; Ruble MORES PE att rencint as ae ed ee a Lennar SERS ENTE ~ doen! ane OT iat S LE 1 tA eH ee Leal Senet ah 78 4~ “2 ste a Ae ~ ie end - opt oS EPIL EA ae OE oe BEEP og , ee ie 2 pigtASD P Se ee oe ee Pie ate Sey, tae tte S TS ee en ed aad ae 9 IT Uh wet aa eT, ee Se Spt Pree eto titier tthe Te et ee eee a an ee a aries «, : + eee) ‘ ada wv Tes ee ae ee ee 08 Swe TO & a4 ra Lh. (ee ; Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of Toronto http://www.archive.org/details/birdsoflakestmarO0Oshor CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY No. 10: THE BIRDS OF THE LAKE ST. MARTIN REGION, MANITOBA, By T. M. SHortT AND SAM WALLER. : Published under THE REUBEN WELLS LEONARD BEQUEST 1937 ¥ a al if bg >“ ‘ imi- - Fs ” ° Ine 4, re re _ = v 2 é i y ; a ‘ af 4 } t = ee ? " 7 rm. ' ; ies vs co pe ‘ - e+ ». 4 Lg a : F * 7 "7 ~ ; 7 ; ; ui = - Ps ; a ee ee ae en ‘punoisyoerq ul sonids UNZEIN IHYM pu dYR] IY} Sulispsioq szey suljex[e L ‘p awaol SUIMOYS ‘BAIBSOY URIPUT UlIeP “IS AAV] “E AUNSIY ‘YS aye] JO pus you yw oulj-a1oys [vordA ‘punoIs59104 ‘}S910} sno UI YSIRU SSeI5 YIM SpOOM snonptloap [esdAy °Z% AAXNDIY -19}1uo0d I9AO-JUING jo suedse Aq UOT}eVUIe[PAY “{ AYA THE BIRDS OF THE LAKE ST. MARTIN REGION, MANITOBA By T. M. SHORTT AND SAM WALLER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION Lake St. Martin lies in the centre of the region known as the Interlake District of Manitoba. This region is bordered on the west by lakes Winnipegosis and Manitoba, on the east by Lake Winnipeg, on the south by Shoal Lake and on the north by Cedar Lake. Lake St. Martin is about twenty-six miles long in its north-south extent and its greatest width is approximately eight miles. It lies between latitudes 51° and 52°N. and forms a part of the great water system left by the recession of glacial Lake Agassiz. Its waters drain northward, through the Dauphin river which flows from the north end of the lake into Lake Winnipeg and thence by way of the Nelson river to Hudson Bay. Lake St. Martin is composed of two bodies of water connected by ‘‘The Narrows.” The smaller body of water was formerly known as ‘‘Pine Lake’. The total area of Lake St. Martin is about 125 square miles and its altitude above sea level is 801 feet, or about 86 feet above the level of Lake Winnipeg. We have little information concerning the depth of Lake St. Martin but it is very shallow, in many places being only three to six feet deep; consequently it is much disturbed by winds and is extremely turbid. The clay bottom is thickly overgrown about the shores with aquatic vegetation such as pondweed (Potomogeton), water milfoil (Myriophyllum) and a small amount of yellow water-lily (Nymphaea). The underlying geologic formation of the surrounding region is composed of sedimentary rock of great age. (The northern part of the lake lies in Ordovician and the southern in Silurian formations.) The rock is covered by a fairly thick deposit of soil. Limestone outcroppings are rare, but a ridge exists on the east side of the lake just north of the Narrows. A feature of the lake itself is the number of small rocky islands it contains. These are composed of granite boulders, no doubt brought down by glaciation. These islands have a sparse covering of soil in their centres and support a few scrubby trees. Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) becomes a prostrate stunted shrub in this situation. The principal mineral of the region is gypsum (CaS04.2H20) which is obtained from the Palaeozoic rocks. These rich gypsum deposits which lie to the north-west of Lake St. Martin were discovered about forty years ago and development work was first undertaken in 1901 when a 1 2 BIRDS OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION mill was erected at Old Gypsumville (now known as Davis Point) on Lake Manitoba. The quarry, when first seen from the elevated road, presents an interesting appearance. It is a large excavation with isolated piles of rock some ten feet high, surrounded by water. The reflections are some- times perfect, backed by the quarry face which is white and topped by the green of the trees and bushes, which grow where the overburden has not been removed. Upon closer inspection, one can find rocks of many hues, shell pink, pale blue, dark blue, red and many shades of brown. This is gypsum in its different formations, massive, satin spar, selenite (which is as clear as glass) and bands of andydrite, both white and blue, changing their form into gypsum and causing anticual fraction of the beds. Several species of birds are attracted to the quarry; killdeers which choose their nesting sites among the loose pieces of surface rock; barn swallows which find the tunnel ideal