May 2009
Although runoff was below average or delayed in some areas of British Columbia, the usual migrants have passed through, including a high number of Tundra swans. In the Yukon and Northwest Territories, water bodies are opening up and migration is ongoing. Normal spring migration is also underway in Alberta, bu tbreeding effort appears to be slow, possibly due to dry conditions in many areas. Spring wetland conditions range from poor to excellent in Saskatchewan, where cooler temperatures have likely delayed waterfowl nesting in some areas. Conditions are still favourable in southwest Manitoba and May pond counts should be good throughout the main breeding range. Favourable conditions have also continued in southern Ontario, although preliminary waterfowl surveys suggest that pair numbers are near normal to slightly down. The number of snow geese migrating through Quebec was slightly below normal, but precipitation was above average in many regions. Colder temperatures do not appear to have affected breeding efforts in Atlantic Canada, where long range forecasts are predicting more seasonable weather.
WESTERN REGION
British Columbia
Snow packs were below average along the coast, particularly at mid and high elevations. Spring precipitation has also been lower than normal, and peak flows in the Fraser River are expected to be lower than normal. On the Delta, farmers are busy tilling and planting their fields for the summer season. The majority of waterfowl species, including wigeon, mallard, snow goose, swan, and shoveler, have migrated northward. Resident Canada geese, pintail, wood duck, and mallard are well-advanced into the nesting stage.
Habitats are in good shape in the central Interior, where many project wetlands are at or exceeding full supply level. Runoff was average in most areas, although a bit delayed due to unseasonably cold temperatures. At lower elevations, there is flooding in large river valleys, such as the San Jose. Higher elevation wetlands are melting as normal, and birds are spreading out to use these habitats. Despite the cold spring, birds appear to be initiating nests at the usual time. Runoff was below average in the southern Interior, and many wetlands are now at early summer levels. Recharge of aquifers also appears lower than normal judging from low levels of groundwater-fed wetlands. The timing of breeding behavior appears normal, and mallards are nesting. Runoff was also below average in the southeast Interior. In the Peace region, runoff was below average and only a few projects released excess water. There was only trace precipitation in April, and May rain has totaled less than half an inch so far. Large groups of migrants are passing through and Tundra swan numbers were notably high this year. Although breeding effort is difficult to gauge this early, Canada geese are nesting.
Western Boreal Forest
Spring has finally made an appearance in the Yukon. Many of the small creeks and rivers are opening up, as well as some of the larger rivers in the south. Small ponds are becoming ice free and birds are beginning to settle. Migration is still ongoing, with peak swan migration passing about 2 weeks ago, and duck and goose migration really picking up last week. With such high levels of snow in the south, there should be lots of water. Many flooded ditches are holding a few birds along the highway. Canvasback, goldeneye, bufflehead, mallard, and wigeon, as well as herring and mew gulls, have all been observed.
The ice on rivers around Yellowknife, Northwest Territories is melting a bit faster than last year, but thanks to this winter's heavy snowfall there is still snow on the ground in treed areas and in areas that aren't exposed to direct sunlight. Yellowknife had 127% of normal precipitation for April, while Hay River was normal for the same period. Most lakes are still completely frozen, although there is some open water along shorelines. Smaller rivers are opening up, but not completely. The Hay River broke on May 6, so water is now flowing into Great Slave Lake. The Mackenzie River could break as far downstream as Norman Wells by mid-May. Groups of dabblers (mostly mallards and pintails) and some mergansers were observed along the smaller open rivers.
In northern Alberta, some areas experienced near normal or above normal precipitation for April. Spring has been slow in arriving in northern Saskatchewan, with cooler than normal temperatures and single day snowfalls of 3-4 inches falling in the Melfort area. While most of the snow has now melted, snow banks persist in tree lines and on some north facing slopes.
The ice has retreated from all but the larger lakes and wetlands. Waterfowl have arrived in very large flocks of Canada geese and snow geese, and in lesser numbers of ducks. Mallard, scaup, canvasback, pintail, goldeneye, shoveler and teal have all been observed. In more northern regions, Key Lake received 117% of normal precipitation for April, Buffalo Narrows was at about normal, and Prince Albert and La Ronge received less than 20% of normal precipitation.
