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THE

OSPREY Volume 30. No. t

Edltonal • Countdown 10 1000

\larinemammal li,ccapture

Canadian Nature Federation Februar") JQ9<l Repon

Botamcal·Observatlons along the Trans-Laorad\lr High"",} In Early AuguSt, 1998 Henry MtlIm tlltU \/tch(/d ("Ul/III,'

Flooding of Foor Labrador Plants &. Dc\ciopll1ent oflhc Lower Churchill Hydroelectric PrOject 1<0"'1/1 /tm f)a.\ "

Checklist (1999) oflhe Birds of Insular '<:\\lwndland and its Continental Shelf Waters H. MuclO\"/sh ./.1-:. Malil/drr, W.. I \lrmll!l1!cch,. CIlld.!.I .. Well,\ 22

Winter Bird Repon December I, ! QQ8 10 \ larch ; I. I QQQ

"lI/1IJ.Ilk!~(1r

('hnSlmas Bird Count Repons lor 19Q~ I')~.U .. Hall/Ida

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l'i£,WFOll'DL<\ND NA TURU HISTORY SOCIETY QUARTERLY

The Natural History Society

of Newfoundland and Labrador, Inc. PO Box 1013, 51. John 's, Nev.1oundJand A l e 5M3

Pubilcation Mail Regisll'1.tion t8l02 ISSN 0710-4847

THE NATURAL HISTORY SOClETY OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

PO 801 1013, St. John's, Newfoundland AIC 5M3

Editorial Policy All Members are encouraged to contribute articles and material of general interest to the Society for· publication In "The Osprey"

Articles should, where possible, be submitted on 3S' High·den51ty LBM·formatted floppy disks Computer users should prepare anicles in Microsoft Word, or Word Perfect. Font, margins., and spacing can be adjusted by the editors Ifanicles are submitted in any other fonn, they should be entirely print.ready, using one inch margins, single spacing and a point·size no greater than 12. The editors reserve the right to re-­fonnat any materials received

Submission deadlines are as follows. For Issue #1 (March) - February 7; For issue #2 (June) - May '1 For Issue #3 (September) - August 7; For Issue #4 (December) - November 7

Illustrations are welcome, and should be provided in a format which is compatible with photocooying:stnce

that is the way "The Osprey" is printed

Material should be mailed to

The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and labrador.

clo John Prall,

29 Parsons Road, St. John's, Newfoundland, AlA 212

or E·Mailed to: jpran@nf\dcom

'"The Osprey" does not print advertising or solicitation without express consent oflhe Executive.

President Al Stein Vice PresIdent Rita Anderson Secretary Don Steele Treasurer Don Barton

Program Coordinators !2JruIs>or Wendy Zdeblak Fyzee Shuhood

Indoor BeckySjare

Memberslup Don Banon Osprey Editor John Prall CNF Director Bill Montevecchi

Members at Large David Fifield David Snow

NN HS Society Officen 1999-2000

Pierre Ryan Carol Joyce

895-2056 (h) 895-2564 (h) 754-0455 (h) 726-0326 (h)

737.8747(w) 737·8771 (w) 737-7520(w)

722·8538 (h) 729·2897 (w) 738 .. 0144 (h) 729-2897 (w)

7)S..{)523 (h) 722--4049 (w)

n6-0326 579-9518 (h) 570-7336(w) 895-2901 (h) 737·7673 (w)

John McConnel Len Zedel (Past Presiderlt)

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Date: sat}ooi; June 26,1999 Time: 8 :~ A.M.

Natural History Society Outdoor Program

Meeting Place: Tim Horton's, Kenmount Rd. (we will car p:>ol out to Renews from here) Cost: $40.00 per person

Boat Cruise • Chance Cove

Join John Chidley of Chance Cove Adventures for a boat cruise leaving from Renews. We will explore a number of coves in the area and will travel to a seal colony. We can expect to see harbour seals (and pups), gray seals and a number of seabird species such as jaegurs and skuas. The boat trip will leave at 10:00 A.M. and will take approximately 4 hours.

Monthly Meeting

Thursday June 17th

Don't forget that the regular monthly meeting will begin at 7:00 P.M. instead of at the regular time. WilfNicholls will give us a guided tour of Ox en Pond Botanical Park. We will meet at the usual place, the Oxen Pond interpretation centre. This will be a joint meeting with the Friends of Pippy Park. There will be no meetings in July and August. However. please notice the first event of the outdoor summer program which is described above. Announcements of events for July and August will follow .

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The Osprey Volume 30, Number 1 March 1999

Countdown to 2000

The hype-mongers will tell you that the millenium is almost upon us. Forget the culrural and mathematical niceties - for right or wrong. the ''new millenium" will be rung in on January 1, 2000, and no doubt Christians and non-Christians alike will get caught up in the spectacle. The workers on Hibernia, closely followed by what some predict to be multitudes of Cape Spear "me­first-ers", will feel the pale wash of that much-anticipated dawn before the rest of North America. As we stand and watch the new century expand inexorably to the west, what will we be able to point to, as the great environmental achievements of the 20'" Century, here in Newfoundland? Unless some divine hand reaches forth between now and then, the fishery will continue to be in crisis. Natural landscapes will continue to fall before lIle bulldozer. and the blade. Ecoregion protection within the province will be unimpressive, in spite of heroic efTons by many people and organizations, including the Natural History Society, to fan the tiny spark of enthusiasm held up by our governments as their version of a conservation beacon. We will continue to suffer the indignity of watching governments, business, and special-interest groups duke it out over the use of natural resources, neither side willing to concede that the other has something wonhwhile to say. Pious admonishments to marine conservationists will continue to pour fom from the shipping industry, almost as thick and fast as the chronic illegal spillage issuing from their vessels. Meanwhile, other interests will continue to impede the development of marine parks.

Or, maybe not.

I think we may be at a turning point in environmental protection, where the braying and grandstanding of negative influences from all spheres will diminish as common sense and knowledge-based decision making come to the fore. The public is more knowledgeable than ever before, thanks in part to the effons of this Society. We are less likely to be blinded by the convenient traditional arguments against environmental protection - economic necessity, public disinterest, and the fear of discouraging investment - than we once were. We have seen the disastrous consequences of following such ill-founded counsel, and I think we are poised to reject it. The goal of this Society, and of a11 people with the best interests of the environment at heart, should be to foster this process. As a Society, we can take pride in the fact that we have never been extremists. We have always been willing to hear the views of all parties before settling on a well-infonned position on any environmental issue. Within our membership we have individuals who are leaders, even at the intemationallevel, in the art of forging consensus.

The ability to pursue and achieve consensus - if we have accomplished anything in the past one hundred years, then let's hope it might just be that skill . If the environment is to have any hope of withstanding the onrushing millenium, then it will stem from our ability to avoid the hype and make reasoned, practical and well-infonned choices.

February 15. 1999

To: Dr. Jon Lien, Ocean Sciences Centre, Department of Psychology, Whale Research Group

From: The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, Inc.

Subject: Marine mammal live capture

We understand that you are reviewing the marine mammal live capture programme in Canada and will be making recommendations with respect to DFO's role in marine mammal management. In response to your request that organizations provide their views on the live capture of marine mammals, the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador has prepared the following brief. The first section focuses on the question of the motivation for live capture and proposes the use of a decision tree to detemtine whether live capmre should be considered or not. The second section responds directly to the questions you posed in your request for public input.

A. The question of motivation. From our perspective, motivation has a lot to do with the live capture of marine mammals. Some hierarchy of decision making should be developed. The following presents the beginning of one such decision tree:

1) Is the species in danger to the point where live capture would threaten species survival? H YES, then live capture should not be considered. If NO, then:

2) Based on known information and reasonable science·based predictions, can this species be

safely live...captured? H NO, then live capture should not be considered. H YES, then:

3) What are the reasons for desiring live capture? If the reasons are purely profit·driven, then no matter what the state of the species in the wild may be, live capture should generally be prOhibited. If the rationale is research or education·based and the proposal can be shown to benefit the well·being of the species (i.e., beluga in Gulf of St. Lawrence), advance knowledge of the species, or promote education and awareness of the species, then live caprure may be considered, provided live capture can meet specified standards.

B. SpecifiC comments with respect to issues listed in your letter .

•• The potential benefits of live capture as a ilshery for Canadians. We cannot identify any benefits of live capture for purely profit.driven enterprises as a fishery

for Canadians. It is unlikely that a majority of Canadians would be pleased or interested in being identified as the supplier of marine mammals, such as Beluga or killer whales, to for·profit aquaria throughout the world.

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It is possible that a small·scale, live...capture effort could be implemented for properly justified research or educational purposes (see comments below). e

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-- The potential benefits of li ve capture to the science and management of marine mammals in the wild. -- The potential benefits of research fmdings on captive animals as compared to those on wild anima ls.

Because captive studies can (a) add [0 the science and management of marine mammals in the wild and (b) can address significant questions that cannot be adequately investigated in the wild, the avenue to do research on captive animals must remain open. Whether a study is based on capti ve or wild populations depends to a large extent upon the question. For example, the development and testing of telemetry and other high·tech equipment to be used in field studies is easier to do in captive conditions. The study of disease and the advancemem of veterinary techniques is often best initiated on captive animals. And research on some topics, such as studies of metabolic rates, sensory systems, and cogniti ve abilities, can often only be done effectively in captivity.

The objectives of captive studies often differ from the objectives of field studies. because what can be done in captivity often differs from what can be done in the field , as shown in the above examples. One type of study is not necessarily "better" or more "v31id" than another; rather, the results of captive and field studies complement one another. The results of captive studies may suggest the need for addition31 studies in the field and vice versa. For example, knowledge about physiological, sensory. and cognitive abilities obtained from captive animaJs may provide the basis for new ideas that can be incorporated into field studies of social behavior and mating systems .

Although it is often far easier to do some types of research (e.g. , developing and testing monitoring equipment, assessing physiological, sensory. or cognitive parameters, etc) on captive animals, the benefits to research on wild animals are sometimes obvious and other times , not so obvious. In 311 cases, the value of captive research depends upon our ability to maintain the capti ve anim31s in health .

Because there are 31ways questions about the transfer of knowledge obtained in one domain to another domain, each project on captive populations must carefully evaluate the apparent benefit of that approach against the difficulty of being able to apply the information to wild populations.

-- Educational a nd awareness benefi ts of captive marine mammals. There is no doubt that being able to view marine mamm31s can serve a very useful educationaJ

purpose. The big question, however, is what is meant by "education and awareness"?

We might ask: What do people learn from shows where they see marine mammals "acting" like people? These types of viewing opportunities will not help the public understand the needs and re31ities of the species. In the worst case, public misperceptions of a species can be detrimental to the well-being of that species in the wild. Consider the wolf. It is as dangerous to the wolf to be identified as a vicious anim31 that will kill anything in sight, as it is to view the wolf as a harmless puppy-dog. Far better that the wolf be understood as a predator with real

hunting needs and social realities. In the same vein, il is important that each marine mammal species be understood as a marine mammal species with its own needs and realities. e

To enhance education and awareness, the animals must be housed appropriately, so that the public can see them behaving as naturally as possible. Interactive displays seem to command more attention than signage or just the display itself. Whatever the display, however, the same questions must always be asked: What infonnation are people taking with them from this display? Is this the infonnation we wish to convey?

•• The standard for captive marine mammals in Canada and the welfare of the captive animals maintained under these standards.

Standards are important. There seem to be at least two sets of standards: those relevant to regulating capture and release of marine mammals and those relevant to maintaining captive marine mammals for research, education, and entertainment. In all cases, we need to ask two questions: How will the standards be developed? Who will ensure that the standards are met? DFO could talee the lead and bring the relevant parties (e.g., veterinarians, aquaria and marine mammal specialists, animal care specialists) together to develop appropriate standards, pennitting, and monitoring.

Standards for capture should be designed to minimize loss of life or injury to the animal and minimize impact on the local population or social group. Standards for the release of marine mamm31s should be designed to identify when release is viable and when it is not.

The initial pennitting for capwre should require the applicant to specify whether the captured animal will be returned to the environment or not. If release is contemplated, the applicant should have to demonstrate that the release is safe for the anim31 and for its natural environment. If release is not planned, the applicant should demonstrate that adequate facilities, expertise, and funding are available to maintain the animal in captivity; evidence of careful planning becomes even more crucial for those marine mammal species that have a very long life span.

Standards for care in captivity should reflect all needs of the species, not just their physical needs. Hence, in addition to ensuring that the physical space is appropriate in 311 dimensions (depth, length , width of tank, water exchange, etc) and that nutritional needs are met, the social and mental needs of each species must also be addressed. The enclosures must respect the social reality of the species. If it is a soci31 mammal , it shou ld be housed as a soci31 animal, with others of its own species, adequate space, and opportunities for privacy. Mental needs must also be acknowledged; efforts must be made to provide enriched environments, not impoverished ones .

•• The views of interest groups regarding live capture. It is important to consult widely. If it is well done, the consultation process serves an

educational purpose, as well as providing valuable information to the agency.

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-- Standards required for research use, public education to increase public support for conservation and management, and display and entertainment.

It is important to develop a permitting system that protects marine mammals from exploitation, while simultaneously allowing for capture given judicious, well -justified proposals. We do not want to create a situation wherein crucial research or educational ventures cannot proceed because well-intended regulations have unintended consequences.

Applications for live capture must state the objectives of the capture c learly. The applicant must demonstrate that the information sought or the ends desired can not be achieved through any other means short of li ve capture. Longer-term implications stemming from the capture must also be addressed. For example, consider the following question and scenario. Will the live capture of one individual (or a number of indi viduals) in the first instance trigger further live captures? That is, the decision to proceed with expensive research may depend on permission to capture a live marine mammal. What happens if the project is funded, the fac ilities are bu ilt, and the money is spent, but then something goes wrong with the live capture? If another animal is not captured, the capital in vestment may be wasted, thus creating pressure to allow another capture, and so on.

Not all live capture results in captivity; researchers may only need to capture the ani mal long enough to attach transmitters or to take physiological samples. Standards for short-term li ve capture need to be developed.

With respect to standards for maintaining captive marine mammals, facilities for all purposes (research, education, entertainment) should have to meet the same standards of providing high quality living conditions.

-- The contribution of marine mammals to the attractiveness and viability of aquaria programmes.

There is no doubt that marine mammals are high profile attractions at aquaria. And, if they are displayed appropriately, an educational function is served whether the aquarium is commercial or not.