as a nesting place and make their nests with the gypsum mud; and other species such as spotted sandpipers, kingfishers and robins. ‘The latter find nesting places in the old tie piles and under the coal dock and even on the steam shovel. Bats inhabit the crevices in the rock face, frogs spawn in the quarry and in spring pike which sometimes make their way up the ditches from the lake are: trapped by the fall of water and remain all summer in the quarry ponds. The climate of the Lake St. Martin vicinity is one of extremes: the mean annual temperature from year to year varies from 30° to 32.5° and that of summer from 60° to 65°. In winter the temperature often drops to -50° and as low as -63° has been recorded on the Lake St. Martin Reserve. The annual snowfall varies from 30 to 60 inches. Rainfall ranges from 17 to 20 inches, July being the month of maximum precipitation. A protracted period of daylight is characteristic of summer, 15 to 16 hours being possible in this latitude. The vegetation of the general region may be described as represent- ing a zone of transition from prairie and grove belt to the northwestern coniferous forest. The general aspect of the area may be described as an overlapping of prairie and woodland. The woods about the southern half of the lake are comprised for the most part of mixed deciduous trees and coniferous stands. The latter gradually become predominant toward the north. The region marks the southwestern limit of northern scrub pine (Pinus banksiana) while several other species such as white elm (Ulmus americana), bur oak or mossy-cup oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and mountain maple (Acer spicatum) are but sparingly represented and may be approaching their northern limits. The most characteristic trees of the district are white and black spruce (Picea alba and P. mariana), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), balsam poplar (Populus Brirps OF THE LAKE'St. MARTIN REGION 3 balsamifera), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and tamarack (Larix laricina). There are isolated areas where Manitoba maple or box elder (Acer negundo) grows, as on Sugar and Pine Islands, but it is not a common tree. The prairie land and prairie-like alkaline flats support clumps of willows (Salix spp.). The undergrowth in the woods consists mostly of Viburnums, hazel nut (Corylus americana), beaked hazel (C. rostrata), hawthorn (Crataegus coccinea?), choke cherry (Prunus virginiana), pin cherry (P. pennsylvanica om Dauphin R. Dickie G ali t. Martin } ypsumville ei Qislec. S y 7 Pine t.Ma tin % WE Oe Little ie fags Saskatchewan or ad ete Lake _ LR St. Martin ' ake L.R. St. Martin si Forest Dunsekikan L.o Reserve 2 Fairford IR AD Fair ord = \ Fisher: rae’ Wide. a yh ties = < -——_] —- = Map oF LAKE St. MARTIN DISTRICT and Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier sp.). The aspen and willow ‘“‘bluffs”’ on the prairie are usually surrounded by a growth of shrubs such as silverberry (Elaeagnus argentea), Canadian buffalo-berry (Shepherdia canadensis) and wolfberry (Symphoricarpos racemosus). Certain clumps of the latter were noted to possess the whitened under-surface of the leaves characteristic of the variety pauciflorus. The marsh plants found commonly are bulrush (Scirpus sp.), cat- 4 BirDS OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION tail (Typha latifolia), reeds (Phragmites sp.) and scouring rush (Equi- selum sp.). The mossy spruce swamps are overgrown with Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), buckbean (Meny- anthis trifoliata) and in cold bays at the edge of boggy swamps, the water arum (Calla palustris) is sometimes found. The characteristic animals of the region indicate that Lake St. Martin lies in a belt of transition from the Assinaboian to the Algonquan faunal area. Among the common summer birds are such Assinaboian indica- tors as the clay-coloured, Baird’s and Leconte’s sparrows, Brewer’s and yellow-headed blackbirds, Sprague’s pipit, Forster’s tern, marbled godwit, Wilson’s phalarope and upland plover. Towards the northern end of the lake and in relic boreal ‘‘islands’’ throughout the region, however, such species as the hermit thrush, blue-headed vireo, yellow- bellied and olive-sided flycatchers, Canada jay, white-throated sparrow and bay-breasted warbler are found. These are all considered indicators of the Algonquan area. It seems evident that the Algonquan fauna is gradually receding northward. This is mostly due to ecological factors, such as the clearing of the forest and the reclamation by grove-belt trees of burnt-over northern coniferous woods. THE INDIANS OF LAKE St. MARTIN The Indians of the Lake St. Martin area belong