In northern Manitoba, total precipitation was above normal for April in The Pas. With a colder than average spring though, many of the larger wetlands around The Pas remain approximately 50-75% ice covered. Spring arrival and nesting for waterfowl is likewise delayed. Canada geese have been spotted east of The Pas with larger numbers in agricultural lands. A variety of waterfowl have been spotted on shallow water, as well as in areas along the Saskatchewan River where no ice is remaining. Mallard, pintail, goldeneye, shoveler, bufflehead, canvasback, lesser scaup, ring neck and common merganser have all been sighted. In contrast to the precipitation received in The Pas, Flin Flon registered only 10% of normal for April. In late April, there was still up to a foot of snow in the Duck Mountains, where most ponds were still frozen.
Alberta
The cool, dry weather has continued into May, and precipitation totals from April 1 to present have been less than 85% of normal across most of the province. The exceptions to this generality are in portions of the Boreal Transition Zone and the Peace Parkland, where average precipitation has occurred. In large areas of the Aspen Parkland and Prairie, precipitation totals are less than 60% of normal. The dry conditions have been accompanied by moderate to strong winds, creating further drying and evaporative losses. Recently, scattered showers have tempered the dry conditions but have been insufficient to delay spring seeding operations.
Field reports indicate wetland projects are close to full supply level in the Peace Parkland. Runoff was low and there was little recharge in temporary and seasonal ponds. In the Aspen Parkland, conditions are dry overall. Large brush fires have occurred in areas northeast of Edmonton. Wetland projects are generally below full supply level and pothole wetlands received minimal recharge this spring. Water levels in semi-permanent pothole wetlands are generally below the emergent vegetation. Slightly better conditions prevail in the Viking Moraine. The dry spring conditions continue into the north Prairie, although conditions improve somewhat in the south Prairie. Some areas of the Prairie region did receive a couple of spring snow events, but most of the moisture associated with these went into the ground. Of particular note is the area east of Calgary to Strathmore and south about 130km, which received above average snow this winter and spring, and had a timely melt.
Field reports indicate that normal spring migration is underway. Canada geese are nesting, and flocks of snow geese, white-fronted geese and swans are moving through the Boreal Transition Zone and Peace Parkland to their boreal and arctic breeding grounds. Bluewinged and green-winged teal have returned to all areas in the past two weeks. Other morerecent arrivals include lesser scaup, ringed necked and ruddy ducks. Breeding effort by early nesters appears to be slow.
Saskatchewan
Overall, spring wetland habitat conditions across Saskatchewan range from poor to excellent, with good to very good conditions in southern portions of the Missouri Coteau and in the Allan / Dana Hills. The southern Coteau and portions of the parklands received heavy, wet snow last week, which helped to improve wetland conditions there. Most wetlands in these areas are flooded up to the emergent vegetation zone. Moisture is needed across the province, but most urgently in some southwest and west central areas.
Temperatures have been below normal for the last couple of weeks. The cool temperatures this spring likely delayed waterfowl nesting. Most species of ducks have returned, including ruddy ducks and blue-winged teal. Of those duck nests located by DUC staff, most appear to be in the laying stage. The shallow basins in the southeast part of the province have been attracting a lot of northern pintails, and this is the first time in several years those basins have held water. Most Canada geese are incubating eggs, but no goslings have been seen to date. There are still migrant geese moving through the province, and flocks of snow geese and white-fronted geese have been seen, especially around the Quill Lakes area.
Seeding is underway and about 4% of the province is seeded. This is a little behind compared to historic averages, but temperatures have warmed up and producers will be busy in the fields this week. Wetland drainage is still a concern, as producers have been seen on the landscape digging ditches.
Manitoba
More seasonal, yet still cooler, temperatures have replaced the slow arrival of spring and birds have wasted no time in settling and nesting. Conditions in the southwest remain unchanged from last report and are favorable throughout the region, but more rain will be needed in southerly regions to maintain wetland levels.
Since the lengthened runoff, much of southwest Manitoba has received average precipitation. Ephemeral wetlands and Class II basins are now void of standing water and seeding is well underway in most of this region. The Virden region is under similar conditions and seeding has just begun in this region. More precipitation will be needed in the southern portions of the Virden landscape, as well as in the Killarney pothole region, to maintain favorable wetland conditions. Good soil moisture and wetland conditions remain in the Minnedosa / Shoal Lake pothole region and some ephemeral and Class II wetlands are still inundated. Seeding has been negligible in this area thus far.