Some species are easier to house appropriately than others. It would be most appropriate to keep marine mammals that can be adequately cared for in captivity and that seem to " thrive" in a captive environment. A display in which those animals are kept in an enriched "natural" environment will be more benefic ial to enhancing education and awareness of the species than a display that fail s to meet such standards. With respect to entertainment, it seems that displaying the natural skills of the animals is as interesting, and certainly more beneficial to the species, than displaying their ability to be trained to perform anthropocentric behaviors .

Canadian Nature Federation February 1999 Report

by JohnPrQII

The February meeting of the Q..'F Board was held at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa on February 28. In the recent past it was decided that each Board meeting WQUld have a panicuJar main subject. The February meeting is our "budget and planning'" meeting, when the financial health of the Federation, and the budget plans for the upcoming year, are reviewed.

1998-1999 was a difficult year for the Q..'F financially. Anticipated revenues from !e1emarketing did not materialize. leaving the Federation in a deficit position. The problem with telemarketing income had been foreseen in the late summer of 1998, and CNF staff took steps to recover the losses through other means, but those efforts were not sufficient to fuUy bridge the gap. The Board and staff will be working together to recoup the losses experienced in 1998-1999, and to take steps to reduce the likelihood of similar problems in the future. It should be noted that the deficit, which will be more fully described when full audited financial statements are available in June, is in respect of the 1998-1999 budget only. and that generally the CNF remains in a healthy financial position, with an endowment fund of nearly one million doUars. The treasurer, Laurie Kane, reponed that in spite of the budget shonfal~ the CNF executive director had remained within all pre-set borrowing limits.

It was also noted that due to timing problems the 1999 audited financial statements would not be available for presentation at the Annual General Meeting to be held at Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, in mid­May The treasurer and all Board members expressed dissatisfaction with this tum of events, although it was noted that given the early date for the QuaIicum Beach AGM, it would have been very difficult to have the Statements ready for release under any circumstances. It was agreed that the situation would be fully

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available.

The Board also dealt with a number of other issues, including Y2K compliance concerns, affiliate relations, and travel policy for the Board. On Y2K, it was agreed that all internal systems in use at the CNF office should be certified as Y2K compliant, and that all service and software providers should be specifically asked for wrinen confirmation that their products met Y2K criteria. On affiliate relations, there was some indication from some affiliates that the draft Memorandum of Understanding presented for consideration at the November meeting was in need of cenain amendments. Further input on any proposed changes to the MOU will be required before the Board can consider making any alterations to the document, and the CNF Staff was asked by the Board to obtain a full list of proposed changes for the May 1999 meeting. On travel policy, Board members noted that at present tbey are not compensated in any way for meal expenses irlCUlTed during Board meetings. Jackie Krindle is reviewing the travel policy, and will repon to the Board at the May meeting.

CNF President Suzanne Ryan and our executive director, Julie Gelfand, reponed to the Board on their February meeting with senior management of the National Audubon Society in New York. Every now and then, there are coocems that NAS, which is a huge and powerful organization, will &tletnpt to attract membership in Canada, or even establish local chapters. Given the finite dollars available to environmental NGO's in this country, the arrival ofNAS wouJd be potentially devastating competition for CNF and other Canadian organi..zations. John Flicker, NAS executive director, assured Suz.anne and Julie that NAS has 00 plans to expand into Canada at this time. but that they would like to see the .. Audubon" name used in Canada. CNF is the Canadian "owner" of the Audubon name, and in fact the predecessor to the CNF was the Canadian Audubon Society. Q\'F feds that there are excellent opportunities for us to fonn a strong alliance wrth NAS, which we hope will be murually beneficial while at the same time satisfYing: NAS that =~:~a:~servation objectives are being pursued in Canada under the direction and effons ofCNF e

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Botanical Observations Along the Trans-Labrador Highway in Early August, 1998

Henry Mann and Michael Collins

A field biologist needs no excuse to roam uncharted pathways. Rewards are inherent in the "search", in exploring new areas, investigating unfamiliar habitats, surveying for novel specimens. In many ways, Labrador is still a biological frontier with abundant unforeseen pleasures and opportunities awaiting those who will take the time to delve into nature's secrets. The primary goals of this joint expedition were twofold. One ofus planned to scour the ponds, lakes, and streams for charophytes (stoneworts), and the other to sample the mosses and lichens for tardigrades (water bears). Neither of these two groups are very widely known to the bulk of humanity, but to us they fire the imagination. This article, however, is not about stoneworts and tardigrades, those hopefully will come later. Instead, we concentrate on some generaJ observations made during the trip, snapshots in time that may at some future date help to elucidate the vegetational changes which are sure to follow the developing exploits of humans in the region.

On the last day of July our loaded Chevy Suburban headed for Lewisporte and at 4 PM we set sail on the Sir Robert Bond. The Bond was reasonably comfortable, the weather being fine , and we divided our time among the lounges, cafeteria, cabin, and sightseeing from the outside decks. Land was almost always in sight, first the Northern Peninsula and then the coast of Labrador and the shores of Sandwich Bay, Groswater Bay, or the Hamilton Inlet. Icebergs, large and small, were a constant feature of the seascape along the open coast and at one time we passed close enough for an excellent photo opportunity. A number of small whales were sighted, but the view of a humpback eluded us this time. We were, however, briefly entertained by a pod of 8 to 10 dolphins who raced the Bond for a time and then lost interest and headed back into our wake. A number of passengers spent considerable time on deck identifying seabirds and scanning the shoreline with binoculars. Others interspersed their sightseeing with watching T.V., chatting, playing cards, or reading. The next day, Saturday, the Bond docked in Cartwright at 3:00 pm, and after a short stop, proceeded to Lake Melville, arriving at the Goose Bay teoninal 7:00 am Sunday morning, a trip of39 hours.

The town of Happy Valley/Goose Bay (HV/G8) is situated on a flat terrace that rises about 30 meters above the wooded shores of Goose Bay. The river flood·plain, the bay shores, and the entire urban area substrates are composed of fme sand stabilized by the natural forest cover. Forests of the flood·plain are dense spruce, birch, fir, and poplar with various understory shrubs and herbs, whereas on the terrace the natural forest is chiefly of open spruce woods with dwarf heath shrubs and lichens. When these forests are skimmed off by bulldozers the fine sand quickly dries and blows with the winds. In the early days of community and airbase construction, blowing dust must have been common. Evidence of sand drifting can still be seen in unstabilized areas along roads and on the banks of the broad Churchill River delta .

After a few hours of general orientation in the area we headed west on the short paved Highway 520 that joins HV/GB with North West River, passing through GB to the junction with e Highway 500. This junction is actually the tennination of the Trans· Labrador Highway (TLH) which officially begins at the Quebec border and runs eastward. To us, however, it was the beginning and we were soon rolling westward in the broad Churchill River Valley. The valley was formerly known as the Hamilton River Valley before the massive hydroelectric development at Churchill Falls was completed in 1974. Here in the valley the TLH is a broad, well maintained gravel highway unlike the experience awaiting us as we climbed out some 90 kilometers westward in the vicinity of the Pinus River and Pope's Hill. Clouds ofbil1owing dust were raised by passing vehicles, but the traffic was light and winds quickly cleared the air.

Two of our most intriguing botanically related observations were made here in the valley of the Lower Churchill. On sandy dry areas occurred the classic open black spruce nichen forest, quite a departure from the crowded black spruce woods of insular Newfoundland. Its appearance is almost that of a well manicured garden with widely spaced trees interspersed with open "carpet lawns" of pale ground lichens. When dry, the carpets crunch underfoot, but when wet they feel like a plush thick carpet which can be swprisingly slippery on steep· sided depressions. Depending on whether the lichens are dry or wet and on the particular species mix present, "lawn" colors vary from pale white·grey to pale green or yellow grey. The most common lichen species are the caribou mosses or reindeer lichens botanically known as genus Cladina (formerly part of the Cladonia group). Another common darker lichen forms grey patches amongst the caribou mosses. This is one of the Easter lichens in the genus Stereocaulon. Many other species can also be found in this fungal carpeL Low shrubs abound in these open woods, the most e common of which include the dwarf birch (B..d.ula ~), sheep laurel, Labrador tea, blueberries, and willows.

Black spruce trees in these airy woods are at their most majestic stature, being tal1 cylindricalfconical with thickly leafed branches from ground to tip and exhibiting the well manicured appearance of horticulturally pruned specimens on display in a public garden. There seems no doubt in the observer's mind that this is the habitat for which black spruce were originally "made". As we travelled westward along the TLH and beyond Churchill Falls we encountered even more extensive lichen forests wherever there were expanses of dry sandy soil. A variety of age stands occur from those just beginning regeneration after fire to those with large old stately trees. It appears that periodic fires have a lot to do with the maintenance, development, and the mosaic patchwork of these Labrador forests.

On wetter and more rocky substrates around bogs, and ponds, on higher elevations, an increasingly crowded black spruce forest exists where trees exhibit more open crowns especially in their lower portions. Lichen growth becomes noticeable on the need1eless branches nearer the trunk. In humid, crowded conditions on the Island, black spruce are often festooned with the yellow-green "old man's beard" lichens and to a lesser extent, the brownish·black "horsehair" type. We did not see much of the old man's beard lichen along the TLH, but mostly a black horsehair kind. From a distance, and augmented by the black lichen, the dark-green of the

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needles, and the right light conditions, these forests truly look "black" as the tree name suggests.

The second feature that caught our attention was the extensive patches of almost pure aspen-birch forests on the south facing slopes of the lower Churchill River Valley. Both trees ~ ~ and.lktula ~ are common constituents of the boreal forest, but here they grow to their finest stature of anywhere we have been on the Island or in Labrador. The largest trembling aspen seen measured 24 inches (60 em) in diameter at about four feet from the base and white birch of approximately equal size were noted indicating that these deciduous woods were of considerable age. The widely spaced trees produced a continuous upper canopy, but still pennined sufficient light to penetrate to the forest floor producmg a rich understory of shrubs and herbs. We stopped briefly at four different locations between 46 Ian and 80 kIn west of junction '500/520 and recorded the most obvious plants of these woods. They are listed in Table I . Had time been available to do a more careful swvey. no doubt many others could have been added to the list.

Perhaps our biggest surprise in this habitat was discovering the Northern Bush Honeysuckle ~ ~ Mill.) in full bloom at one of these stops 72.2 kIn west of the junction (Figure I.). To our knowledge this species has not been reported from Labrador or even the Northern Peninsula of the Island. Diervilla's natural range is from Insular Newfoundland westward to southern Saskatchewan and south to Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina. It is predominantly an eastern mid-continental species which reaches its northern limit in the mid­boreal forest. Its vigorous growth here is yet another indication that the lower Churchill Valley is a climatic oasis, still barbouring species that arrived here in wanner times, perhaps during the climatic optimwn some 5000 years ago, and whose ranges were subsequently pushed southward with the deteriorating northern growing conditions until the present. Species such as CallA ~,Clintmlia~, Majanthemum~, Almls. m&QS.a and others also reach their northern limits here in the vicinity of this Valley. Some, like Diervilla, now have disjunct populations isolated from their parent populations whose northern limits presently occur hundreds of kilometers to the south.

Wilton (1965) describes the area around Lake Melville, Goose Bay, up the Churchill River Valley. and a few other river valleys to the south as having some of the best climatic condi.tions of Labrador due to their inland sheltered locations. This ecological zone is variously described in the literature as "Good Boreal Forest", "Excellent Forest Zone", "High Boreal Forest", "Lake Melville Ecoregion", and others (Meades 1990). It comprises less than one percent of the total area of Labrador, but is economically the most significant forest type. Black spruce and balsam fir dominate much of the area with some white spruce on better sites. Of the aspenlbirch forests seen by us, Wilton (1965) states, 'These stands are unstable fire-origin sub­types which do not perpetuate themselves and will eventually revert back to softwoods". He indicates that the largest aspen recorded for Labrador was 14 inches (35 cm) diameter breast height (dbh), and the largest birch 18 inches, which is considerably smaller than some of the giants we saw along the TLH. Considering that aspen is at its northern limit here and yet can produce such vigorous growth, this further attests to the climatic uniqueness of the Valley.

Table J. Common species of the AspenIBirth forests in the lower Churchill River VaDey

Tree Layer Trembling Aspen - Populus tremuloides Michx. White Birch - Betula papyri/era Marsh. Black Spruce - Pieea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.

Shrub Layer Mountain Alder - Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh Willows - Salix spp. Pin Cherry - Prunus pensylvanica L.f. Showy Mountain Ash - Sorbus decora (Sarg.) Schneid. Labrador Tea - Ledum groenlandicum Oeder Chuckley Pears - Amelanchier spp. Blueberry - Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. Raspberry - Rubus idaeus L. Squasbberry - Viburnum edule (Michx.) R.a(

Skunk Currant - Ribes g/andulosum Grauer Bush Honeysuckle - Diervilla lonicera Mill.

Herb Layer Stiff Club-moss - Lycopodium annorinum L. Tree Club-moss - Lycopodium obscurum L. Flatbranch Club-moss - Lycopodium complontum L. Common Club-moss - Lycopodium clavatum L. One Cone Common Club - moss - L. clavatum L.

var. monostachyon Hook. & Grev. Wood Fern - Dryopteris sp. Oak Fern - Gymnocarpium dryopleris (1.) Newm. Wood Horsetail- Equisetum sylvaticum L. Clintonia - Clinlonia borealis (Ait.) Raf. Violets - Viola spp. Twinflower - Linnaea borealis L. Palmate Sweet Coltsfoot - Petasites palmatus (Ait.) Gray Indian Pipe - Monotropa uniflora L. Wild Lily-of -the-valley - Maianthemum canadense Desf. Crackerberry - Comus canadensis L. Starflower - Trientalis borealis Raf. Large-leaved Goldenrod - Solidago macrophylla Pursh. Red Baneberry - Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. One-sided Pyrola - Pyrola secunda L. Bedstraw - Galium sp. Creeping Snowberry - Gaultheria hispidu/a (1.) Bigel

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In our limited observations along roadsides and trails, balsam fir nowhere seemed to approach the frequency of black spruce, even in the Churchill Valley where it was reasonably common. Between the towns of Churchill Falls and Labrador CityfWabusb it was distinctly uncommon and one had to scan the roadside for a considerable distance before spotting a rather small specimen. Occasionally small saplings were noted in the ditches. Much of the TLH between Lc/w and its emergence from the Churchill Valley appears to pass through areas of more harsh growing conditions resulting in forests dominated by black spruce with varying degrees of openness and vigor.