to the Salteaux “tribe’’ of the great Ojibwa or Chippewa nation. When their traditional hunting grounds about Lake Superior were invaded by settlements, this group migrated north-westward to the Lake St. Martin region. The loose geographical bands characteristic of the tribe allowed considerable intermarriage with the Crees of the Lake Winnipeg area. Furthermore, Lake St. Martin is on a natural waterway between Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg and has been long occupied by roving bands of Indians and by white traders. To-day the eight hundred Lake St. Martin Indians have a considerable admixture of White and Cree blood. This mixture is apparent even in their language since they speak a dialect of Salteaux, Cree and English. No more ideal place could be found for Indian settlement as the surrounding district has many advantages. An abundance of fish for dcmestic and commercial purposes is obtained from the lake, and in the fall whole families migrate from Fairford towards Lake Winnipeg, to catch whitefish for their supply of “hung fish’ as it is called, for use during the early winter months. Unorganized territory nearby provides good hunting grounds for meat and furs. Berries are abundant and the BrirDs OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION 5 marshes and waterways are a resort for wild fowl. Adjacent prairie lands produce an excellent crop of ‘‘marsh hay”’ which may be harvested for cattle or sold for shipment. The summer pasture is good. | The Indians do not engage in agriculture to any great extent. The season is short but fair garden crops can be produced. The wood supply has been depleted on the Fairford Reserve, but on the other reserves wood is still sufficiently plentiful to be cut and sold as cord wood. Some of the Indians seek casual labour in freighting and in the fishing camps in winter, while others travel long distances into the agricultural areas to secure employment during seeding and harvest. The spring muskrat hunt is an important source of revenue. After this follows the digging and collecting of snake root (Sanicula). In this occupation whole families go out either for the day or to camp for several days, sending one of their number back to trade in the snake root for groceries and provisions. Although the women do not excel at needlework, many show skill in making beaded coats and moccasins. Others supplement their income by making rush mats and birchbark rogans for sale. Most of the women are efficient knitters, creating intricate designs and colour effects. One family, on the Lake St. Martin reserve, owns a flock of sheep and makes mitts and heavy stockings from unspun wool. The appearance of these is somewhat uneven, but the demand among fisher- men for these products usually exceeds the supply. Canoes are not made or used by these people but they use instead flat-bottomed boats for fishing and travel. These boats are made on the reserves by certain families. Each spring sugar is made on Sugar and Pine Islands from the Manitoba maples. These trees are considered to be personal property and are willed or sold to others. From the year 1900, white settlers began to drift into the district and take up homesteads. In 1921 there was considerable settlement about Ridley. Although many of these claims have since been abandoned several ranchers still find the locality good for grazing and have established comfortable homes on the lakeshore. With the advent of the railway from Winnipeg in 1911, the number of settlers increased and very creditable farms are now to be found in the vicinity of the towns of St. Martin and Gypsumville. Il. INTRODUCTION TO ANNOTATED LIST AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In 1930, the junior author was transferred by the Indian Department from Moose Factory, Ontario to the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve, Manitoba. Continuing an interest developed at Moose Factory he commenced a study collection of birds, the skins being sent to the Royal 6 Brirps OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION Ontario Museum of Zoology. After four years, a fairly complete col- lection had been brought together and it was thought opportune for the Museum to make this collection as complete as possible and to publish an account of the birds of little-known Lake St. Martin. Consequently, in June 1934, the senior author was sent to the reserve to familiarize himself with the breeding birds of the region and to secure evidence of the presence of such obscure forms which might have been overlooked. Accompanied by his brother Mr. A. H. Shortt of the Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, he spent the period from June 14 to