman
Dodge, Don Weidl.
Count areas and Participants
{Names of compilers are in italics). 16. CLARK’S CROSSING. Tony Allen,
1. ARCHERWILL. Faye Black, Ken Lucille Bradatsch, Annemarie Buchmann,
Folstad, Emelda Martin, Judy Revoy, Doris Candace Elchuk, Marilyn Haskins, Robert
Slind. Johanson, Pam Jordan, Elaine Konkin, Fred
Konkin, Kay Krueger, Gerard Lahey, Bill
2. ARMIT. Valeri Harris, Wayne Harris, MacKenzie, John McCannon, Henry
Sheila Lamont, Joyce Zak. Melville, Maxine Morrison, Menno Nickel,
Hilda Noton, Guillermo Perez, Stan Shadick,
3. BANGOR. Allan Bolton, Lynn Bolton, Wayne Shiels, Marten Stoffel, Ivor Thokle,
Aileen Hayward, Alan Hayward, Jean Karen Wiebe, Michael Williams, Kay
Hilton, Beatrice Morris, Norma Thompson. Willson, Phil Willson, Jim Wood.
4. BATTLE CREEK PFRA. Don Weidl. 17. CORONACH. Wayne Harris, Ron
Jensen, Sheila Lamont.
5. BEAUVAL. Clara Sanderson, Rick
Sanderson. 18. CRAVEN. Margaret Belcher, Josh Bilyk,
Betty Binnie, Dave Cowley, Jim Cummings,
6. BETHUNE-DILKE. Doug Laing, Vera Lewis Draper, Cliff Elliott, Karen Elliott, Jon
Laing Herriot, Trevor Herriot, PauleHjertaas, Phil
Holloway, Phyllis Ilsley, Bob Luterbach,
7. BIGGAR. Dale Booth, Murray Newton, Yvonne MacKenzie, Lauren Mang, Barry
Mark Pickett, Brandon Wapple, Guy Mitschke, Ron Myers, Curtis Pollock, Dean
Wapple, Megan Wapple, Robert Wapple, Richert, Miriam Richert, Dan Sawatzky.
Sandra Wapple.
19. CROOKED LAKE. Bill Livesay, Mayta
8. BIG MUDDY. Martin Bailey, Carol Livesay, Boyd Metzler, John Pollock.
Bjorklund, John Whitell.
20. CYPRESS HILLS PROVINCIAL
9. BIG RIVER. Colleen Honig, Glenn PARK (Centre Block). John Douglas, Mimi
Honig. Martin, Irwin Murphy, Melody Nagel-Hisey.
10. BIRCH HILLS. Carman Dodge, 21. DUCK LAKE. Keith Hobson, Alan
Margaret Mareschal, Moe Mareschal, Don Smith.
Weidl.
22. DUVAL. George Herber, Wilma Herber,
11. BRIGHTWATER RESERVOIR. Keith Lloyd Saul, Cheryl-Lynn Woolrich.
Hobson, Alan Smith.
23. EASTEND. Tom Donald, Robert
12. BROADVIEW. Marlene Barnes, Ted Gebhardt, June Higgins, Harvey Johnson.
Bames, David Chasckavich, Shirley Glass,
Barbara Weidl, Don Weidl, Tony Weidl. 24. EMMA LAKE. Glen Hanson, Jean
Hanson, Deanna Krug, Norman Krug.
4 Blue Jay
25. ENDEAVOUR. Norman Harris, Ella 38. HEPBURN. Phyllis Siemens.
Smith.
39. HOLBIEN. Helen Harris.
26. ESTEVAN. Andrew Felskie, Heather
Felskie, Wayne Harris, Sheila Lamont. 40. HUDSON BAY. Gloria Allchin, Robert
Bayet, Dan Brann, Sherry Brann, Karen
27. ESTUARY NORTH. Cathy Cocks, Dean Canning, John Daisley, Len Elliot, Betty
Francis, Frances Hartsook. Hamilton, Ada Hawrish, Les Hayes, Joyce
Hayes, Darlene Keyowski, Agnes Lewellin,
28. FENTON. Carman Dodge, Don Weidl. Ron Shepard, Gloria Stang, Lucy
Tchorzewski.