The variety of roadside wildflowers was quite limited along the lLH. Away from the three centres of human habitation (HV/GB. CF. LCIW) only 12 species were noted in bloom (Table 2). All appear to be native species and all but Diervilla are common wildflowers of their respective habitats. None of the species listed in Table 3 commonly seen as roadside flowers this time of year along the highways from Comer Brook to Lewisporte were observed. The two introduced weedy species Lina.rii ~ and CiKiwn ~ are reported from SchefIervilie and ScheffervilielLabrador City respectively (Hustich 1971), but appear not to have yet spread along the TLH. Other species such as coltsfoot. caraway, cat-tail and plantain which can easily be spotted even when not in bloom were not seen along the TLH. With new highway construction, the opening of broad roadside ditches, and the resulting increased commercial and tourism traffic, a rapid spread of many of the weedy species from the three towns can be expected as well as the introduction of new species. The latitude with its associated climatic ramifications will, of course, moderate the number of species capable of traversing this new man­made corridor. If, however, the global wanning trend continues and again significantly affects this region, we may expect to see another northward shift of both native and introduced portions of our flora. It wi ll also be interesting to see which species take advantage of the Voisey Bay mining development, the proposed Mealy Mountains and Tomgat National Parks, and other future human developments.

From Table 2, it can be seen that the greatest number of roadside species in bloom occurred in the HV/GB area (28) and the LCIW area (27), but each area had a number of species not noted in the other. Churchill Falls had the poorest complement of bloomers on these dates probably due to its harsher, more exposed nature and possibly because it is newer and more isolated. Only four blooming species were noted exclusively occurring in this area. Large, bright-orange Iceland poppy plants were found growing in the disturbed roadside field on the outskirts of the town just off the TLH along with scentless chamomile. No doubt these were escapes from gardens. A winding gravel road leads down the steep valley wall to the Churchill River below near the outflow turulel from the power turbines, a drop of some 300 meters. Pin cheny trees were common here laden with a good crop of scarlet ripening cherries . Along the steepest lower portions of this road, white and yellow sweet clover were in full bloom in the ditches. They were probably planted here to stabilize the ditch gravels and to prevent serious erosion. This is the only place we saw the tall sweet clovers on our trip, but Robin Day (1997) reports the collection 'of the yellow species from the nearby Jacopie Dyke. He also mentions a number of other introduced species along the dykes not noticed by us along roadsides on these

11

I I

I

I

I I

I

I

I I

I

I

I I

I

I

I I

Table 2. Wildflowers in bloom North West River to Quebec Border via the Trans-Labrador Highway, August 2-9,1998. BV/GB = Happy Valley-Goose Bay - North \Vest River LefW = Labrador City - Wabush, CF = Churchill Falls RBC = roadsides between urban centres. ? - (rom memory, but not recorded

Plant Species

Arctic Rock-cress - Arabis arenicola (Richards.) Gel. Fireweed - Epilobium angustifolium L. Purple-stemmed Aster - Aster puniceus L. White Clover - Trifolium repens L. Yarrow - Achillea millefolium L. Pearly Everlasting - Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Gray Alsike Clover - Trifolium hybridum L. Hawk's-beard - Crepis tectorum L. Pineappleweed - Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter Large-leaved Goldenrod - Solidago macrophylla Pursh Yellow Rattle - Rhinanthus crista-ga/Ii L. Rough Cinquefoil - Potentilla norvegica L. Northern Gentian - Gentianella amarella (L.) Boerner Three-toothed Cinquefoil - Potentilla tridentata Ail. Cow Vetch - Viccia cracca L. Bristly Sarsaparilla - Aralia hispida Vent. Sheep Laurel - Kalmia angustifolia L. Scentless Chamomile - Matricaria maritima L. Canada Goldenrod - Solidago canadensis L. American Eyebright - Euphrasia americana Wettst. Bitter Daisy - Erigeron acris var. asteroides (An<1n.) DC. Fall Dandelion - Leontodon autumnalis L. Northern Hawkweed - Hieracium umbellatum L.

'tN1 LCI CF RBC os w

Smootrush Hawkweed- Hieraciumflon'bundum Wimm. & Grab. x Tall Buttercup - Ranunculus acris L. Hop Clover - Trifolium agrarium L. Wild Calla - Calla poluslris L. Yellow King-devil- Hieracium caespilosum Dumort. Birdfoot Trefoil- Lotus corniculatus. L. Ox-eye Daisy - Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L. Wild Madder - Galium mollugo L. Marsh Grass-of-Pamassus - Parnassia palustris L. Dandelion - Taraxacum sp.

12

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•

Table 2 continued-

Plant Species KY' CR

Shrubby Cinquefoil - Porentillafroticosa L. Red Clover - Trifolium pratense L. Hooded Lady's-tresses - Spiranthes romanzofJiana Cham. Creeping Bun ercup - Ranunculus repens L. Bottlebrush - Sanguisorba canadensis L. ? Yellow Water Lily - Nuphar variegarum Engelm. Bush Honeysuckle - Diervilla lonicera Mill. Rough-leaved Aster - ASler radula Ait. Pale Corydalis - Corydalis sempervirens (L.) Pers. White Sweet Clover - MeJilorus alba Desr. Yellow Sweet Clover - Melito/us ojJicianalis (L) Lam. Iceland Poppy - Papaver nudicaule L. Bog Goldenrod - Solidago uliginosa Nun.

Total 28

Figure 1: Bush Honeysuckle <D.i.e.nill.a. l.2.D.ken Mill.) Photocopy of herbarium specimen, upper stem XO.S.

13

LOW c. RBC

x x x x x ? x

x x x x

x x x

x

26 15 12

dates. We did not visit the dykes. Gillett (1963) reports one other local site for white sweet clover in the Goose Bay area. This is possibly a species that could become more common along e sections of the TLH in the future as it has along the TCH in western Newfoundland.

The Canada goldenrod with its broadly triangular plume-like inflorescence was common in the HV 1GB area. but only was noted along the TLH a maximum of 14 Ian west of junction 500/520 to a young pine plantation. We did not distinguish between ~ ~ L. and the similar and closely related S. kJlli1a DC. both of which are reponed from the HV/GB area (Hustich 1971). It will be of interest to see if these species will move westward in the coming years, and as well others that have only been reported in this area such :is ~ ~, etc. It might be expected with northerly and westerly winds prevailing that airborne species from the west might move into eastern areas more rapidly than vice-versa.

Ox-eye daisy, a common Newfoundland roadside species, was only seen in the LCIW area and then only infrequently as scattered individuals, but the plants were healthy and vigorous. It has been reported from HV/GB, Mud Lake, Battle Harbour, and as being common along the railway bank from ScheffeIVille to Menihek (Hustich 1971). Perhaps it will become more noticeable as the TLH becomes upgraded.

The native.caJ.li ~ (wild calla, water-arum, frog-cups, etc.) is designated as a rare species both on the Island and in Labrador. It was seen in three ponds in the HV/GB region. In a sheltered pond near the Churchill River bank it crowded the sandy shores in all stages of development from newly opened "flowers" to almost mature club-shaped fruit clusters. e Inflorescences in this family are unusual, the tiny reduced flowers are clustered on a central golden fleshy axis (spadix) which is sheathed by a showy white bract (spathe)(Figure 2). Some members of this family are commonly grown indoors as ornamentals. Wild calla reaches its northern limit here in the Churchill Valley. Several reports occur in the literature around Goose Bay and one report westward below Churchill Falls (Husrich 1963, 1965a).

The rock-cress, Anlhi.s. ~ (Figure 3), is a small white flowering member of the mustard family. In the literature it appears to only be recorded from more northerly regions in Labrador. We found it commonly throughout the area in sandy open situations from Gosling Lake, HV 1GB roadsides and in scattered gravels/sands along the TLH to LClW.

Hawk's-beard, .Cl:c:pis. ~ (Figure 4) was one of the most conspicuous bloomers in all three population centres. We mistook its yellow dandelion-like flowers for a species of hawk weed ~ initially. Crepis is a weedy introduced species which to our knowledge has not yet been reported for Labrador, or for that maner, insular Newfoundland. Although this species was common in all three population centres, we did not notice it anywbere along the TLH or other roadsides. Hustich (1971.1972) does not record it in his list of introduced species of the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula. Crepis would surely have been noted by him and others such as Gillen (1963). It can therefore be assumed that this species is of relatively recent introduction, perhaps during the massive hydro development of roads, dykes, and a townsite. Wein et al

14

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Table 3. Common roadside wildflowers Doted between Lewisporte a nd Corner Brook on August 12, 1998, but Dot seen in Labrador. Species in bloom on this date are distinguished with *.

*Buner-and-eggs - Linaria vulgaris Hill ·Canada Thistle - Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. ·Flat-topped White Aster - Aster umbellolus Mill. ·Rough-stemmed Goldenrod - Solidago rugosa Ait. "Narrow-leaved Goldenrod - Solidago graminifolia (1.) Salisb. ·New York Aster - Aster novi-be/git L. ·Common Evening Primrose - Oenothera biennis L. ·Meadowsweet - Spiraea lati/olia (Ait.) Borkh. ·Common Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare L. ·Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed - Eupatorium maculalum L. Coltsfoot - Tussi/agaJorfora L. Caraway - Carum carn L. CaHail- Typha IOlifolia L. Common Plantain - Plantago major L.

'Figure 2: Wild Calla (Calla ~ L.) XO.4

15

Figure 3: Arctic Rock Cress (AnIIi£ ll.tIlklIla (Ricbards.) Gel. Photocopied berbarium specimens X1.0. a. basal leaves, b. entire fruiting plant.

Figure 4: Narrow~)eaved Hawk's-beard ~ ~ L .) a. upper portion of plant XloO, b. and c. variation in lower stem leaves XO.5, d. narrow upper stem leafX1.0.

•

•

(Figure 4a from Britton and Brown. 1913. An illustrated Flora of tbe Northern United e States and Canada. Dover. Vol. ill.)

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(l992) also documents this species as having spread in recent times into northern parts of western Canada.

The company town ofWabush is built on the southwest slopes leading down to Jean Lake. As we drove the streets, small upright plants with purple-magenta flowers were noted growing in great profusion on the sandy apartment lawns and roadsides. Upon closer inspection we identified the northern gentian (~mnmilla (L.) Boerner). Here this pretty little annual native was behaving like a weed of disturbed sites, sharing this niche with other more expected introduced species such as white clover, alsike clover, and yarrow, as well as several other natives including yellow rattle and marsh grass-of-Parnassus. Later we also noted northern gentian in similar sandy roadside sites in Goose Bay. On the Island it is mostly seen in western coastal regions, especially on limestone gravels.

It should be noted that the species we recorded were those still in bloom along roadsides or undisturbed areas near roads. Those no longer in bloom were largely ignored unless some feature caught our eye or jogged our memory. No attempt was made at a thorough species listing of any of the habitats encountered as this was outside the scope and time available for the expedition. A number of literature sources provide a detailed listing of the Labrador flora and species likely to be encountered in this central area. The more important of these include those already cited as well as the following, and the references therein: Abbe (1955), Brassard et a1 (1971), Day (1995), Hustich (1944, 1965b, 1970, 1971, 1972), Olsen (1980). These and standard manuals such as Fernald (1950), Scoggan (1978) and Porsild and Cody (1980) were consulted in conjunction with our trip, however, the references listed herein are far from exhaustive.

A variety of other botanical observations were recorded in our field notebooks, a few of which are mentioned below. Everywhere in wet fens and along pond margins cotton-grasses ~ spp.) displayed their fluffy white, cottony heads. In one species they are rusty colored. Eleven species of this sedge are recorded for Labrador (Rouleau 1978) of which we commonly observed at least three. In moist ditches a smaller sedge, (~~ Michx.), Hudson Bay bulrush, also exhibited small white tufts. Foxtail barley ~ .iW2a1wn L.) was commonly noted in the LCIW area, but not elsewhere. Just before descending into the Churchill River Valley on the way back to HV/GB we encountered patches of crackerberry ~~) most of which were post bloom, but some robust plants in the patches exhibited very large showy white/red bracts and somewhat abnonnallooking flower clusters. It was also noted that these plants were considerably infected with actively sporulating round patches of a rust fungus. This may explain the apparently unusual features. In the HV 1GB to North West River region, willow shrubs along shores and wet roadsides were heavily and conspicuously adorned with pine cone willow galls produced by the larvae of small flies which lay their eggs in the young willow buds in spring. Several forms of these were noted.

A few more general observations on our Labrador travels may be of interest to others contemplating a similar trip in the future. About a one hundred kilometer stretch of the TLH

17

west ofHV/GB is good broad gravel highway. As one leaves the Churchill Valley the road becomes narrow, winding, rough, and rocky with speeds in excess 0[50 kmIhr. definitely not e recommended, sometimes significantly less. Wooden bridges are narrow, at times one lane and shoulder washouts are not uncommon. Thus the road meanders several hundred kilometers to Churchill Falls. However, all is about to change. We observed a tremendous amount afread surveying and construction efforts along this stretch, so it appears that in perbaps two or three years this dreaded road section will be only a memory. Between Churchill Falls and LCIW the TLH again became a good gravel highway, but even here some construction was beginning. In a few years an excellent road will slice through central Labrador providing an interesting circular tourist loop from the Maritimes through Quebec, Labrador,Insular Nevifoundland and back to the Maritimes complete with a number of interspersed ferry rides featuring icebergs, whales, and numerous other northern sights. And further into the future the dream of a road connecting Red Bay, Cartwright, and Goose Bay may become a reality, and beyond that perhaps a tunnel connecting the Island. How will this opening up of central Labrador affect the flora, the animal wildlife, the indigenous peoples, and the urban centres of the region? We wonder, because history tells us it will almost certainly come as a "mixed blessing".

Our intent on this trip was to camp as much as possible. We found to our dismay a distinct lack of campgrounds or even places to pull off the highway a safe distance to set up for the night. One private campground near HV/GB upon inspection did not seem like a desirable place to stay. However, our arrival on the holiday Regana weekend may have had something to do with the disarray. No camping facilities occur west ofHV/GB, none at Churchill Falls, the first occwring just before LCIW at Lac Grande Hermine. Unfortunately we did not get to visit e this private operation. The one former provincial campground at DuJey Lake between Labrador City and the Quebec border has been given over to a private operator. Although located on an excellent site, it shows the strains of decommissioning. ]t seems that with the modernization of the highway across central Labrador and the resulting increased tourist trade, that many more strategically placed camping facilities will be required, and of a quality expected in the modem tourism industry.

While in the HV/GB-North West River area we had the chance to visit the Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club and hike a couple of their shorter trails. The Club has an extensive network of well maintained trails and a comfortable chalet complete with a nearby sauna hut. Unfortunately lime did not permit a lengthy investigation of the trails, but what we did see left little doubt that excellent hiking and winter skiing opportunities are available in the area.

