67

Acknowledgements Literature cited I am grateful to Mike Buss, Dorothy Crutllb. D. W. 1981. Pine Grosbeak eating at ~1:15~. Crumb, Barb Elliot, Rory MacKay, feeder. The Kingbird Nlwttm, I. 1m. Finches. William Collins Sons Dan Strickland, and Ron Tozer for. and Co. Ltd., London, U. K. their assistance during the Splin,J M. 1985. Birds ofOntario. Vol. 2. preparation of this article. Nawral Heritage/Nawral History Inc., Toronto. T'lI.fts, R. W.1961. Birds of Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax. MWit; R. D. 1986. The winter season. Ontario region. American Birds 40:274-277.

Notes Ross' Goose Breeding on Akimiski Island, Northwest Territories

During part ofJuly 1984, Peter Photographs ofthe adult male Burke and the author were Ross' and the goslings (Figs. 1 and participating in the Ontario Breeding 2) were obtained both in the hand Bird Atlas project in northern and in the pens. The adult did not Ontario. Part ofour assignment appear to be a hybrid and exhibited included assisting the Ontario features one would expectin a Ministry ofNatural Resources and "pure" Ross'. Thejuveniles were the Ohio Deparunent ofNatural similar to young Snow Geese, but Resources staffwith a goose differed in that they were much banding program. whiter in appearance. No notable On 1~ July 1984 we were difference was found in bill involved in gathering wild geese structure between them and young into pens as part of this projecL Snow Geese. They were, however, One flock ofCanada Geese (Bmnta much more aggressive than the canadmsis) was being "rounded up" young Snow Geese while in the on the northwestshoreline of pens. Akimiski Island, Northwest Photographs were submitted to Territories. Included in the flock the Royal Ontario Museum, ofapproximately 50 geese were Toronto, for evaluation. The several Canadas, two or three Snow impression of the reviewers was that Geese (Chen caerulescens) , one the birds were likely purejuvenile "Blue" Goose, and an adult male Ross' Geese, but the possibility of and two juvenile Ross' Geese (Chen hybridization could not be ruled rossia). out definitively.

VOLUME 7 NUMBER 2 68

Figure 1: Adult male Ross'· Goose, Akimiski Island, Northwest Territories, 13 July 1984. Photo by G. Carpentier.

No female.Ross' Goose was River, Kenora District (Prevett and found on that date or on Johnson 1977). subsequent ones. Likewise, no This sighting appears to female Snow Goose was found represent the first nesting ofa Ross' attending the young birds. The Goose in the Northwest Territories, male Ross' seemed to be the only and the second for eastern Canada. attendant bird to the young. Although not recorded in Ontario, The Ross' Goose is a rare this was the only breeding record breeder in most ofCanada's low for Ross' Goose obtained during Arctic, from MacKenzie (Perry the Atlas (Prevett 1987). River), Keewatin, Southampton Island, to northeast Manitoba (Godfrey 1986). The only other documented nesting attempt in eastern Canada involves a pre­ fledgling Ross' Goose found 29July 1975 near the mouth of the Brant

ONTARIO BIRDS AUGUsr 1989 69

Figure 2: Juvenile Ross' Goose, Akimiski Island, Northwest Territories, 13July 1984. Photo by G. Carpentier.

lEds. note. Although all islands in Literature cited James Bay and Hudson Bay belong Cad"..., M. D., P. F. J EaglG, and F. M. to the Northwest Territories, H.uma" (efh.). 1987. Atlas ofthe Breeding Birds ofOntario. University of Akimiski Island was included in the Waterloo Prelll, Waterloo. geographic area covered by the GHJ.fr", W. E. 1986. The Birds ofCanada Atlas 0/the Breeding Birds 0/ Ontario Revi3ed Edition. National MU!eum of Nawral Sciences, Ott2wa. (Cadman et aL 1987). Akimiski Pr6Wlt,J P.1987. Ross' Goo!e. p. 511: In Island is situated inJames Bay 25km Cadman, M. D., P. F. J. Eagles, and F. M. east of the mouth of the Helleiner (eds.). 1987. Atlas ofthe Attawapiskat River, Kenora District, Breeding Birds ofOntario. University of Waterloo Press, Waterloo. Ontario.] Pr6WIt,J P. and F. G.JoIrnson. 1977. Continued eastern expansion ofbreeding range of Ross' Goo!e. Condor 79:121-12~.