29. FORT QU’APPELLE. James
Armstrong, Phyllis Bordass, Anne Davies, 41. INDIAN HEAD. Denise Beaulieu,
Joanne Davies, Ronald Hooper, Alice Isfan, Graemen Beaulieu, Lauren Beaulieu, Mark
Lois Lamontagne, Vic Lamontagne, Jay Beaulieu, Victor Beaulieu, Eileen Escott, Irv
Lowe, John Lowe, Jean McKenna, Alan Escott, David Gehl (non-participating
Mlazgar, Webb Palmer, Paul Paquin, Lome compiler), Laurie Geremia, Roger Geremia,
Rowell, Steve Sulea, Fred Warren. Roy Hearn, Sharon Heam, Gordon Howe,
Jim Jinks, Linda Jinks, Dan Loran, Alicia
30. FORT WALSH. Wayne Harris, Ron Nameth, Dora Nichols, Pat Nichols, Lome
Jensen, Sheila Lamont, Wayne Renaud, Scott, Jennifer Sharpe, John Sharpe, Chris
Joann Skilnik, Guy Wapple. Skinner, Fred Skinner, Ellen Varley, Jack
Varley, Anne Willerth, Gord Willerth, Garth
31. GARDINER DAM. Greg Fenty, Wayne Willoughby, Jackie Willoughby, Ken
Harris, Stuart Houston, Jeff Jensen, Ron Willoughby, Bill Wilson.
Jensen, Sig Jordheim, Sheila Lamont, Susan
McAdam, Wayne Renaud, Marten Stoffel, 42. KAMSACK. George Bernhard, Molly
Guy Wapple, Dan Zazelenchuk. Bernhard, Agnes Betz, Olga Bobyk, Marlon
Brock, Fred Chemoff, Norman Chernoff,
32. GOOD SPIRIT LAKE. Bill Anaka, Jeff Conley, Mollie Conley, Nell Conley,
Joyce Anaka, Dorothy Riesz, Ray Riesz, Lindee Dewores, Margaret Falkiner, Pat
Lloyd Wilson, Marge Wilson, Julia Wiwchar. Fisher, Bev Helmeyk, Bill Helmeyk, Anita
Klocko, Bill Koroluk, Laura Lippkey, Les
33. GOVENLOCK. Wayne Harris, Ron Poole, Molly Poole, Isabel Ritchie, Wally
Jensen, Sheila Lamont, Wayne Renaud, Guy Sasyniuk, Dave Severson, Elsie Severson,
Wapple. Don Smandych, Joan Smandych, Selma
Smandych, Elenor Sookocheef, Joyce
34. GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK. Uhlow, Pete Uhlow, Ilona Zeiben.
Richard Cherepak, Yolande Cherepak, Edna
Facette, Karin Smith Fargey, Pat Fargey, 43. KELVINGTON. Pat Finnie, Dianne
Robert Scissons, Marnee Scott, Brian Sloan, Marguerite Sloan.
Spreadbury.
44. KENASTON. Lawrence Beckie, Marg
35. GRAYSON. Carina Helm, Charles Helm, Beckie.
Daniel Helm, Linda Helm, Karl Zimmer.
45. KENNEDY. Linda Armstrong, Lois
36. GRAYSON. John Hicke. Bourbis, Jim Cairns, Audrey Cummins,
Florence Cummins, Joe Cummins, Brenda
37. HARRIS. Wayne Renaud, Brandon Gardner, Glen Heebner, Susan Henry,
Wapple, Guy Wapple, Robert Wapple. Dorothy Hewson, Gilbert Margetts, Sheila
60 (1). March 2002 5
Margetts, Boyd Metzler, Deb Morrson, John Finley, Thomas Frick, Brent Honeker,
Muir, Mae Sawyer, Amaret Smyth, George Shirley Honeker.