In summary, the trip was well worth the effoI1 and expense. The botany was interesting, the scenery splendid, the wilderness awesome, the ferry ride comfortable and the people we encountered were friendly and helpful. We also observed considerable animal life, but that will be the subject of another article. Already the desire is strong to return to investigate the many locations that had to be bypassed for lack of time. Perhaps in several years another "expedition" can be mounted to this exciting wilderness frontier.

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REFERENCES CITED Abbe, E.C. 1955. Vascular Plants of the Hamilton River area. Labrador. Contrib.

Gray Hero., Harvard Univ. 176: 1-44.

Brassard, G.R.. S. Frost. M. Laird, O. Olsen, and D.H. Steele. 1971. Studies ofthe spray zone of Churchill Falls, Labrador, Biological Conservation 4: 13·1 8.

Day, R.T. 1995. Atlas of Labrador Plants: Vol. 1. Abies to Chamaedaphne. Ubiquitous Publishing. Little Eden Enterprises, Newfoundland.

Day. R.T. 1997. The Isabel Watts Labrador Plant Collection. The Osprey 28: 30-32.

Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany. Eighth Edition. Dioscorides Press,

Portland, OR.

Gillett,I.M. 1963. Flora of Goose Bay. Labrador. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 77: 131-145.

Hustich,1. and B. Petterson. 1944. Notes on vascular plants of the east coast of Newfoundland-Labrador. l. Preliminary list of plants. Societas Pro Fauna et Flora Fennica. Memoranda. 19: 192·200.

Hustich,l. 1963. A preliminary inventory of the vascular plants in the eastern part of central Labrador Peninsula. Acta Geographica 17: 1-38.

Hustich, 1. 1965a. On the phytogeography of the eastern part of central Quebec­Labrador Peninsula, 1. Societas Scientiarum Fennica 28: 1-36.

Hustich,l. 1965b. A black spruce feather moss forest in the interior of southern Quebec-Labrador Peninsula. Acta Geographica 18: 1-26.

Hustich,l. 1970. On the phytogeography of the eastern part of central Quebec·Labrador Peninsula, II. Societas Scientiarum Fennica 30: 1-16.

Hustich,l. 197 1. The introduced flora element in central Quebec-Labrador Pensinsula. Le Naturaliste Canadien 98: 425-441 .

Hustich. 1. 1972. On the phytogeography of the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula, m. Notes on introduced species. Societas Scientiarum Fennica 54: 1-28.

Meades. SJ. 1990. Natural Regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. Protected Areas Association, St. John' s, NF.

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Olsen,O.A. 1980. Checklist of vascular plants, Churchill Falls spray zone, Labrador. Botany Division., National Museums of Canada, Ottawa.

Porsild, A.E. and W.J. Cody. 1980. Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories, Canada National Museums of Canada, Ottawa

Rouleau, E. 1978. List of the vascular-plants of the province of Newfoundland, Canada. Oxen Pond Botanic Park, St. John's, NF

Scoggan, H. 1. 1978. The Flora of Canada, Vols 1-4. National Museums of Canada, Ottawa.

Wein, R. W., G. Wein, S. Bahret, and W.J . Cody. 1972. Northward invading non­native vascular plant species in and adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 106(2): 216-224.

Wilton, W .C. 1965. The Forests of Labrador. Department of Forestry Publication No. 1066, Ottawa.

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Flooding of Four Labrador Plants & Development of the Lower

Churchill Hydroelectric Project . e Robin Tim Day, Honam Univ., 59-1 Seobong Dong, Kwangju. South Korea, 506- 7l4

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The development of the lower Churchill River system needs to be discussed in detail, and so I have cut and included here the short final discussion of a book I'm completing: Atlas of Labrador Plants Vol 2. This excerpt was originally submitted in person to an editor of The Evening Iclegram, Aug. 1998, but was not published. I guess the extennination of four of Labrador's wildflowers does not merit being told. What will happen to the wildflowers will happen to other parts of the flora. fauna, geology and historical sites. The public has a right to know, discuss and act upon this.

Final Discussion In April of 1998, I learned that the Gull Island portion of the lower

Churchill River is scheduled to be flooded in corning years and that river water from east Quebec is to be rerouted to the Churchill system for additional hydro power generation. The Muskrat Falls area, just above Goose Bay, has been excluded from the flow plans for the moment (report from Brian Tobin's office). A few of Labrador' s rarer plant species will likely be flooded and may be killed out (extirpated) in the corning years. ~ ~ (Wooly Hudsonia shrub), C= ~ (Projecting Sedge) and Qxali.s IIlQIllana (Wood Sorrel) are probable candidates for local extinction if special conservation measures are not taken by the Province or the Memorial University Botanical Garden. A rare rock flower, ~ niYal.i.s. (Alpine Snow Saxifrage) may have been eliminated from central Labrador in the 1972 flooding of Smallwood Reservoir. Nobody has checked this. Luddy, it is still common in the north. A considerable portion of the most productive forest, Ecoregion 6: High Boreal Forest, will be flooded, however, most citizens realize that there must be some changes to the flora and forest if the hydroelectric gains are to be achieved. "Who profits, who loses and who speaks for Nature?" are the questions which always arise. Every time a forest is flooded new aquatic habitat is created, the flip side of such change. r hope the powerful people will insist on detailed biological studies preceeding the construction and flooding. These need not be expensive. To lose a wildflower is to lose a possible herb, spice or vegetable, a little factory of chemicals, a genetic library, an underpinning of our ecosystem, a story in itself and a passing delight in the wild. Plants, and botany in particular, are often dismissed as unimportant in our present society, so intently focused on gadgets and immediate gratification. Plants continue to sustain us on our unknown evolutionary pathways. We are quite capable of safeguarding our heritage of biological treasures. These are scattered in the open, unfettered by locks and vaults, and are as dear to us as the birds and orchids of the rain forests, but not more precious than jobs. May reason and compassion prevail.

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CHECKLIST (1 999) OF THE BIRDS

OF INSULAR NEWFOUNDLAND AND ITS CONTINENTAL SHELF WATERS

B. Mactavish, J.E. Maunder, WA Montevecchi. and J.L Wells Naual History Society of Newfoundland and LabradOf', Box 1013, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Ale 5M3

Th IS new checklist updates and replaces the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

publication Field Checklist (1989) of the Birds of Insular Newfoundland and its Continental Sheff Waters by

B. Mactavish, J.E. Maunder and WA Mcnteveecht A total of 368 species, plus 3 additional subspecies,

have been accepted for inclusion by the Bird Records Committee. Nomenclature is in accord with the

American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds, Seventh E~ition (1998).

Twenty-five species are new to the 1999 list, including Garganey, 5wainson's Hawk, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Eurasian Cur1ew, Black-tailed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Red-headed

Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Vllhite-eyed Vireo, Eurasian Jackdaw, Marsh

Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird , Wood Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird , Varied Thrush, White

Wagtail, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wonn-eating Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, HarTis's Sparrow, and

Orchard Oriole. The hypothetical list has been eliminated. The list is current to Oecernber31 , 1998.

Eight additional species have been recorded from the neighbouring French Islands of St.-Pierre et

Miquelon, including Yellow Rail, Roseate Tern, White-winged Dove, Whip.poor-will, Common SWift, Common House- Martin, Black-throated Sparrow, and Eurasian Siskin (Oesbrosse, A., R. Etchebeny, and

G. SaMe. 1990. Repertoire des oiseaux de I'archipel. Les cahiers de "echo (SPM] Avril 1990: 8 pp.; and R.

Etchebeny, personal communication, 1998).

OCCURRENCE (based on an experienced observer birding regularly and widely):

C = COMMON U = UNCOMMON

U· = VERY UNCOMMON

x = RARE

X· = VERY RARE

STATUS:

B = BREEDER

R = RESIDENT

= IRRUPTIVE

= VAGRANT I = INTRODUCED

likely to be found dally in appropriate seasonlhabitat

likely to be found monthly in appropriate seasonlhabitat; may be locally common

likely to be found annually In appropriate season/habitat; may be locally uncom­

mo, not likely to be found annually; though apparently occurs regularly in very small

numbers

recorded three times or less

known to breed rb~ if nesting abundance Is significantly lower than indicated by

occurrence designation]

non-migratory, or maintains a signifi cant year-round population

irruptive species, much more abundant in some years tllan in others

occurrence is outside usual range

introduced to Newfoundland

SEASONAL DATES (seasons during which a species has been recorded· a lower case entry indicates that

a species is less common during that season than indicated by the overall occurrence designation]:

SP

S = SPRING

= SUMMER

21 March· 20 June

21 June· 20 September

F = FALL W= WINTER

21 September - 20 December

21 December - 20 March

•

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LOONS ..... Yellow-crowned Night-Heron XVspSF

.... ... Red-throated loon UbSPSFw IBISES

• ...... ' Pacific Loon X·VW ....... Common Loon CBR ....... White Ibis X·VSP

....... Glossy Ibis XVSPsf GREBES

AMERICAN VULTURES ....... Pied· billed Grebe U·spsFw ....... Homed Grebe XSPSFW ....... TUrXey Vulture X·VF ...... Red·necked Grebe USPFW

FLAMINGOS FULMARS & SHEARWATERS

....... Greater Flamingo X·VF ....... Northern Fulmar CbR .... "." Cory's Shearwater XS GEESE, SWANS & DUCKS ....... Greater Shearwater CSPSF ... ... Sooty Shearwater CSPSf ...... . Pink·footed Goose XVSP ....... Manx Shearwater UbspSf ....... Greater White-fronted Goose XVspF

....... Snow Goose XVSPsF STORM-PETRELS ....... Canada Goose CBSPSFw

.... .. Brant XVSPF ....... Wilson's Stenn-Petrel USPSf ....... Barnacle Goose X"VSF ....... Leach's Stann·Petrel CBSPSF ....... Tundra SWan X"VF

....... Wood Ductt U"SPsFw GANNETS ....... Gadwall XVSPF

....... Eurasian Wigeon U"spFw • ....... Northern Gannet CBSPSFw ....... American Wigeon UBSPSFw

.... ... American Blactt Duck CBSPSFw PELICANS ...... Mallard U"SPSFw

....... Blue-winged Teal UBSPSF

....... American White Pelican X·VSF ...... Northern Shoveler XbSPSF .... ... Northern Pintail UBSPSFw

CORMORANTS .... ... Garganey X·VSP

... ... . Green-winged Teal CBSPSFw ... ... Double-crested Cormorant UBSPSFw Green-winged Teal (Eur.) XVSPFW

.. ..... Great Cormorant UBSPSFw .. ..... Canvasback X"VSPSF ...... Redhead X"VSPS

FRIGATEBIRDS .... . Ring-nectted DucK CBSPSfw ....... Tufted Duck XVSPFW

....... Magnificent Frigatebird X"V ....... Greater Scaup UBR ....... Lesser Scaup XVspFw

HERONS ..... King Eider UspfW ....... Common Eider CbR

....... American Bittern UBSPSF ....... Harlequin Ductt U·bSPsFW

....... Least Bittern XVSPSF ...... Surf Scoter UspsFW

... Great Blue Heron U"SPSFw ....... White-winged Scoter USPSFw

....... Great Egret XVSPSFw ....... Blactt Scoter UbSPsFW

....... Little Egret X"VSP ... .... Oldsquaw CSPsFW

....... Snowy Egret XVSPSF ....... Bufflehead U"SPFW

....... Little Blue Heron XVSPSFw ...... Common Goldeneye CBR • ..... Tricolored Heron X"VSPS ... ... . Barrow's Goldeneye U·SPFW

....... Cattle Egret XVspSF ....... Hooded Merganser XbspsFw

....... Green Heron XVspsF ....... Common Merganser UBR

....... Black-crowned Night-Heron XVSPsw ....... Red-breasted Merganser CBR

23

....... Ruddy Duck XYJsFw OYSTERCATCHERS

OSPREYS, EAGLES & HAWKS .... Eurasian Oystercatcher X"VSP

....... Osprey CBSPSfw STILTS • ....... Bald Eagle UBR

....... Northern Harrier UBSPSFw ...... Black·necked Stilt X"VS · ..... Shall'shinned Hawk UbSPsFW · ..... Cooper's Hawk X"VFW SANDPIPERS & PHALAROPES · .... Northern Goshawk UbSPsFW ....... Swainson's Hawk X"VF ....... Common Greenshank X"VSFW ....... Red·tailed Hawk XVSPSFW ...... Greater Yellowlegs CBSPSFw ..... Rough-legged Hawk UBSPSFw ....... Lesser Yellowlegs UspSf ...... Golden Eagle XVspsFW ....... Common Redshank X·VSP

..... :. Spotted Redshank X"VSPF FALCONS ....... Wood Sandpiper X"VF

... .... Solitary Sandpiper XspSf ....... American Kestrel UBSPSFw ....... Willet XbSPSf ....... Mertin UBSPSFw ....... Spotted Sandpiper CBSPSf ....... Gyrfalcon U"SPsFW ..... Upland Sandpiper X"VF ....... Peregrine Falcon U"SPSFw .. Eskimo Curlew extinct?