May pond counts are expected to be good throughout the main breeding range of southwest Manitoba. Waterfowl have wasted no time in setting up territories and initiating nesting once the onset of spring arrived. Resident Canada geese are about half way through incubating. Territorial activities by mallards appeared to peak around April 23 - 28 and lone drakes and grouped drakes are common, indicating a delayed but good initial nesting effort for waterfowl in Manitoba. The first goose hatched on the roof of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre on May 12.
Winter wheat has had good winter survivability throughout the region and good growth is now noticeable in southern regions. Natural cover has showed little growth this far due to the late spring and cooler than normal temperatures prevailing.
EASTERN REGION
Ontario
Regular rain events during April and early May continue to maintain favourable wetland conditions across southern Ontario. While the central part of the province has been the recipient of the wettest weather this spring, receiving up to 200% of their average precipitation since April 1, the rest of southern Ontario is not far behind. These soaking rainfalls continue to sustain seasonal wetlands and maintain permanent habitats at full supply. Despite seeing showers every three to four days, fields are not sloppy due to warmer than normal temperatures. However, corn planting has been slowed and as such, only about 10% of the Ontario corn crop is in the ground. Temperatures and precipitation have been normal for northeast Ontario, including the Clay belt region. However, much of the northwest has received only 40 to 85 % of its average spring precipitation and has been subjected to below average temperatures. Despite these differences, conditions remain pretty good for breeding waterfowl throughout the north. Breeding along the Hudson Bay coast may be later than normal because of cooler temperatures, but it should be more typical around James Bay where temperatures have been more seasonal. Water levels in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and Lake Ontario are all above their respective long term averages; however, those of Lake Huron and Lake Superior are lower than normal but are 28 and 5 cm higher, respectfully, than a year ago.
Despite good wetland conditions and favourable temperatures, preliminary observations from waterfowl surveys across southern Ontario suggest that pair numbers are near normal to slightly down. On a positive note, however, early surveys indicate that black duck numbers are strong in the central and northeast parts of the province. Hatching is well underway for Canada geese, with sightings of goslings being reported across the south.
Quebec
Spring arrived early, except in Abitibi and North shore regions where the spring season seems more normal. Throughout the province, average temperatures were higher than normal. Total monthly precipitation also exceeded the norm in most regions, except in the Eastern townships and around Montreal and Quebec, where precipitation was 30%, 3%, and 3% below the average, respectively. Snow precipitation was generally close to or below average in April, except in northern parts of the province, where precipitation was with 30% above normal. Due to a combination of mild weather and rapid snow melt, runoff throughout the province was complete by mid-April.
The rise of the St. Lawrence River was close to the norm in April, which helped to avoid any flooding of early nesters. The St. Lawrence water level at Sorel station is still close to the average, which is good and insures a good water supply in water courses and wetlands.
Ducks have been observed in pairs, and flocks of male mallards have been observed on wetlands and along the St. Lawrence River, which indicates a good breeding effort. Peak migration for snow geese occurred on May 3, with 32,000 geese in Cap Tourmente, which is slightly below normal. Local breeding Canada geese have been nesting in Varennes archipelago since the end of April. The St. Peter Lake staging habitats was full of pintail and blue-winged teal.
Atlantic Canada
Spring weather conditions have been unseasonal, and the entire region has experienced colder then normal temperatures and many spring showers. Breeding pair surveys are underway and early reports are favourable. Early survey reports indicate a number of early nesters throughout the region, and colder temperatures do not appear to have affected breeding efforts. Long range forecasts are predicting more seasonable weather over the region, and we expect to see many broods of ducks in the wetlands across the region as weather conditions improve. Water levels within DUC wetlands are very favourable for waterfowl, and the high water levels in the Saint John River have begun to subside. Overall, conditions for the Atlantic Region are good.
Prepared by Meagan Hainstock, based on reports provided by the following field staff:
British Columbia – Bruce Harrison'
Alberta – Ian McFarlane
Saskatchewan – Michael Hill
Manitoba – Mark Francis
Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt
Ontario – Scott Muir
Quebec – Patrick Harbour
Atlantic Canada – Wade Lewis
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