Geoffrey Carpentier, 964 Weller Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 4'\'2

VOLUME 7 NUMBER 2 70

Semipalmated Sandpiper Captured byTurtle

At approximately 1700h on 2~ May Not being familiar with turtles, I 1989 I was looking for a female was unable to identifY the species Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus which had captured the sandpiper, tricolor) which others had told me although I did notice that the ridge was in the west sewage lagoon at on its back seemed quite Stoney Point, Essex Co. pronounced rather than smooth. While walking the length ofthe [Ells. note: On the basis ofthe dike separating the two lagoons, I description provided above, this was noticed a small sandpiper in probably a Common Snapping obvious difficulty, less than a metre J:urde (Chel,o.ra snpentina). A in from the side of the east lagoon. similar case ofpredation involving a All ofthe bird's lower body was snapping turtle and a shorebird was under water, and itwas flapping its observed in Ontario by M. Parker. wings in an apparent attempt to The turtle captured and partially reach the edge ofthe pond. consumed a Lesser Yellowlegs At this point I realized that the (Tringa flavipes) at the Tara sewage large "rock- beside the bird was lagoon, Bruce Co. on 12 August actually a turtle, and that it had one 1985 (Oldham 1988).] of the sandpiper's legs in itsjaw, underwater. Literature cited The other leg, minus the foot, 01dJ&4fr&, M.J (ed.). 1988. 1985 Ontario was trailing in the water behind the Herpetofaunal Summary. World Wildlife Fund (Canada), Essex Region bird. The trailing leg was black Conservation Authority and Ontario which, in conjunction with the size Ministry ofNatural Resources. and plumage details, confirmed the bird's identity as a Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusiUa). Because there was nothing I could do to help, I continued on to find the phalarope, a female in full breeding plumage. Five to ten minutes later, on returning to the place where the sandpiper had been, there was no sign ofitor the turtle.

H. M. (Mike) Street, P. o. Box 72~0~ Ancaster, Ontario L9G ~N6

ONTARIO BIRDS AUGUsr 1989 71

Short-billed Dowitcher Breeding on Akimiski Island, Northwest Territories

As part of the Ontario Breeding (Limnodromus griseu.s) in an Bird Atlas project (1981-85), Peter extremely agitated state. The bird Burke and I surveyed much of the vocalized incessantly as it flew in north shore and part of the interior low circles over our heads. Mter ofAkimiski Island, Northwest every one or two cycles, it perched Territories. at the top ofsmall willow bushes On 12July 1984, while working (Salixsp.) and continued to call. the coastal fringe of the northwest Eventually it flew to a more distant part of the island, we discovered a perch and remained silent but single "adult Short-billed Dowitcher observanL

Figure 1: Juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher, Akimiski Island, Northwest Territories, 12July 1984. Photo by G. Carpentier.

VOLUME 7 NUMBER 2 72

Feeling that a nest or young represents the only known breeding might be found in the vicinity, we record for Short-billed Dowitcher searched the area thoroughly. Mter in Ontario. approximately 15 minutes The observations recorded in Carpentier found a fairly large, this note represent one of the few flightless juvenile hiding in the published records ofShort-billed grass. Dowitcher breeding in eastern Since it strongly resembled the Canada and, in fact, appears to adult seen nearby, and already expand the species' known exhibited mostof the expected breeding range in central Canada morphological features of the southward by about 2Okm, Short-billed Dowitcher, itwas compared to Manning's (1981) identilled as this species. observations. Photographs were taken in the [Eds. note: Although all islands in hand to document the nesting James Bay and Hudson Bay belong (Fig. 1). Itwas accepted by the Atlas to the Northwest Territories, Data Review Committee as the only Akimiski Island was included in the confirmed breeding ofthe Short- geographic area covered by the billed Dowitcher for the Atlas Atlas ofthe Breeding Birds ofOntario period (Harris 1987). (Cadman et al. 1987). Akimiski The bird was subsequently Island is situated inJames Bay 25km released and shortly thereafterwas east ofthe mouth of the joined by its "parent". Attawapiskat River, K.enora District, The Short-billed Dowitcher is a Ontario.] widespread breeder across Canada, from the 'southern YUkon and Literature cited MacKenzie, northern Alberta, CGd..., M. D., P. F. J EtIflIs, and F. M. H.l16inIr (em.). 1987. Atlas ofthe Saskatchewan, and Quebec, and Breeding Birds ofOntario. University of northwest British Columbia, Waterloo Pre., Waterloo. Ontario, and Labrador (Godfrey God.fr'J w. E. 1986. The Birds ofCanada. 1986.) Revised Edition. National MU3eum of Nawral Sciences, Ottawa. Few Ontario breeding records Harris, R. 1987. Short-billed Dowitcher. p. were available prior to the Atlas. 5M. haCa.dman, M. D., P. F.J. Eagles, and Tuck (196:i) found a downy and F. M. Helleiner (eds.). Atlas ofthe recently fledged young at Winisk, Breeding Birds ofOntario. University of Waterloo Pre., Waterloo. Kenora District, in 196:i and Mam&i1&f, T. H. 1981. Birds ofthe Twin Manning (1981) found it nesting at Islands,James Bay, N. W. T., Canada. nearby North Twin Island, N. W. T., Syllogeus 50. National Museums of Canada, Ottawa. in 1981. Although no material T1U'Jt, 1. M. 1968. Dowitcher breeding in evidence (i.e., nest or eggs) was Ontario. Ontario Field Biologist 21:!9. found, the fonner record

Geoffrey Carpentier, 964 Weller Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 4\2.

ONfARIO BIRDS AUGUsr 1989