....... Whimbrel Usf GROUSE & PTARMIGAN Whimbrel (Eurasian) XVSPS

....... Eurasian Curlew X"VW

....... Ruffed Grouse CBRI ...... Black-tailed Godwit XVSPW

...... Spruce Grouse UBRI ....... Hudsonian Godwtt U'SF

....... Willow Ptarmigan CBR ....... Bar-tafted Godwtt X"VF

....... Rock Ptarmigan UBR ....... Marble<! Godwil X"VSP • ....... Ruddy Tumstone CspSFw RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS .... .. Red Knot UspSfw

....... Sanderting CspSFw ...... Com Crake X"VF ....... Semipalmated Sandpiper CspSF

....... Clapper Rail XVF ....... Western Sandpiper X"VS

....... King Rail X"VF ....... Least Sandpiper CBSPSf

....... Virginia Rail XbspSFw ....... White-rumped Sandpiper CspSFw

....... Sora U*BSPSFw ..... .. Baird's Sandpiper XSF

....... Purple Gallinule XVSPFw ....... Pectoral Sandpiper UspSF

....... Common Moorhen XVFw ....... Purple Sandpiper USPsFW

....... Eurasian Coot X"VF ....... Dunlin UspSF

....... American Coot U·spsFw ....... Curlew Sandpiper XVSPS ...... Stilt Sandpiper XVSF

CRANES ....... Buff-breasted Sandpiper XSF ....... Ruff XYJSPSFW

....... Sandhill Crane XYJSPSF ....... Short-billed Dowitcher UspSf ....... Common Snipe CBSPSFw

PLOVERS ... Eurasian Woodcodc; X"VW ....... American Woodcodc; XBSPSfw

...... Northern Lapwing XYJspFW ...... Wilson's Phalarope XSPSF

....... Black-bellied Plover CspSF ....... Red-necked Phalarope UspSf

....... European GOlden-Plover XYJSPs ....... Red Phalarope UspSF

....... American Golden-Plover UspSF

....... Common Ringed Plover X"VS SKUAS, GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS • ....... Semipalmated Plover CbspSF

....... Piping Plover U'BSPS ....... Great Skua USpSFw ...... Killdeer U*BSPSFw ....... South Polar Skua U'S

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....... Pomarine Jaeger CSPSF OWLS

....... Parasitic Jaeger CSPSf

....... Long-tailed Jaeger USPSf ...... Bam Owl X·VF

• ....... Laughing Gull XVSPSF .... Great Homed Owl UBR ....... Franklin's Gull XVSPSFw ....... Snowy Owl UESPsFW .. .... UttleGull XVSPSFW ....... Northern Hawk Owl XBR ....... Black-headed Gull UbSPsFW ....... Long-eared Owl X·VF ....... Bonaparte's Gull XspSfw ....... Short-eared Owl UBSPSFw ..... Black-tailed Gull x*vsp ....... Boreal Owl UbSPsfW

....... Mew Gull XSPsFW ....... Northem Saw-whet Owl XSPSFW ... Ring-billed Gull CBSPSFw

....... Herring Gull CBR NIGHTJARS

...... Yellow-legged Gull X"VSPFW

....... Thayer's Gull XVSPSFW ....... Common Nighthawk XSPSF . .. Iceland Gull CSPsFW ....... Chuck-will's-widow X"VF

... ... . Lesser Black-back.ed Gull XSPSFW

... .... Glaucous Gull CSPsFW SWIFTS

....... Great Black-backed Gull CBR ...... Sabine's Gull XSPSF ....... Chimney Swift U·SPSF

....... Black-legged Kittiwake CBR

....... Ross's Gull XVSPSFW HUMMINGBIRDS

....... Ivory Gull UspfW

....... Caspian Tem UBSPSf ....... Ruby-throated Hummingbird XbSPSf ..... Royal Tem X·VS ....... Rufous Hummingbird X"VS

....... Sandwich Tem X·VS

....... Common Tem CBSPSf KINGFISHERS ..... ArdicTem CBSPSf

• ....... Forster's Tern X"VF ....... Belted Kingfisher CBSPSfw ....... Least Tem X"VSPS ....... Bridled Tem X·VFW WOODPECKERS ....... Black Tem XVSPSf .... Black. Skimmer X·VF ..... .. Lewis's Woodpecker X·VS

....... Red-headed Woodpecker X"VF AUKS ....... Yellow-bellied Sapsucker U·BSPSFw

....... Downy Woodpecker CBR ....... Dovekie CspsFW ....... Hairy Woodpecker CBR ....... Common Murre CBR ....... Three-toed Woodpecker U·BR . ... . Thick-bi lled Murre CBR .. .... . Black-backed Woodpecker UBR

... .. .. RazorbiU UBSPSfw ....... Northern Flicker CBSPSFw

.... ... BlaCk. Guillemot CBR .... Long-billed/Marbled Murrelet X"VS TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

....... Atlantic Puffin CBSPSfw

...... Olive-sided Flycatcher UBSPS DOVES .. Eastern Wood-Pewee XSPSf

.... ... Yellow-bellied Flycatcher CBSPSf ....... Rock Dove UBR ....... Alder Flycatcher UBSPSf ....... Mourning Dove UspsFw ....... Least Flycalcher U·SPSf

....... Eastern Phoebe XVSPS CUCKOOS ....... Say's Phoebe X"VF

....... Great Crested Flycatcher XVSF .... Black-billed Cuckoo XVspSF ....... Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher X"VF

• ....... Yellow-billed Cuckoo XVsF ....... Western Kingbird XVspsF ....... Eastern Kingbird UbSPSf ...... . Fork-tailed Flycatcher X"VF

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SHRIKES KINGLETS

....... Northern Shrike U"ESPsFW ....... Goklen·crowoed Kinglet CBR ....... Ruby-crowned Kinglet CBSPSFw • VIREOS

GNATCATCHERS ....... White-eyed Vireo XVSF ...... Yel1ow-throated Vireo XVSF ....... Blue-gray Gnatcatcher XVSFw ....... Blue-headed Vireo U"BSPSf ....... Warbling Vireo XVSPSF THRUSHES ....... Philadelphia Vireo U"SPSF ....... Red-eyed Vireo U"BSPSF ....... Northern Wheatear XVSPSFw

...... . Eastern Bluebird X*vSP JAYS, MAGPIES & CROWS ...... . Mountain Bluebird X"VFW

....... Townsend's Solitaire X"VFW ....... Gray Jay CBR .. ..... Veery UBSPS ....... Blue Jay UBR ....... Gray-cheeked Thrush CBSPS ....... Black·bllied Magpie X"VF ....... Swainson's Thrush CBSPSf ....... Eurasian Jackdaw X"VSPFW ..... .. Hennil Thrush CBSPSfw ....... American Crow CBR ....... Wood Thrush X"VSP ....... Common Raven CBR ....... Eurasian Blackbird X"VF

.... Fleldfare XVW LARKS ....... Redwing XVSFW

....... American Robin CBSPSFw ... Homed Lark CBSPSFw ....... Varied Thrush X"VWSP

SWALLOWS MOCKINGBIRDS & THRASHERS

....... Purple Martin XVSPSf ....... Gray Catbird XbSPSf • ....... Tree Swallow CBSPSfw ....... Northern Mockingbird U"bR

....... Northern Rough-winged Swallow XVSPS ....... Brown Thrasher XVSPSFW

....... Bank Swallow UBSPSf .. CliffSwaliow XSPSF STARLINGS

....... BamSwaliow UBSPSf ....... European Starting CBR

CHICKADEES PIPITS

....... Black-capped Chickadee CBR

...... Boreal Chickadee CBR ....... White Wagtail X"VS ....... American Pipit CBSPSFw

NUTHATCHES WAXWINGS

....... Red-breasted Nuthatch UBR ....... Bohemian Waxwing UEspsFW

CREEPERS ....... Cedar Waxwing UBSPSFW

....... Brown Creeper U"BR WOOD WARBLERS

WRENS ....... Blue-winged Warbler XVSF ....... Golden-winged Warbler XVSPSF

....... House Wren XVFw ....... Tennessee Warbler CBSPSf • ....... Winter Wren UBSPSFw ....... Orange-crowned Warbler XSFw

....... Marsh Wren X"VF ....... Nashville Warbler XbSPSF ....... Northern Parula XSPSF .... ... Yellow Warbler CBSPSf

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.. .. .. . Chestnut-sided Warbler XVSPSf ... ... Grasshopper Sparrow XVspFw

. .... Magnolia Warbler CBSPSf ... . Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow X·VF

....... Cape May Warbler XbSPSfw .... ... Fox Sparrow CBSPSFw

• .... ... Black-throated Blue Warbler XVSF .... Song Sparrow UBSPSFw .. ..... Yellow-rumped Warbler CBSPSFw .. Uncoln's Sparrow CBSPSfw

Yellow-rumped .. Swamp Sparrow CBSPSFw -Audubon's· Warbler X·VSP ... White-throated Sparrow CBSPSFw

....... Black-throated Gray Warbler X·VF .. .. .. . Harris's Sparrow X·VW

.... .. . Black-throated Green Warbler CSSPSf .. White-crowned Sparrow UBSPSFw ... ... Townsend's Warbler XVFW .. ... .. Dark-eyed Junco CBR

....... Hennit Warbler X·VF .. ... .. Lapland Longspur U·SPsFw

.... ... Blackbumian Warbler XBSPSf .. . .. Chestnut-collared Longspur X·VSP

....... Yellow-throated Warbler XVsFw .. ..... Snow Sunting CSPsFW

.. .. ... Pine Warbler XVspFW

..... Prairie Warbler XVSFw CARDINALS

.. .. ... Palm Warbler UBSPSFw ..... Say-breasted Warbler U·BSPSf ...... Northem Cardinal XVSF

.. .. .. . Blackpoll Warbler CBSPSfw ..... . Rose-breasted Grosbeak U·SSPSFw ...... Cerulean Warbler XVSF ... ... Blue Grosbeak XVSPF ...... Black-and-white Warbler CBSPSfw ...... . Indigo Bunting XVSPsF

.. American Redstart GBSPSf ... Dickcissel XSPSFW .. .. .. . Prothonotary Warbler X*VSF .. ..... Worm-eating Warbler X·VS BLACKBIRDS .. .. .. . Ovenbird CBSPSfw ...... Northern Waterthrush CBSPSf ....... Bobolink UBSPSf ....... Kentucky Warbler XVSF .... Red-winged Blackbird U·BSPSfw

....... Connecticut Warbler X"VF .. .. Eastern Meadowlark XVspSFw

• ....... Mourning Warbler CBSPSf ....... Yellow-headed Blackbird XVspSFW .. ... .. Common Yellowthroat UBSPSFw ... .. .. Rusty Blackbird CBSPSFw

... Hooded Warbler XVSF ..... .. Common Grackle UbSPSFW .. .. .. . Wilson's Warbler caSPSf .. Brown-headed Cowbird U·bSPSFW .. .. .. . Canada Warbler XSPSf ... .... Orchard Oriole X·VS ....... Yellow-breasted Chat XVSFw ... . Baltimore Oriole U·spSFw

TANAGERS FINCHES

....... Summer Tanager X·VSP ..... Common Chaffinch X*VSPW

.. .. .. . Scarlet Tanager XVSPSF ...... Pine Grosbeak CBR

....... Westem Tanager X·VSPF ....... Purple Finch CBR . . .. Red Crossbill U·BR

SPARROWS ... ... . White-winged Crossbill CEBR ...... . Common Redpoll CEBR

....... Eastern Towhee XVSPsFW .. .. ... Hoary Redpoll XSPfW

.. .. ... American Tree Sparrow UBSPSFw .. Pine Siskin CEBR

....... Chipping Sparrow U·BSPSfw .. American Goldfinch USSPSFw

.. .. ... Clay-colored Sparrow XVSPFW .. Evening Grosbeak UEbSPsFW

....... Field Sparrow X*VspFw

.... .. . Vesper Sparrow XVSPSFW OLD WORLD SPARROWS

.. ... .. Lark Sparrow XVSFw

....... Lark Bunting X"VF ...... . House Sparrow UBR

.. ..... Savannah Sparrow CBSPSFw

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" ' inter Bird Report

December 1, 1998 - March 31,1999

Paul Linegar

The increased number of birders in the province and the expanding use of internet access is having a beneficial effect on our understanding of the nwnber and distribution of birds species in Newfoundland and Labrador. But, best of all , the increased effort is proving how exciting Newfoundland birding can be, even in winter. Although the quantity of bird species may not be as great in this province as other areas of North America, we make up for it in quality. That' s why birders from all over the continent showed up to bird in Newfoundland this season to search for one or more of the eleven species and two subspecies of European birds that helped make for an exciting winter.

Loons to Herons: Only one of the three Pied-billed Grebes in St. John' s during November made it into December and it was last reported December 13 (JS, AH, PL). Elusive at the best of hmes In NewfoundJand, a Horned Grebe in a Stephenville field during the January 3 Christmas

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Bird Count (CBC) was extraordinary. The bird did not appear to be injured and was released into e salt water after being photographed (Terry Downey, fide BW, ph.). Another bird was at Golden Bay on the January 2 Cape Sl Mary' s CBC (IG . , a/.). An aggregation of 19 Red-necked Grebes at The Drook, Cape Race road March 20 (TB) increased to 29 on March 27, possibly a record high for the province (TB, KK). Several Nortbern Fulman appeared to be prospecting potential nest sites at Flatrock March 20 (KK). St. Patrick' s Day signaled the arrival of the first Gannets when three or four were found at Bird Rock, Cape St. Mary's (TP,fide PR). Great Cormorants fared well , as indicated by the 100 recorded in the Newfoundland and St. Pierre et MiqueJon CBCs. The winter range of Double-crested Cormorants has been expanding in eastern Canada; six birds were seen on the St. Pierre et MiqueJon CBC, one on the Corner Brook CBC, and one at Witless Bay January 8 (EMt), indicating that this species is becoming a regular WInter resident in southern Newfoundland. A Great Blue Heron discovered at Branch on January 3 survived the winter, likely due to mild weather (TP,fide PR).

Waterfowl: The relatively mild weather this winter made life easier for Canada Geese, which left late and arrived early. A few birds even remained through the winter at locations such as Port Blanford (J&LM). A similar pattern was noted for freshwater ducks, particularly on the Avalon Peninsula and southeast coast, where ponds and rivers remained ice free throughout most of the season. Sixty-one Green-winged Teal were recorded on the St John' s CBC, 10 which were "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal . High counts of American Black Ducks included 463 on the St Pierre et Miquelon eBC December 21, 856 on the St. John' s Boxing Day CBC, and 250 at the Arnold' s Cove Bird Sanctuary January 29 (JP). Lower numbers were found throughout the province, inCluding 15 - 20 at Parson's Pond on the Great Northern Peninsula on February I, e

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during the height of winter (J&JG). Northern Pintails and Ma lla rds are typically scarce in Newfoundland during the winter except in Sl. John 's where their numbers have grown steadily since the mid 1980's. The St. John ' s CBC recorded 249 Northern Pintail and 282 Mallard, the later total including at least 40 Ma llard x Blac k Duck hybrids. An eye-opener an)"vhere and anytime in Newfoundland was a male Northern Shoveler at Spaniard' s Bay February 16 (AH, PL). Possibly the same bird showed up in St. John ' s March 20 and remained through the period (m.ob.). Fifteen EURASlAN \VlGEON on December 24 may have set a new eastern North American one-day record tota l fo r a single locality (EMt). The three males and most of the 12 females remained through the period, as did a single male and female America n ' Vigeoo. A female T ufted Duck arriving in November spent the winter in S1. John ' s; and an adult male was found at Harricot February 3 accompanied by 57 Greater Scaup, one Lesser Scaup, and three Ring-necked Ducks (AR, J5, PL). There were only 16 Bumehead reported, including 13 from Traytown duri ng the winter (GS), and one at the sewer out let in S1. John ' s from mid December to early January (KK, BMt el al.). Most other diving ducks were reponed in moderate or low numbers, possibly due to the ice-free conditions off Newfoundland ' s coast. Fortunately, Ha rlequin Ducks put in a strong perfonnance at Cape S1. Mary's where 77 of the 97 reported on the January 2 CBC remained through the winter (TP,fide PR). Additional sightings included 3 at Middle Cove December 16 (KK), and 5 through most of December and January at Pt. LaHaye (AB~ TB, TS). Hooded Mergansers at Goose Bay, Labrador are not surprising, but one on December 4 was unseasonably late (Michael Jones,fide BMt).