Smyth, Hugh Smyth, Jean Smyth, Jim
Smyth, Lorraine Smyth. 59. MACDOWALL. Myron Barton, Val
Drummond.
46. KENOSEE LAKE. Boyd Metzler, John
Pollock. 60. MAPLE CREEK. Wayne Harris, Sheila
Lamont.
47. KILWINNING. Ed Driver, Bill Dobson,
Alan Smith. 61. MAYVIEW. Judith Graham.
48. KINDERSLEY. Jean Harris, Keith Harris. 62. MEADOW LAKE. Bill Caldwell, Bill
Golly, Stuart Golly, Bob Wilson, Ian Wilson.
49. KINISTINO. Sarah McLeod, Dannelle
Messer, Verna Messer. 63. MELFORT. Frieda Markland.
50. KINLOCH. Elaine Asbjornhus, Don 64. MELVILLE. Dale Cochrane.
Forbes, Doreen Forbes, A.J. Greenley, Cliff
Logan, Ralph Wang, Travis Wang, Doreen 65. MISSINIPE. Dianne Allen (non¬
Wickstrom. participating compiler), John Schisler, Jan
Shewchuk.
51. KUTAWAGAN LAKE. Val Harris,
Wayne Harris, Allan Rahn. 66. MOOSE JAW. Elsie Adkins, Jack
Adkins, Greg Albert, Pam Albert, Cory
52. LA RONGE (North). Dianne Allen, Joy Brown, Doug Brunsdon, Helen Brunsdon,
Needham, Kent Pointon, Alice Robert, John A1 Fox, Ann Fysh, A1 Gumsey, Bill Hanley,
Schisler, Jan Shewchuk. Kerry Hanley, Robbie Hanley, Eve King, Cy
Knight, Leith Knight, Amie Laughlin, Allan
53. LA RONGE (South). Dianne Allen, Lemieux, Shirley Lemieux, Bill McDonald,
Rhonda Oliver, Kent Pointon, Paul Powder, Hugh McIntyre, Jean Anne Mowchenko,
Sid Robinson, John Schisler, Jan Shewchuk, Len Mowchenko, Helen Norys, Peter Norys,
Tim Trottier, Karen Waters. Don Parr, Wilma Pickering, Gordon
Rathwell, Ramsay Ross, Gus Sagal, John
54. LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE N.W.A. Steele, Marion Tolley, Sheina Wait, Ed
Wayne Harris, Val Harris. Walker, Brenda Winch.
55. LEADER (North). Daisy Meyers, 67. MOOSE MOUNTAIN. Greg Bobbitt,
George Meyers. Bob Cameron, Ross Douglas, Dick
Gutfriend, Stewart Stairmand.
56. LEADER (South). Brenda Flood, John
Flood. 68. NIPAWIN. Harry Budd, Vi Budd, Joyce
Christiansen, Doug Pegg, Doug Phillips,
57. LOVE - TORCH RIVER. Bert Dalziel, Shirley Phillips.
Duke Dalziel, Joan Dalziel, Kari Dalziel,
Sara Dalziel, Mildred Long, Bill Matthews, 69. NISBET FOREST WEST (NW of Crutwell).
Lynn Matthews. Kim Clark, Kiri Clark, Suzanne Clark, Patty
Levesque, Evelyn Marshall, Jerry Perkin.
58. LUSELAND. Bev Einarson, Don
Einarson, Estelle Finley, Graeme Finley, Kim 70. PADDOCKWOOD NORTH. Dan
Finley, Liam Finley, Robert Finley, Val Dinius, John Dinius, Marge Dinius.
6 Blue Jay