Arctic shorebird breeding and population monitoring in Kivalliq Region, Nunavut

Our protocol consists of a combination of low and slow aerial surveys (flight height = 10-15m, flight speed = 40 km/h) in targeted locations - specifically wetlands. In travelling between large wetlands we also do more traditional aerial surveys (flight height = 30m, flight speed = 80 km/h). Since arctic-breeding shorebirds are normally found nesting within 500m of wetlands, we wanted to ensure that this holds true for the mainland barrens, or if it does not, what is a more appropriate set of assumptions. To examine this we landed at several locations and walked around the wetland in a systematic method to count all the shorebirds using that wetland and observe the behaviour of birds suspected to be nesting. We were in Arviat from May 31 to June 19 and Baker Lake from June 19 to June 30. The helicopter (206L) supported a pair of surveyors who travelled within 200km of each community doing aerial surveys and occasionally landing to do 1-3 hour ground surveys. The second pair of surveyors were limited to ground surveys on areas they could access by foot or ATV. Data collected from this season is helping us to refine the areas where we will do our normal PRISM survey protocol in the future. The data will also allow us to learn more about Barrenland breeding shorebirds of which there is little known. We also collected ground-control points and habitat data to feed into a larger wetlands inventory and a habitat classification for the Kivalliq coast.