Raptors to Coots: Raplors put in a good shQ\"';ng this season. A Northern Har r ier and a Rough-legged Hawk were at the 51. John' s dump December 26 (KK, BMt), and another Rough­legged occurred on the S1. Pierre et Miquelon CBC December 21 . Sha rp-shinned Hawks and Northe rn Goshawks were relatively common and we ll reported throughout the province. Golden Eagle magnet Chris Brown and colleague John Chid ley found an immature bird at Chance Cove Provincial Park, December 19, one of only a few insular Newfoundland records. There were at least six sightings of Peregrine Falcon on the Avalon Peninsula in December and January, and one or two American Kestrel remained on the southern Avalon during the winter (m.ob.).UnusualJy late was a Merlin January 5 in S1. John' s (BMt). Gyrfa lcons, which went almost unreported last winter, remained scarce this year, even in northern Newfoundland. This season there were singles reported from Cape S1. Mary' s on January 2 (IG), S1. Shott' s March 20 (TB), and what was likely a white phase bird at St. Thomas' March 5 (K. Hannaford,fide PL). ' Villow Ptarmiga n were plentiful throughout the Island, including northern Newfoundland, where 18 were sighted on a drive along the Roddington Road in late January (IG). One of the highlights of the season was the discovery by a visiting tour group of a VIRGINIA RAn.. near Aquafone on January 8 (BMt el 01.). The following day II S1. John' s twitchers surrounded the tiny area of open water and eventually the meek bird appeared. The only modern day record of this species was at Cape Spear November 27, 1997 (DB). Les Tuck found at least three breeding pairs in the Codroy Valley in the late 1950's, but there are only a half dozen or so additional records, some as late as November and December. Another treat was a Common Moorhen at Long Pond, S1. John' s, from December 12 to January 6 (TB et al.), the second record in three months, but only about the 12th overall for Newfoundland. Capping off the order was an American Coot seen regularly in 51. John 's throughout the period (m.ob.).

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Shorebirds: Better late than never was a report of a NORTHERN LAP\VlNG at Bishop's Falls on November 10'" (Lloyd Harnum,jide BMt), the day before the discovery of the Wood Sandpiper at Renews. Completing the Eurasian shorebird mega-rarity hat trick was the second North American occurrence of COMMON REDSHANK. First identified at Happy Adventure March 7th (KB), the bird remained at that location throughout the period, delighting birders who came from all over North America to add the bird to their lists. Local accounts indicate that it had been around that site for at least a month, and it has been speculated that it may have arrived at the same time as the other November Eurasian shorebirds. The only previous occurrence in North America was in the spring of 1995 when a variety of Eurasian vagrants, including five "shanks" were discovered along the northeast coast of Newfoundland. Late shorebirds included a Black-bellied Plover at Point Lance on January 2, and a Dunlin on the S1. Pierre et Miquelon CSC December 21. A few Ruddy Turnstones usually overwinter and this year four were found during the season at Kelligrews (m.ob.). Two Red Knot overwintered at PI. LaHaye, only the second time that this species has done so in the Province, although Saint Pierre et Miquelon hosts a few each winter (TB et al.). A pair ofSaoderling found at Long Beach March 20 likely overwintered in that area (JP, CB). Early Ki lldeer were singles on February 28 at Cape BroyJe (TB), and Mareh 7 at Quidi Vidi (JW).

Gulls: Black-beaded Gull numbers continue to remain strong. This year there were high totals at traditional locations with 97 at St John 's November 17 (BMt) and 92 at Spaniard's Bay December 3 (AH, PL). Once considered rare in Newfoundland, Bonaparte's Gulls are now known to occur annually in very small nwnbers. This season there was an adult at Spaniard's Bay in early and late winter (AB, PL), and singles at Trepassey (!P, CB) and Harrieot (TB) in mid-winter. The adult Mew Gull discovered at St John's on November 17 overwintered and was later accompanied by a first year bird December 2 (AH, PL), and a second adult on February 2 (BMt). This winter there were three examples of first year "European" Herring Gull, either argentatus or argenteus, found in SI. John's. One was photographed Feb. 7-18 at Quidi Vidi Lake (BMt, KK). Another very cooperative and well-studied bird found at the St John's dump February 17 was probably argentatus (BMt, PL), and the third one was photographed in St. John's harbour March 20 (BMt). Most large North American Larids were reported in typical numbers as sho\'m by the December 26 S1. John's December CSC totals of9127 Herring Gulls, l698lcelaod Gulls, 3222 Great Black-backed Gull., and (only) 65 Glaucou. Gull •. Unprecedented in North America was the apparent discovery of three adult YELLOW­LEGGED GULLS at the Sl John 's dump in February (BM!, PL). The first bird was found on February 10 and relocated February 13. On February 17 two different aduJts were found, at one point standing together. Identification of this species is difficult as hybrid Herring x Lesser Black Backed Gull occur. In the case of these birds identification was based on many convincing features including: mantle color (darker than Herring Gull but paler than Lesser Black-back Gull); yelJow legs; red orbital ring; very little head streaking (in the case of one bird, a couple of small spots couJd barely be seen through a 32X telescope at 40 feet); stout, bright lemon-yellow bill with a steeply sloped tip; large deep red gony spot; and other consistent features of the head and body shape, and wing-rip pattem The birds were slightly smaller than tbe average Herring Gull, suggesting that they may be the atlantis subspecies, a race that breeds only on the Azores. As quickly as they appeared they disappeared, despite vigorous searching throughout the rest of the winter. Yellow-legged Gulls were formally considered one of the European races of the

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Herring Gull. About 10 years ago it was 'split' and classified as a separate species. There are six previous records from the St. John's area, representing about four individuals. El sewhere in North America there are only three of four confirmed sightings, including a specimen from Madeleine Island, P.Q., August 1973. Wrapping up the gull extravaganza was an unprecedented 15+ Lesser Black-backed G uUs found around the S1. John ' s area during the season, and a report of four Ivory G ulls on the January 3 Stephenville Crossing CBC

Alcids to \ Vood peckers: Large numbers ofMurres and Dovekies appeared off the east coast of NewfoundJand in December. High counts included 250 to 300 Dovekies and 100 murres per minute off Cape Spear during a half hour watch on December 7 (TB), and 631 Dovekies at the S1. Pierre el Miquelon CBC. Around the same time a DFO observer saw what was described as incredible numbers of these birds during a ship patrol through oily calm waters from the 200 mile limit to St. John' s (Wayne King,fide PR). As the patrol approached the coast no murres were seen within 25 Jan ofSt. John' s and no Dovekies within 8 Jan, as if a line had been drawn in the water. The murreS and Dovekies all but disappeared from the east coast by the end of January. Mourning Doves were recorded on most CBCs including three in Labrador Cityl Wabush (Karl Krats, fide CD), and 20 in the Ferryland area, and a flock of several dozen accumulated in mid~winter at Chance Cove Provincial Park (Keith Brown,fide PL). G reat Horned Owl reports included a couple ofvocaJ nocturnal pairs through the season in the Markland area (RO), and a pair was seen courting throughout the afternoon ofTthe Witless Bay Line on March 21 (peter Armitage). There was a perfect description ofa Northern Hawk Owl on the Roddickton Road January 19 (fide JG), and another was reported from western Labrador in early March (Annette and Henry Janes , fide CD). An injured Short-ea red Owl was caught at Stephenville on the January 3 CBC and was taken to a vet (BW). Calling Boreal Owls included two in Terra Nova National Park (fide GS), and another in Wabush., Labrador (Annette & Henry Janes,fide CD).

Bluebirds to \ Vaxwings: Newfoundland's second record for MOlJ1lrl'T AIN BLUEBIRD, an immature male, was discovered at Virginia Place in the east end of 51. John's on December 28 (Gerry Drover~ m.ob.). The bird remained in the area until January 24, permitting excellent views for all. Word got out about the bird on December 31 , and the ensuing panic to find it resulted in the discovery of the EURASIAN J ACKDA \ V'S feeding haunt, across the street from the bluebird at the Virginia Plaza (CB; m.ob.). The "Daw" was easy to locate throughout the period and drew the attention of numerous North American birders, some of whom showed up again in Newfoundland in March to "tick the Shank." First recorded for Newfoundland in 1989, Bouse \Vren has become an annual fall rarity, and this year' s bird discovered on the upper Rennies Trai l in 51. John' s in November remained in that area through January (AH, PL, JS, DP). Golden-crowned Kin glets were common throughout Newfoundland this year, and a Ruby­crowned Kinglet in SI. John' s on December 12 provided a late record for a species that has on occasion survived into December (TB). It \vas a poor winter for urban American Robins due to the near absence of Mountain Ash berries. The latest significant numbers reported were 70 on the December 29 Ferryland CBC and a flock of65 on the south side ofQuidi Vidi Lake, 5t. John' s, January 2. But the lack of Robins made it easy to search for accompanying Eurasian thrushes, which proved to be very fruitful. A RED\VlNG \vas well observed for more than one hour at Ferryland on the December 29 CBC (DF, JW, BMt), only the 6th record for

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Newfoundland and 8th for North America. Four days later, on January 2, a FIELDFARE was discovered with the Quidi Vidi Robin flock (JS, PL). Then,. on February 13, there was another observation of a Fieldfare along the Rennies Trail nOl far from Quidi Vidi (AH~ OP). Photographs being developed of the February bird may determine whether the two sightings were of the same individual. There are now about two dozen records of this species for North America, with the nucleus ofsightings centered at St. John 's. The fifth Brown Thrasher this decade was at Salvage, located only a short drive from Happy Adventure. It was first TeJX)rted December 31 (Roger and Joy Penney) and remained there through the period, providing a nice appetizer for shank-watchers waiting for low ride. Bohemian \Vaxwings and Cedar Waxwings were found throughout the province in low numbers during the early winter. High counts of Bohemian Waxwing included 109 on the Corner Brook CBC, 212 on the 51. John's CBC, and it was recorded for the count period as far north as Labrador City! Wabush. A dozen or so Cedar Waxwing hung around 5t. John's as late as February 12 (DP), but most had departed Newfoundland by the end of January. Northern Shrikes were well reported in December but scarce thereafter.

\Varblers to Bouse Sparrow: It was not an impressive December for late warblers. There was a Yellow~rumped Warbler on the Cape Race CBC December 19. One of the two 51. John's fall Yellow-throated Warblers was last seen shivering on the December 26 CBC, as was a nearby Black-and-\Vhite \Varbler (JP, PL), the latest offive or so of that species found in December. The Renews Prairie \Varbler was reincarnated for the December 29 Ferryland CBC (lJ et af.), and Yellow-breasted Chats were reported from Ocean Pond in mid December (fide JP), and Portugal Cove December 16 (fide Derik Whittaker). Northern Cardinal reports are rarely confirmed for Newfoundland. Unprecedented, therefore, was what appeared to be a well­described female at Mud Lake, Labrador, on March 27 (Susan Feldsburg fide BMt). The latest Dickcissel posting came from Wesleyville, a single on December 7 (KB). Very rare and delightfully cooperative was an adu1t male Eastern Towhee at Cape Sroyle on the December 29 Ferryland CBC (DP, JP, PL).There were at least four American Tree Sparrows reported, including two in Gander, of which one remained until mid February (KB). The first overwintering Lark Sparrow for the province was found in late December at a feeder in 51. John' s, where it remained into March (Brian PayneJide PL). One of the many sparrows found in December was a Savannah Sparrow on the lower Waterford River that was still present on February 18 (AH, PL). Swamp Sparrows, \Vhite-tbroated Sparrows, and Song Sparrows were widely reported in December and early January, and there were at least five Lincoln 's Sparrows on the Avalon Peninsu1a during the same period. Not surprising given the mild weather, a few Fox Sparrows made it through the winter. and three early migrants were found singing at widely separate locations on the Avalon Peninsu1a on March 27 (KK; TB). Although it is a common nesting species in Labrador, a \Vhite-crowned Sparrow on the December 19 Labrador City! Wabush CBC was late (Karl Krats, fide CD), and one at the pig farm in Renews December 5 was a treat for easterners who seldom see this bird on the Avalon Peninsula at any time of the year (PL. BMt, AH). Unusual for time and place was a Red-winged Blackbi rds in Labrador City that remained through the winter (Maurice & Bernie Arsenault,fide CD). and another at Plum Point on March 29 (J&IG). There was a Common Grackle on the S1. John's CBC count period (Ross IvanY, fide PL), and a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds over-wintered at Colinet (m.ob.). Pine Grosbeaks seemed fairly common throughout the Island and the season..

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Purple Finch, White-winged Crossbill and Evening Grosbeak were uncommon, the later two species almost absent from the Avalon Peninsula in the new year. Regional disparity in Pi De Siskin distribution was apparent with 50 recorded on the Corner Brook CSC verses the near absence of the species on the Avalon Peninsula. Red Crossbills used to be common in some years in our region but during the past decade numbers seem to have diminished. The only reports this season were two on the December 21 S1. Pierre et MiqueJon CSC, and two closely observed at Pippy Park in SI. John 's March 28 (W). Unlike most finch species this season Common Redpolls were well reported in western and northern Newfoundland, and sporadically in eastern parts of the province. Significant concentrations included 370 on the December 27 Comer Brook CBC, 450 in three flocks south of River of Ponds February I (J&IG), 95 at Portugal Cove South on February 28 (TB), and 200 at Traytown March 20 (GS). Accompanying the influx were multiple reports of Hoary Redpoll from western Labrador through the season (CD) including 12 on the December 19 Labrador City! Wabush CBC. On the is land of Newfoundland there were two at a feeder February 3 at Plum Point (J&IG), and six at a feeder at Buchans March 26 (DBu). American Goldfinch seemed determined to maintain their residence in eastern Newfoundland, and this winter small groups were reported from numerous locations on the Avalon Peninsula. The 49 on the 51. John 's December 26 CBC, however, paled in comparison to the 276 on the Comer Brook CBC.

Contributors: Andrew Barron, Don Barton, Todd Boland, Chris Brown, Diane Burton, Kevin Butler, Cheryl Davis, Dave Fifield, Jon & Ivy Gibbons, Ian Goudie, Lloyd Hamum, Anne Hughes, Ian Jones, Ken Knowles, Paul Linegar, Bruce Mactavish, John & Lorraine Munro, Mike Parmenter, Rudy O'Reilly, Doug Phalen, Tony Power, John Pratt, Pierre Ryan, Tom Smith, Jytte Seine, Greg & Kim Stroud, John Wells, Bill Winsor

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The Newfoyndland Reg jpn Chrjstmas Bird Counts _ 1998

Ten Christmas Bird Counts were carried out in the Newfoundland and labrador Region this year; a great eftort! Wabush-Labrador City was represented for the first time - welcome to Cheryl Davis and her gallant crew! To those of us basking on the south side of the jet stream this winter, birding in nearly a metre of snow, at -17°C, sounds totally gruesome.