June 27 at Lake St. Martin, made a collection of about 50 skins, took a number of sets of eggs and secured other evidence of the breeding of a number of additional species. Since then the collection has continued to grow through additions by the junior author and by the assistance of an Indian, John Marsden. The collection in the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology now numbers 503 bird-skins representing 200 species. Definite breeding evidence has been secured for 86 species. In addition, stomachs of most of the birds collected and many internal and external parasites have been preserved. The nomenclature and arrangement is that of Taverner (Birds of Canada). This differs from that of the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-List only in certain of the vernacular names. : Several subspecies are recognized by the senior author which are not accepted by the Check-List. In these cases it has been considered that sufficient material was available to satisfactorily demonstrate validity. In the catalogue of specimens following the descriptive accounts of the individual species, the sex of each bird where positively known by dissection has been indicated by the accepted symbols, o’ for male and 2 for female. In such cases where determination was not possible but the sex is clearly indicated by plumage, the sex marks are questioned, thus Q? or o’?. It is a pleasure to acknowledge aid from the following: Mr. P. A. Taverner for the use of his excellent notebooks pertaining to a trip which he and Mr. Hoyes Lloyd of Ottawa made to Lake St. Martin in the summer of 1921, Mr. A. H. Shortt of the Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, for assistance rendered in the field during the summer of 1934, and Mr. Arthur Pitt, of the Gypsum, Lime and Alabastine Canada, Limited, for information given regarding gypsum and other minerals of the district. ANNOTATED LIST 1. Gavia immer. Common Loon.—The loon is a fairly common summer resident of the region and breeds on the shores of Lake St. Martin. A nest was found and two eggs collected on May 28, 1931, on Brirps OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION 7 the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve. Incubation had commenced. Taverner (MS.) noted individuals on the Fairford river and on Lake St. Martin from July 17 to 19, 1921. The material in the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology seems to indicate that the two forms of the common loon, immer and elasson are ‘millimetre races’’ with a wide belt of intergradation. Three adults from Lake St. Martin though in this intergrading belt seem referable to the larger race, immer. Average measurements of three adults follow: Wing curve, 379; Exposed culmen, 83; Depth of culmen, 23. o& May 6, 1931. Q@ June 1l1, 1931. & May 11, 1931. 2. Colymbus grisegena. RED-NECKED GREBE.— This is the commonest grebe of the region. It nests in considerable numbers in the more unfrequented marshes where reed and cat-tail growth are suff- ciently dense and extensive to afford seclusion, good feeding and nesting grounds. While it is seen comparatively seldom, its somewhat loon-like call, followed by a harsh chatter, is one of the characteristic sounds of early morning on Lake St. Martin. Their large platform-like nests are built at the edge of the reeds, over fairly deep water. A set of four eggs was taken on May 28, 1935 and eggs which had been destroyed by crows were found on Sugar Island on June 19, 1934. The eggs of this and of other species of grebes are much esteemed as food by the Indians and are gathered in large numbers. Red-necked grebes are frequently taken in traps set for muskrat in early spring. — May 14, 1931. 2 92 May 14, 1981. 3. Colymbus auritus. HorNED GREBE.—The horned grebe is an uncommon summer resident of Lake St. Martin. A breeding pair was taken on July 5, 19386 and an immature was taken from a fish net on Oct. 16, 1935. Taverner, in his journals, records seeing a single bird which he and Lloyd believed to be of this species on Lake St. Martin on July 17, 1921. o July 5, 1936. —Oct. 16, 1935. 29 July 5, 1936. 4. Aechmophorus occidentalis. WESTERN GREBE.—A pair of western grebes was seen from June 19 to June 24, 1934, in the deep water bordering Sinclair’s slough at the south end of the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve settlement. 8 Brrps OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION This grebe is seen more frequently in clear open water than the other grebes. One was observed preening and loosened several feathers which it soaked in the water with its bill and then swallowed. o June Q, 1936. 5. Podilymbus podiceps. Priep-Bs1LLED GREBE.