ATYPICAL NESTING OF BONAPARTE'S GULL IN SASKATCHEWAN by Robert D. Symons, Si I ton, Saskatchewan EDITOR’S NOTE: In his “Hours and the small slough about one mile south of the birds,” published in the fall of 1967, R. D. swamp, and in 1956 he found one nest contain¬ Symons recalls an interesting event in the ing three eggs. This nest was built on bul¬ ornithological history of Saskatchewan when rushes of the previous year that had been he relates the story of how he found a nest of somewhat flattened by the winter snow, and a the Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus Philadelphia) in sketch of it was made by Fred Lahrman to reeds in a boggy marsh north of Jackfish Lake accompany Mr. Bard’s article. The habitat in in the summer of 1932. This was the first nest which the gulls nested in 1956 was also photo¬ record of this species for Saskatchewan. Mr. graphed by Lahrman (Figure 1), as well as Symons was at that time stationed at Meota, the nest itself (Figure 2), and a fine painting as field officer of the Department of Natural which he did of the nesting pair of Bona¬ Resources. In the following year, and again in parte’s Gulls at this location now hangs in Mr. 1935 with Fred G. Bard of the Provincial Bard’s office at the Museum. On the strength Museum of Natural History, this area was of these records, Godfrey (1966) lists the loca¬ revisited by Mr. Symons, and further observa¬ tion 10 miles southwest of Glaslyn in defining tions were made and evidence collected of this the breeding range of these gulls in central unusur' nesting. One of the coloured plates Saskatchewan. in Mr. Symons’ book shows a pair of Bona¬ Because of the renewed interest in these parte’s Gulls beside such a nest in the reeds, records we asked Mr. Symons to report his and both this painting and the author’s original observations in greater detail. The account of his observations of these birds support of Mr. Bard and Mr. Lahrman of the nesting at Jackfish Lake have provoked con¬ Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History was siderable interest, since this species of gull enlisted, in order to substantiate the details by has usually been observed to nest in trees. reference to the Museum’s files and specimen The renewed interest taken in this breeding collection. We are also grateful to Mr. Bard record made Saskatchewan naturalists aware for allowing us to use his field notes of the that no previous account of Mr. Symons’ expedition that visited the marsh in 1935. Fac¬ observations had been published, although the tual details from these notes and from the Blue Jay (14:80) carried a later report by labels on the specimens in the Museum’s col¬ Fred G. Bard of visits made in 1955 and 1956 lection have been added to Mr. Symons’ narra¬ to the same area to field-check the Bonaparte’s tive account.—Margaret Belcher. Gulls in “Lamotte’s Swamp,” as this marsh situated about 10 miles southwest of Glaslyn It was while looking for Sandhill was known. In July, 1955 Mr. Bard saw one young Bonaparte’s Gull flying with adults in a Cranes’ nests in “Lamotte’s Swamp” Figure 1—Lamotte’s Swamp, 1956 Photo by F. W. Lahrman 70 THE BLUE JAY north of Jackfish Lake and south of tussocks of wire grass, mixed with Glaslyn in the North Battleford area, small silver swamp willow and the in the early summer of 1931, that I pretty little Labrador tea. Occasion¬ first noticed a pair of Bonaparte’s ally, mounting a quaking hummock, I Gulls and suspected they might be could catch a silvery gleam from the nesting Of course these gulls had water ahead, which served to guide sometimes been seen before in migra¬ me, and so I entered the beds of bul¬ tion in the spring, but we did not rushes, full of treacherous holes, think they nested within several hun¬ where the footing had to be carefully dred miles of this part of Saskatche¬ felt out before a step was taken. The wan. The only record we had for Sas¬ sun beat down fiercely and the mos¬ katchewan was that given by my very quitoes bit wickedly, but the anticipa¬ good friend and adviser, Mr. H. H. tion of an interesting discovery en¬ Mitchell in his Catalogue of Saskat¬ couraged me to press on. chewan bi)-ds (1924) where he stated As I approached the lake, two gulls that they had been located “appar¬ circled me at some distance. I care¬ ently breeding” at Big River in the fully considered the possibility that month