But, then agein. this year' s Cape Race Count was also pretty rugged, with w inds reaching elmost 100 kph! Not Quite up to the 1985 Cape Race Count. with its sustained winds of about 145 kph. and gusts over 160 kph, still known to those who were mad enough to be there as "the year of the drifting green slime, and the rolling fishing sheds-I I digress!

There were three new provincial count species this year : Common Moorhen and Mountllin Bluebird at 51. John's, and Redwing at Ferryland! Unfonunately, the bluebird and the redwing decided to show themselves only during the count period . But. even at that, the Redwing was a new species for all Nonh American counts I Not bad!

The -hard to get- Peregrine Falcon and Horned Grebe were particularly in evidence this year. The peregrine turned up at St . John's, Ferryland, Cape Race and Cape St. Mary's ; and the Horned Grebe turned up at Cape St. Mary's and Stephenville .

Other nice birds included a Lllrk Spllrrow at St . John 's; Common Merganser, Prairie Wllrbler and Eastern Towhee at Ferryland; Ringnecked Duck and Golden Ellgle at Cape Race; Grellter Scaup and Blllck-bellied Plover at Cape St. Mary' s; Red-necked Grebe at Terra Nova; Double-crested Cormorant, Mallard. Lesser Scaup, and Bllrrow's Goldeneye at Corner Brook; Short-ellred Owl and Swamp Spllrrow at Stephenville; and Mllllllrd. Rough-legged Hawk, and Americlln Coot at Saint­Pierre et MiQuelon.

Corner Brook really put on a greet effort. getting 35 observers out in the field. in up to 22 panies , not to mention the 23 feeder wetchers. They were rewarded with an amazing 19 count highs, including 4 provincial highs and 5 new count species . St. John's did about as well , managing 20 count highs, including 6 provincial highs and 2 new count species. Ferryland also had a particularly successful count.

John Maunder

A PLEA TO CONTBIBUTERS FOR NEXT yEAR:

fI.U.u. try to remember to send a copy of your count results to me, John Maunder, Box 5849, St. John's. Ale 5X31FAX 729-2179. e-mail jem@thezone.netJ, as promptly as you can in the next New Year . And mu..s..o. if you can, try to photocopy or otherwise reproduce the eChm! textile! jnformetjpn that is sent to • American Birds'.

Each Veer it is a struggle to get all counts in . Also, each year. a number of counts are received with all manner of information miSSing or rearranged.

To those of you who faithfully contribute exemplary repons, my sincerest thanksl

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The underlined sections of the counts listed below are explained by the following key:

• 8 single underlining of a species name means that the bird is new for t hat count

• a single underlining of a number means that the number equals or exceeds the previous highest count of that species on that count

- a double underlining of a species name means that the bird is new for Newfoundland counts

- 8 double underlining of a number means that the number equals or exceeds the previous highest count of that species on any Newfoundland count

Because of recent gaps in the reporting of national and international count high summaries in -American Birds·, no attempt has been made to tally anything beyond provincial records in this summary

Cape Race Christmas Bird COllot - 1998

Cape Aace, Newfoundland. 46044'N 550 09'W. Center as described 1978, 6 miles NW by N of

Cape Race Ughthouse. - Dec . 19: 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m . Temp. 300

F (_1. lo

C) . Wind W, 40-60

m .p .h. 164.4-96.6 kph) , Snow cover nil. Still fresh water partly open ; moving fresh water open.

Mostly cloudy. Thirteen observers in 5 parties . Total party-hours 43 (30 on foot, 13 by car) ; total

party-miles 165 115 on foot. 150 by car) .

Common Loon 8, Red ·necked Grebe 3 , American Black Duck 1" Rjng_necked puck L Greater

Scaup 14, Common Eider 688, Oldsquaw 484, Black Scoter 13, Surf Scoter " White-winged

Scoter 76. Common Merganser 2, Red-breasted Merganser 39, Bald Eagle 7, ~ 1i,

American Kestrel 1, Peregrine Falcon ,l, Willow Ptarmigan 1, Ruddy Turnstone 6, Purple Sandpiper

125, Common Snipe .2., Black-headed Gull 3.. Herring Gull 203. Iceland Gull W, Glaucous Gull 43,

Great Black-backed Guill1.§.. Black-legged Kittiwake 52, Dovekie 26, Thick·billed Murre " Black

Guillemot 108, American Crow 29, Common Raven 12, Boreal Chickadee 3. Golden-crowned

Kinglet 4 , American Pipit 5, European Starling 61 , Yellow-rumped Warbler L Savannah Sparrow 2,

Dark-eyed Junco 67 , Snow Bunting 61 , Pine Grosbeak 7 .

Total species : 40 (about 3602 individuals) ,

Todd Boland, Chris Brown, John Chidley. Ian Goudie, Ian Jones, Bobbie Keating , Ken Knowles. Paul

Unegar. Bruce Mactavish (compiler - 37 Waterford Bridge Road, St . John's. Newfoundland, AlE

lC5, phone 722-00881. John Pratt, Jytte Seine, John Wells, Joan Woodrow.

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51 John's Christmas Bird COpnt • 1998

St. John 's, Newfoundland. 470 33'N 52042'W. Center as described 1972, at Confederation

Building, St . John 's.· Dec. 26, 7:15 a.m. to 4 :15 p.m. Temp.: ,,0 to 220 F H 1.70 to .5.60 C).

Wind: NW 10 m.p.h. (16 kph). Snow cover: 7 in. (17.8 cm) . Still fresh frozen; moving f resh water

partly open. Clear . Twenty·nine observers in 14 parties , plus 2 at feeders. Six hours at feeders .

Total party-hours 75.25 (61 on foot, 14.25 by car) ; total party·miles 264.5 (59 on foot, 205.5 by

car).

Common Loon 2., Great Cormorant 9, Green·winged Teal (European) J,g" Green-winged Teal

(American) al" American Black Duck 856, Mallard 240, Mallard hybrid 42, Northern Pintail 249,

Eurasian Wigeon ~, American Wigeon 2.. Tufted Duck " Greater Scaup 1, Common Eider 37,

Oldsquaw " Black Scoter " Bufflehead 1, Bald Eagle 2i, Northern Harrier 1, Sharp·shinned Hawk 6,

Northern Goshawk 5, Rough·legged Hawk " Peregrine Falcon 1, Ruffed Grouse 2, ~

~ 1, American Coot 2, Common Snipe 2, Black·headed Gull 77, Ring·billed Gull 3, Herring

Gull 9127, Iceland Gull 1698, Lesser Black·backed Gull 2 , Glaucous Gull 65, Great Black·backed

Gull 3222, Dovekie 14, Thick·billed Murre 2, Black Guillemot 57, Atlantic Puffin 1.. Rock Dove

1223, Mourning Dove 14, Belted Kingfisher 3, Downy Woodpecker 3, Northern Flicker 27, Blue Jay

40, American Crow 3253, Common Raven 156, Black·capped Chickadee 157, Boreal Chickadee 52,

Red·br8asted Nuthatch 4, Brown Creeper 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 32, American Robin 36,

Bohemian Waxwing 212, Cedar Waxwing 19, Northern Shrike " European Starling 4023, Yellow·

throated Warbler 1, Black·and·white Warbler " Savannah Sparrow " Fox Sparrow 1, Song

Sparrow 3, lincoln's Sparrow 2., Swamp Sparrow " White·throated Sparrow " Dark-eyed Junco

1211 , Pine Grosbeak 26, Purple Finch 4, White·winged Crossbill 30, American Goldf inch 49,

Evening Grosbeek 13, House Sparrow 387.

Total species: 68 (about 26 795 individuals). Additional species seen count week but not seen

count day: MOl/main Bluebird, ~ Common Grackle.

Don Banon, Todd Boland, Ches Brown, Chris Brown, Donna Butler, Howard Clase, Dave Fifield ,

David Graham, Pamela Hodgson, Ian Jones, Kay King , Ken Knowles, Paullinegar (Compiler: 21

Osbourne Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, AlB lX6, 753· 1712), Bruce Mactavish, John

McConnell, John Grant McLoughlin, Nick Montevecchi , William Montevecchi, Doug Phelan, John

Pratt , Sherrylinn Rowe, Pierre Ryan, Tom Smith, Don Steele, John Wells, Darroch Whitaker, Dick

Whitaker , Fred Woodrow, Wendy Zdebiak.

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• Bonne Bay Christmas Bird Cgunt - 1998

Bonne Bay, Newfoundland. 49031'N 57o

S3'W. Center as described 1972. at Gadd's Point light .

_ Dec. 20; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Temp. 25°F to 30°F (-3.90C to -1. 1 DC). Wind light. Snow 8-'2

inches 120.3-30.5 cml. Still fresh water mostly frozen. Moving fresh water partly frozen. Clear. Nine

observers in 8 parties. plus 2 at feeders. Total party-hours 25.5 (no details l. Total party-miles 170

[no details).

American Black Duck 12. White-winged Scoter 3, Common Goldeneye 26, Q..s.J:lw,i. Bald Eagle 2,

Slack-headed Gull 9, Herring Gull 68, Iceland Gull (typical) 35, Iceland Gull (Kumlien's race) 2.

GlauCOUS Gull 4, Great Black-backed Gull 22. Black Guillemot 4, Gray Jay 3, Blue Jay 3, American

Crow 59, Common Raven 17, Black-capped Chickadee 24, Boreal Chickadee 23, Red-breasted

Nuthatch 10, Golden-crowned Kinglet 8, European Starling 81, Fox Sparrow ,9:., Dark-eyed Junco 2,

Snow Bunting 18, Pine Grosbeak 33, Purple Finch .9:... House Sparrow ill·

Total species: 26 (about 640 individuals).

Marilyn Anions, Bruce Bradbury, Edward Browne, Joyce Chaulk, Shawn Gerrow, Chris McCarthy, e Hugh McCormack, Wanda Maynard (compiler), Rex Young.

rWabush.1 abrador City! Christmas Bird Coynt - ] 99B

(NEW COUNT)

(Wabush·Labrador City], Newfoundland. (Latitude and longitude unavailable] Center at the Narrows,

a bridge between Wabush and Lebrador City, to include the bridge over the Walsh River to the

west, and the third railway crossing on the Trans-Labrador Highway to the northeast.' • Dec. 19

(times unavailable) Temp. 50

F to 1.40

F H SoC to _17°C). Wind NW light. Snow cover 24 in. (61

cm). Cloudy. Six observers in 3 parties, plus [·several -) at feeders. Total party-hours 22 (car, foot

and snowmobile - further details unavailablel.

Spruce Grouse 16, Willow Ptarmigan 17, Mourning Dove 3, Downy Woodpecker 1, Hairy

Woodpecker 1, Gray Jay 50. Common Raven 60, Boreal Chickadee 47. White-crowned Sparrow,!.

Pine Grosbeak 9, Common Redpoll 165, Hoary Redpoll 12.

Total species: 12 (about 378 individuals). Birds seen count week but not seen count day: Black­e backed Woodpecker, Bohemian Waxwing.

Cheryl Davis (compiler: Wabush, labrador, e-mail nuthatch@cancom.net). Clark Davis, Carl Krates,

Annette Janes, Henry Janes, Francis Schwab.

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ferryland Christmas Bird Cgynt - 199B

Ferryland, Newfoundland. 47000'N 52055'W. Center at a point 1.6 miles (2 .6 kml N of the main

wharf in Point Kirwin, to include Admiral's Cove and Bear Cove. 8S described in 1991 . - Jan. 3.

1999, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p .m. Temp.: 320 to 350 F (00 to 1.70 CJ . Wind : W 0-10 m.p.h. (0-16

kphl. Snow cover: 4 in. (10 cm). Still fresh water partly open; moving fresh water partly open.

A .M. Cloudy, light rain . P.M. Cloudy. Nine observers in 4 parties . Total party-hours 34.5 (27 .5 on

foot, 7 by car); total party-miles 161 (22 on foot , 139 by car) .

Common loon 30, Red-necked Grebe 3, Great Cormorant ll, American Black Duck 5, Greater

Scaup 2. Common Eider 358, Oldsquaw ill. Black Scoter '!. White-winged Scoter 26, Common

Goldeneye 1, Cpmmpn Merganser 1, Red-breasted Merganser 7, Bald Eagle 1 a, Sharp-shinned

Hawk 4, peregrine Falcgn J.. Purple Sandpiper 43, Common Snipe g, Black-headed Gull 1, Herring

Gull 167, Iceland Gull 72. Glaucous Gull 3. Great Black-backed Gull 174. Dovekie 255, Thick-billed

Murre 8, Black Guillemot 110, alcid sp. 7, Mourning Dove.2.Q, Belted Kingfisher 1, Northern Flicker

.8.. Gray Jay .J. Blue Jay .J.2., American Crow 133, Common Raven 28, Black-capped Chickadee 68,

Boreal Chickadee 34, Golden-crowned Kinglet 52. American Robin 70, American Pipit 1, Northern

Shrike 1, European Starling .3.8.L prairje Warbler 1. EAstern Tgwhfle 1. American Tree Sparrow L

Savannah Sparrow 1, Fox Sparrow 7, Song Sparrow 6, lincoln ' s Sparrow 1, Swamp Sparrow 1.

White-throated Sparrow ~ sparrow sp. 1, Dark-eyed Junco J.§§L Pine Grosbeak 53, Purple Finch

.1..Q3., White-winged Crossbill 3, Pine Siskin 3. American Goldfinch ,W. House Sparrow .1.!1..

Total species : 56 (about 4446 individuals). Birds seen during count week, but not on count day:

~ (The FIRST on a North American CBCI) .

Todd Boland, Dave Fifield, Ken Hookey, Ian Jones, Paul linegar. Bruce Mactavish, Doug Phelan,

John Pratt (compiler - 29 Parsons Road. St. John's. Newfoundland, AlA 2J2, 579-9518), John

Wells .

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Cape S1 Mary's Christmas Bjrd CQllOt • 1998

Cape St . Mary' s, Newfoundland. 46oS2'N 5400S'W. Center as described 1980, 4 miles N of Point

Lance . . Jan . 2. 1999; 7:00 a .m. to 5:30 p.m. Temp. 2,oF to 30°F (-6 . 1 °c to . 1. 1 DC)' Wind

variable 5-35 m.p .h. (8-56.3 kph). Snow cover 2 in 15 em) , Still fresh frozen; moving fresh water

partly open. A .M. Cloudy , snow. P.M. Partly clear. Seventeen observers in 6 parties . Total party­

hours 42.5 (38 on foot, 4 in car) ; total party-miles 106131 on foot, 75 by car),

Common loon 1 4, ~ 1. Red-necked Grebe 1, Great Cormorant 22 , Greater Scaup 1.