—This species is not as common as the red-necked grebe, but it never-the-less makes itself more conspicuous than that species. It breeds in the marshes bordering Lake St. Martin; an egg was collected on May 19, 1930. Like those of the red-necked grebe, the eggs of this bird are taken for food by the Indians. Q May 14, 19381. 6. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. WuitE PELICAN.—Small flocks and individual pelicans are often seen feeding on Lake St. Martin. These birds probably come from the nesting colonies on Lake Winnipeg or the Dauphin river to the north. They have not been known to nest on Lake St. Martin for many years. Taverner (MS.) noted the species as common on Lake St. Martin in July 1921 but saw no indications of nesting. Indians sometimes shoot them for their oils which are greatly esteemed as medicine but they are generally considered to be ‘‘too fishy”’ to eat. John Marsden reports seeing a dead pelican on the Dauphin river on May 9, 1934. It had attempted to swallow a pickerel, tail-foremost and could not eject it. Pelicans arrive on the Lake during the last week of April. Q June 19, 1936. 7. Phalacrocorax auritus. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.—This species is known to the Indians by the sportsman’s vernacular name for it ‘‘crow duck’. Like the pelican, the cormorant has not been known to nest on Lake St. Martin in recent years but it comes from the nesting grounds on Lake Winnipeg to feed about the rocky islands of Lake St. Martin. Their spring arrival is from April 22 to 29. The skull of one of these birds was picked up on Sugar Island on June 16, 1934 and a specimen was secured on Sept. 5, 1935. —June 16, 1934 (skull). Q@ Sept. 5, 1935. 8. Ardea herodias. GREAT BLUE HERON.—While not definitely known to nest in the district here considered, the great blue heron is frequently noted in summer, feeding in the shallow water of the shores of Lake St. Martin. BrirRDSs OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION 9 A bird of the year was taken on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve on Oct. 2, 1934, and another on Sept. 26, 1936. On one occasion, one of these birds was seen standing in the dry grassy flats some distance from water and at first was mistaken for a crane. It was apparently foraging for meadow voles or spermophiles. Im.—Sept. 26, 1936. Im.—Oct. 2, 1934. 9. Nycticorax nycticorax. BLACK-CROWNED Nicut HEROoN.— Sam Smith, of Fairford, states that black-crowned night herons pass through Fairford each spring and fall and that he sees a few each year. This is the only information we have regarding this species in the Lake St. Martin area. 10. Botaurus lentiginosus. AMERICAN BITTERN.—The American bittern is a characteristic bird of the Lake St. Martin marshes. Although it was found to be a fairly common nesting species on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve in 1934, it was said by Indians to be much less common than formerly. A nest was found in slough grass on the reserve on June 22, 1934, containing four newly hatched young. Another nest with four eggs was located at Lundy’s Point on June 11, 1935; the eggs were collected. This species is sometimes used as food by the Saulteaux. The latest recorded date is Nov. 11 (1931). o June 16, 1934. 11. Ixobrychus exilis. Least BITTERN.—A specimen of this bittern was brought in by Billie Sinclair, an Indian, on June 13, 1931. It was too badly damaged to make into a study specimen, but a wing and food were saved. This appears to be the most northerly record for the species. This bird was taken in typical habitat, but a thorough search of the area in the summer of 1934 failed to disclose further evidence of the occurrence of the species. o' ? June 13, 1931. 12. Cygnus columbianus. WuisTLING Swan.—The whistling swan migrates through the region in large numbers in spring and fall. The Indians claim that it is very regular in its migrations and that the main flight usually passes through the Lake St. Martin region about May 11 or May 12. In fall they rest on the lake in large numbers. 13. Branta canadensis. CaNApA GoosE.—The Canada goose arrives on Lake St. Martin about April 7, while the shores are still ice- bound and chill winds sweep down from the north. It is not acommon summer resident, but Indians have found nests of this species in the muskeg about the mouth of the Dauphin river. With regard to the subspecies found at Lake St. Martin, the following extracts from Taverner’s 1921 field notebooks are of particular interest, 10 Birps OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION ‘“ . . Our chief Indian, Billy Sanderson, told us that there were three kinds of geese occurring on the lake that are alike in appearance and can only be told apart by size and minor characters. First, the big goose, (evidently canadensis); second, a short-necked bird, slightly smaller and with a shriller and sharper voice. It sometimes associates with the big goose. ‘Third, a small goose, no larger than a mallard duck, that always keeps by himself and has a note like ‘“‘Cack-cack-cack!”’ He called it a laughing note. Another goose seems more or less traditional. It seems to be an immense bird and is so rare that it is known only by report. It is probably mythical.”’ From the above, it would seem that three forms of geese are to be expected at Lake St. Martin, canadensis, leucopareia and hutchinsz. Definite sight records of canadensis have been secured and a specimen of leucopareia was taken on June 20, 1935. co June 20, 1935. 14. Chen hyperborea. SNow GoosE.—This species, known to the Indians as the ‘‘wavey’’, migrates through the region of Lake St. Martin in appreciable numbers, usually in company with the next species. 15. Chen caerulescens. BLUE GoosE.—This species is a fairly common migrant, passing through in large flocks intermixed with snow geese. They often settle on the lake in spring. 16. Anas platyrhynchos. Mariarp Ducx.—This is the most plentiful breeding duck of the region. A nest was found on May 25, 1931, with eight eggs, in the reeds on the northern part of the east shore of Lake St. Martin and another with five eggs on Sugar Island on June 16, 1934. This latter nest, which was collected, was situated on the rocks under weeds after the habit of a merganser. Many broods of downy young accompanied by the female parent were noted after the middle of June in 19384. Taverner, in July, 1921, found this species common and with young. The duck and drake frequently show much anxiety when the nest is found and circle about over-head, the female uttering a loud, nasal ‘““quack”’ and the male a hoarse, whispered ‘‘arng, arng.”’ In June, 1934, as many as a hundred males in a flock were seen feeding in the small grass marshes while their mates incubated or tended young. A mallard shot on Oct. 7, 1932 at Lake St. Martin had been banded at Big Suamico (Wisconsin) by L. H. Barkhausen on Sept. 20, 1931. Juv. 2 June 16, 1934, BIRDS OF THE LAKE ST. MARTIN REGION 11 17. Anas rubripes. Biack Ducx.—This duck is not uncommon and in June, 1934, as many as six were seen inaday. The only specimen procured consists of a wing and foot of a drake shot by an Indian on Oct. 5, 1933. An examination of the foot while still in a fairly fresh condition showed the bird to be of the postulated red-legged type, rubripes. In summer assumed males of this species are to be seen among the flocks of male mallard ducks which congregate in the shallow grass or Phragmites marshes to feed. oa? Oct. 5, 1933. 18. Chaulelasmus streperus. GapwaLL.—This duck, though formerly plentiful, was considerably affected by the drought in the years prior to 1934 and consequently was not common on Lake St. Martin in that year. Several pairs were noted at Sinclair’s slough but did not appear to have nests. This was probably due to the depredations of Indian egg-hunters. This species seems to be principally nocturnal in its feeding habits. It was seen mostly in the evening, paddling gently, foreparts well immersed and apparently feeding on aquatic herbage such as Poto- mogetons and duckweed. Q June 8, 1936. o June 8, 1936. 19. Mareca americana. BALDPATE.—This is a fairly common duck at Lake St. Martin in summer. It evidently nests in the marshes, though no definite breeding record was established. 9 1Oct.: 18,1984: 20. Dafila acuta. PintTait.—Next to the mallard, this is the commonest breeding duck at Lake St. Martin. A nest found on May 22, 1933, contained nine eggs. An unexplained observation in con- nection with this nest is that it contained a large stone. A nest dis- covered on June 23, 1934, in a grassy field on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve, contained four fresh eggs. This instance was un- doubtedly a late nesting. Many females with broods varying from five to twelve young were noted in June, 1934. A parent female usually decoys and feigns injury while her brood makes good its escape in the open water. A pintail, banded by E. A. MclIlhenny on Avery Island, La. on Dec. 12, 1933 was shot on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve on Sept. 14, 1934. o& 6©May 17, 1934. Q Oct. 5, 1934. Juv. o June 14, 1934. 12 BIRDS OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION 21. Nettion carolinense. GREEN-WINGED TEAL.