of June. these gulls might prove to be the It was not until May of the follow¬ somewhat similarly marked, and much ing year (1932) that I was able to more common, Franklin’s Gulls, or visit the swamp again. The valley of secondly, that they might be non¬ the Jackfish Creek is from one-half breeding Bonaparte’s Gulls. However, to one mile wide and consists mostly their appearance in flight pointed to of level hay land, subject to spring their being Philadelphia. flooding, but in places these meadows Soon I was among the clumps and give way to boggy areas, through rafts of last year’s dead bulrushes, which the creek winds sluggishly, its through which the present season’s banks fringed with bulrushes and growth was pushing upward. These water willows, while further back, clumps were quite firmly matted and rough clumps of wire grass alternate compressed by the weight of the deep with small stagnant pools of brown snow of the preceding winter and in water. Several small semi-connected places they were even firm enough to lakes and some flowing springs add bear one’s weight sitting down. I to the general swampy nature of these decided that the birds might be nest¬ muskegs. One such tract, covering ing in or on these clumps. Just as I about a quarter section, was the was beginning a systematic search, a swamp in which I was interested. gull charged me with a harsh scream¬ Armed with sketching materials, I ing note. She swooped so fast and set out early in the morning on my straight that for a moment I was search. Scanning the terrain with field fearful of being impaled by the sharp glasses, I soon picked up small white bill, but when she was a few feet from dots which I felt sure were gulls. Next, my head she put on the brakes and donning hip waders, I proceeded in the turned straight up, only to check her¬ direction of a small space of open self in mid-air and swoop back from water in the centre of the swamp, the reverse direction. I say “she”, for around which the flying birds seemed I was certain from her actions that mostly to congregate (Figure 3). I this bird was a female, and indeed, assumed that these would be male the few wheeling, circling birds I had birds, and that their brooding mates first observed had not changed their would be occupying nests at no great direction. distance. It had looked as if it would Constantly she uttered her scream¬ be an easy 'matter to make a bee line ing note, much more tern-like than to the lake’s edge, but once in the gull-like. I have never heard this swamp itself one seemed almost com¬ species “mew” in the manner of the pletely lost, knee-deep in the brackish Franklin’s Gull. In the instant that water and surrounded by the high she swerved to pass over my head, I June, 1968 71 Photo by F. W. Lahrman Figure 2—Nest of Bonaparte’s Gull in Lamotte’s Swamp, 1956 noticed the dark bill, the bright coral ment of a clump of willows, and after I legs, and the large amount of white a few minutes my patience was re¬ about the “wrist” of the wing, and warded by seeing the bird, after a these points, together with the tern- couple of circling flights, suddenly j like note and flight, and the much alight with indescribable grace on the more slender and delicate build, set¬ summit of a reed clump about 100 [ tled any doubts that I might have yards away. As I watched, a male bird i held as to the identity of the species. joined her. As soon as he lit, the For over an hour I searched the female again launched herself in the | clumps of bulrushes, but to no avail. air, leaving him standing statuesquely By now two other birds, apparently with folded wings. His mate again l females, had joined the attacker, circled us, but as I did not move she S launching themselves, like her, from flew straight to her partner and | out of the blue, and from now on these almost immediately settled down, I three swept continuously over our shuffling her wings and puffing out heads, while to add to the general her breast in the unmistakable move- | clamour a number of Black Terns sud¬ ments of a brooding bird. denly appeared from nowhere and Exultantly I marked the spot, and joined them in abusing us, and Mar¬ slowly approached. The male took bled Godwits attracted by the disturb¬ flight as soon as I moved, but I was ance shrieked their defiance, like self- quite close before his mate, who by I appointed guardians of the marsh.