Common Eider 3198, Harlequin Duck 97, Oldsquaw 343, Black Sceter 112. Surf Sceter 1, Red ­

breasted Merganser .6.1. Bald Eagle 6 {2a, 4il, American Kestrel 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Gyrfalcon 1,

Willow Ptarmigan lS., Ruffed Grouse " Black-bellied Player 1, Purple Sandpiper 10, Common Snipe

2 , Black-headed Gull 4, Herring Gull 118, Iceland Gull 49, Glaucous Gull 8, Great Black-backed Gull

36, Black-legged Kittiwake 3, Dovekie 172, Common Murre 2, Thick-billed Murre 4 , Black Guillemot

111 , Belted Kingfisher 1, Northern Flicker 1, Horned lark 2, Blue Jay 1, American Crow 1.Q2.,

Common Raven 89, Black-capped Chickadee 8 , 80real Chickadee 23, Golden-crowned Kinglet 16,

American Robin 4 , American Pipit 2, Bohemian Waxwing 1, European Starling 115, Savannah

Sparrow 3, Song Sparrow 1, Dark-eyed Junco 262, Snow Bunting 124, Pine Grosbeak 5, Common

Redpoll 19, House Sparrow .9.1.

Total species : 50 (about 5276 individuals) . Additional species seen count week but not seen count

day: Great Blue Heron.

Shauna Baillie, Chris Brown, Dave Fifield, Scott Gilliland, Ian Goudie, Ken Hookey, Anne Hughes,

Ian Jones, Ken Knowles , Bruce Mactavish, Tony Power, John Pratt, Greg Robertson, Nicola Ryan.

Pierre Ryan, Fyzee Shuhood, John Wells (compiler: Dept. of Physics, Memorial University, St.

John's, A 1 8 3X7).

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Terra Nova National Park INorthl Christmas Bird C0l'nt _ 199B

Terra Nova National Park (North) . Newfoundland. 4B03B 'N 500S4 'W. Center moved about 5 miles

N in 1987 to create T.N.N.P. (N.Q.ah1 count, but is considered to be the · same count R for record

purposes. New ly designated center is 1 mile S of center of the Eastport Causeway, 0.5 mi W of Jay

Pond, as described 1987.

INO count day data available]

Bed_necked Grebe 1, American Black Duck 63, Common Goldeneye 104, Barrow's Goldeneye "

Bufflehead 13, Common Merganser 12, Red-breasted Merganser 19, Bald Eagle 3, Sharp-shinned

Hawk 2, Northern Goshawk 1, Ruffed Grouse 2, Willow Ptarmigan 1, Black-headed Gull 1, Herring

Gull lBO, Iceland Gull 4, Great Black-backed Gull 22, Black Guillemot 6, Downy Woodpecker ~,

Hairy Woodpecker 13, Three-toed Woodpecker " Black-backed Woodpecker 2, Gray Jay 31 , Blue

Jay 53, American Crow 176, Common Raven 40, Black-capped Chickadee 124, Boreal Chickadee

31 , Red-breasted Nuthatch 3, Golden-crowned Kinglet 10, Brown Thrasher 1, European Starling 95,

Song Sparrow ii. Dark-eyed Junco 330, Pine Grosbeak 2B, crossbill sp ., Pine Siskin 16. Evening

Grosbeak 160. House Sparrow 157.

Total species : 38 (about 1737 individuals) . Additional species seen count week but not seen count

day: Boreal Owl, Ye1Jow-rumped Warbler, Common Redpoll .

(No observer data available)

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Cgrner Brook Christmas Bird Coum - '998

Corner Brook , Newfoundland. 4SoS7'N 57oS0'W. Center at 8allam Bridge, at mouth of Humber

River, within city limits of Corner Brook. - Dec. 27 ; 8 :00 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. Temp. 2eoF to 32° F

(_2 .2oC to OOCI . Wind W-SW 0-20 m.p.h. (0-32.2 kphl. Snow cover 12 inches (30.6 em). Still

fresh water partly frozen. Moving fresh water open. A.M . Partly clear, light snow. P.M . Cloudy,

light snow. Thirty-five observers in 20-22 parties, plus 23 at feeders . Thirty-four and a half hours at

feeders. Total party-hours 65 (21 on foot, 25 by car, 4 on snowshoes, 1 5·on skis) ; total party-miles

126.5 (28.5 on foot, 69 by car, 4 on snowshoes , 25 on skis),

Doyble-crested Cormorant l,. Canada Goose 5, American Black Duck 11, MalJ.i[d..2., Greater Scaup

2,.6., ~~, Ql.d..s..Q.u.a.l, Common Goldeneye 197, Barrow's Goldeneye,3, Common

Merganser l6a, Red-breasted Merganser ~, Bald Eagle 3 {2a, 1 iI, Sharp-shinned Hawk .2., Merlin l ,

Willow Ptarmigan 1, Ruffed Grouse 4, Ring -billed Guill , Herring Gull 242, Iceland Gull 557,

Glaucous Gull 43 , Great Black-backed Gull 2473, Rock Dove z.a..a., Belted Kingfisher .2., Downy

Woodpecker 11, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Gray Jay,S., Blue Jay 40, American Crow 731 , Common

Raven 140, Black-capped Chickadee ~ Boreal Chickadee 20, Red-breasted Nuthatch 3, Brown

Creeper ~, Golden-crowned Kinglet L Bohemian Waxwing W , European Starling 399, White­

throated Sparrow 2, Dark-eyed Junco 61 , Pine Grosbeak 79, Purple Finch 9, White-w inged Crossbill

80. Common Redpoll 370, Pine Siskin 50, American Goldfinch 62,i, Evening Grosbeak 41 . House

Sparrow 758.

Total species : 34 (about 7404 individuals). Birds seen count week but not seen count day: Northern

Goshawk.

Lois Bateman, Alan Bell, Violet Bell, Julie Briffett (compiler: 53 Birchview Ave., Pasadena, Nfld. AOl

lKO, 686-5149) , louise Butler, Carol Gilbert, Hellie Greenacre, Wesley Harris , Gerald Hiscock,

Geraldine Hiscock, Mary Hogan, Sheila Hollander, Maria Howell, Huw Jenkins, Mary Jenkins, Dave

Jennings, Gene Manion, Barry May, Judy May, lem Mayo, Tira Newbury, Stan Pieda, Kelly Pike,

Sarah Pike, Barbara Roberts, Jane Ross, Clarence Stevens, [Gale Stevenson?], Kim Thistle , Judy

Tsang. Leonard Vassallo, Monique Vassallo, Martin Ware, Paul Wilson, Aileen Wooldridge.

41

Stephenville Christmas Bird Cpynt - 1998

Stephenville, Newfoundland. 48030'N 580 33 'W. Center in St. George's Bay. 0.6 mi. W of Indian

Head Ught, as described in 1991. - Jan 3, 1999; 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Temp. 290

F to 300

F (­

' .70C to _, .,oC). Wind W,O m.p.h. (16 .1 kph). Snow 14 in. (35.6 cm) . Still fresh water frozen .

Moving fresh water partly frozen. A.M. Clear . P.M. Cloudy. Seven!?) observers in 6 parties, plus 4

at feeders . Five hours at feeders. Total party-hours 47 (40 on foot, 7 by car); total party-miles 139

(22 on foot, 117 by car) .

~ 1, Canada Goose 54, American Bl ack Duck 64, Greater Scaup 7, Common Goldeneye

.1..J.a., duck sp. 4, Bald Eagle.s. (7a, 2i), Herring Gull 129, Iceland Gull 6, Glaucous Gull 9, Great

Black-backed Gull 89, Ivory Gull !. gull sp. 40, Black Guillemot 2" Rock Dove 6, Short-eared Owl 1,

Gray Jay 1., Blue Jay 10, American Crow 136, Common Raven 34, Black-capped Chickadee 25,

Boreal Chickadee H, Red·breasted Nuthatch " European Starling 481, American Tree Sparrow "

Fox Sparrow " Swamp Sparrow 2" White-throated Sparrow 1, Dark-eyed Junco 68, Snow Bunting

15, Pine Grosbeak ~, White-winged Crossbill 5, Pine Siskin 70, American Goldfinch 5, House

Sparrow 158.

Total species : 33 (about 1651 individuals). Birds seen count week but not seen count day: Common

loon, Oldsquaw, Dovekie, Golden-crowned Kinglet .

Bill Pilgrim, Sheldon Pilgrim, Peter Richardson, Colin Smith, Jack White, Bill Winsor (compiler - 6

lakeview Drive, Stephenville, Newfoundland A2N 3B8). phone (709) 643-6236, e-mail :

bill. winsor@nf .sympatico .ca).

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S1 ,Pjeue At MjQ!Je1oo Christmas Bird COllnt • '998

Saint·Pierre et Miquelon. France. 470 01 'N 56o '8 'W. Center as described 1979, at Etang aux

Outardes on Grande Miquelon.· Dec. 21 : 8 :30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Temp. 23°F to 27.50

F (-SoC to

·2.SoC), Wind NNW 15-0 m.p.h. 124.1-0 kphl. Snow cover nil. Still fresh partly open. Moving fresh

water open; salt water open; salt water lagoon open. A.M. Clear . P.M. Partly cloudy . Nine

observers in 5·6 parties . Total party-hours 38 .5 (31 .5 on foot, 7 by car) ; total party-miles 75 .5

(45.25 on foot , 30.25 by car).

Common Loon gg, Red-necked Grebe 3, Great Cormorant ~, Double-crested Cormorant 6,

American Black Duck !fiJ, ~ 1 . Greater Scaup 4, Common Eider 651, Oldsquaw 894, Black

Seoter 2, Surf Scoter ~. White-winged Scoter ~ Common Goldeneye 91 . Red-breasted

Merganser 86. Bald Eagle 2a. Rpugh-Iegged Hawk 1. American Cppt 1. Black-bellied Plover 1.

Purple Sandpiper 52. Dunlin l . Herring Gull 232. Iceland Gull 63, Glaucous Gull 1. Great Black­

backed Gull 60. Btack-Iegged Kittiwake 129. Dovekie .§.ll. Thick-billed Murre 1. murre sp . 1, Black

Guillemot m.. Mourning Dove .e., Horned Lark 30. American Crow 49. Common Raven 63. Boreal

Chickadee 15. Red-breasted Nuthatch 1. Golden-crowned Kinglet 8, Northern Shrike 1, European

Starling 1, Dark-eyed Junco ! , Snow Bunting 192. Pine Grosbeak Zl, Red Crossbill 2. White­

winged Crossbill 11, Pine Siskin 2, House Sparrow 22.

Total species : 45 (about 4232 individuals).

Sylvie Allen-Mahe, Christine Calbrix, Roger Etcheberry (compiler : B.P. 328, St .-Pierre, St.-Pierre et

Miquelon, France), leon Gaspard, Phillippe Hacala, Jacky Hebert, Laurent Jackman, Danielle

Lebollocq, Bruno Letournel.

43

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NA TURAL HISTOR y.xX:IETY

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E-mail address: ______________ --,=-______________ -o-________________ _ Telephone - home: ___________ office: ___________ fax: _____ _

Renewing members: _ continue Osprey from last received issue _ continue Osprey with next issue

Mailing address for Society publication "The Osprey" (if different from above):

My interests are: ( Please be specific, to help us with our program planning . ) birds? wildflowers? animals? marine mammals? indoor events? indoor work- shops? outdoor events? walking? inlerpreti ve walks? hiking? cross-country skiing? canoeing? cycling? back-pack camping? winter camping? Olher: __________________________________________________________ _

...... _---.... --... --... ~ . ... _-------Annual membership fee enclosed:

My donation to the society (a tax receipt will be issued):

Society Lapel Pins: _ @ $3.00 each

Society Jacket Crests: _ @ $4.00 each

Total to cheque/money order enclosed:

Please make your cheque payable to:

"The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador"

and send it together with this form to :

The Membership Coordinator The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador P.O. Box 1013 51. John's, NF AIC 5M3

$ 20.00

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or bring this form with your cheque to the next regular Society meeting at The Memorial Uni versity Botanical Garden on the THIRD THURSDAY of each month from September to June. There are no meetings during July e and August.

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The Tuck/Walters Award

Thisawanli$ nlJnwiin memoryof UslieM. Tllck ond Olptain Harry Waltus.

Dr. Les Tuck was Newfoundland's lirst Dominion Wildlife Officer, and Harry Walters was the Director of the Newfoundland Rangers Force. Following Confederation with Canada, Les headed the Canadian Wildlife Service in the province - a position he held for more than 1 .... 'enty·fi\'c years In the latter pan of his long and distmguished career, Dr Tuck held the L.J Paton Research Professorship in the Psychology Department of Memorial University He was instrumental in the reactivation of this Society in the 1950' s Capta in Harry Walten served for many years as the Head of the r-iewfoundland Wildlife Division. which he was instrumental In establishing

Both Walters. working provincially, and Tuck, working federally. were instrumental in establishing our province's Ecological Seabll'd Reserves and the former Avalon WlIdemess Area. Their combined effons put natural hiSTOry awareness, prOTectIOn and appreciation on a solid footmg in Newfoundland and Labrador Although they were employed in resource conservation and management careers., their enthusiasm and dedication transcended their duties. and it is for these qualities that the Society has chosen to honor their memory with this Award

The Tuck Walters Award is discretionary - it does not have 10 be given out every year On the other hand, it may be given 10 more than one recipient if the Nominating Committee feels that this is appropriate Succes5ful u ndidates are individual! who bave made outstanding and enduring contributions to tbe advancement of natural bistory appreciation and protection in Newfoundland and Labrador, outside tbe paramete" oftheir employment responsibilities.

Tuck/Walters Award Winners

George Brinson George Chafe

Gregory M_ell Michael Nolan

Bill Davis Dr. John Gibson Dr. Leslie Harris Stephen Henler Charlie Horwood Bernard Jackson

Dr. Harold Peters Dr. Roger Tory Peterson

Tony Power (1999) Dr. William Threlfall

Clyde Tuc.k

For More lnformatton or to make a nomination for the TuckIWalle" Awa rd contact

Dr Bill Montevecchi, Chair rucklWalters Awards Committee

Biopsychology Programme Memorial Uruversity of Newfoundland

SI John' s Newfoundland

AIB3X9

Phone 737-7673 Email Error! Bookmark not defined .