—Though a common migrant, only a few remain to nest in the Lake St. Martin area. Two females, evidently possessing nests, were noted on June 19, 1934, but their nests were too well concealed for detection. Males of this species are frequently seen battling each other in spring and early summer, but little or no actual injury seems to be done. 9? Sept. 26, 1935. 22. Querquedula discors. BLUE-wINGED TEAL.—This is a plenti- ful duck in the vicinity of Lake St. Martin in summer. Five nests of this species were found in 1934, from June 22 to 26, on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve. The number of eggs varied in number from three to ten and in condition from freshly laid to pipping. The variety of nest structures varied from scanty grass nests to well made receptacles of reeds, roots and plant-stalks, thickly lined with down. It is interest- ing to note that the poorer nests contained fewer and fresher eggs. It may be that nest construction is continued throughout the egg-laying period. One nest, collected on June 24, 1934, contained six eggs and was a fairly well shaped nest but only one half of it was lined with down. The lined side was as completely constructed as any blue-winged teal nest we have observed but the other side was but loosely made and contained no down. Teal, on the wing, keep together in a compact flock, turning and twisting with the precision of waders. Often a flock will suddenly and with unanimity take a short, spiral dive of ten or twelve feet and as suddenly resume horizontal flight, with no apparent change of speed or direction. @ May 21,1984. o May 21, 1934. 3 May 30, 1931. 23. Spatula clypeata. SHOVELLER.—The shoveller is a fairly common summer resident of Lake St. Martin. It breeds in the marshes and in the weedy fields bordering Scirpus and cat-tail growths. A nest found on June 15, 1934, was situated in the latter type of habitat. The female was flushed from this nest and positively identified, but the nest contained only two unusually small eggs. A male was noted diving for food in shallow water on June 18, 1934, an unusual behaviour for this species. The flight call of the male as heard at the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve is a rather guttural ‘“‘uck, uck.”’ o May 2, 1932. co June 18, 1935. Q May 9, 1934. — Sept. 26, 1934. BirDS OF THE LAKE St. MarTIN REGION TS 24. Nyroca americana. REDHEAD.—This is a common summer resident though much disturbed by Indian egg-hunters. The nest, built of tules on supporting reed-masses over rather deep water is readily accessible to the Indians by boat. o June 22, 1934. 25. Nyroca valisineria. CANVAS-BACK.—The canvas-back is a very common duck, the most plentiful of the diving ducks on Lake St. Martin. As many as sixty males have been noted in one day in summer (June 16, 1934). A nest was found on May 5, 1931 on a rocky ledge on the east shore of Lake St. Martin. Two others were located in small grass marshes, one found on June 22, 1934, contained eight heavily incubated eggs; another contained two fresh eggs on June 8, 1935, which were collected. Taverner (in his journals) states that Lloyd and he found canvas-backs common and with young on the Fairford river in July, 1921. Canvas-backs ‘‘pitch-in’”’ with great speed and at a steep angle and strike the water with considerably more impetus than most ducks. @ May 14, 1981. @ Oct. 4, 1935. 26. Nyroca affinis. LrEssrErR Scaup DucKk.—This is a not un- common summer resident, which prefers grassy sloughs and dry open spaces covered with annual plants and seedling aspen as nesting sites. On June 22, 1934 a nest with ten heavily incubated eggs was found about fifty yards from the lake in one of the clearings described above. This is the only scaup, the identity of which has been proven, at Lake St. Martin. o' ? Oct. 20, 1934. 27. Glaucionetta clangula. ComMMoNn GOLDEN-EYE.—This is a plentiful species at Lake St. Martin and is one of the first of the ducks to arrive in spring. It nests commonly in the woods about the lake and occasionally one may discover the female parent leading the young to water. A downy chick was collected during this procedure on June 11, 1934. Taverner in his field notes for July, 1921, stated “. . . it was common with young on the Fairford river and on Lake St. Martin.”’ Female golden-eyes often circle about over the school house chimney on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve, evidently looking for nesting sites. On two occasions a female has been found in the schoolhouse after coming down this chimney. o& May 14, 19381. Juv. @ June 11, 1934. Q May 19, 1931. Q@ Nov. 18, 1934. 28. Charitonetta albeola. Burrie-HEAD.—Though*a*™ not un- common migrant, this species is very inconspicuous in summer and ,is not definitely known to breed in the area here considered. g Oct. 16, 1935. o& Oct. 22, 1934. 9? Oct. 20, 1934. 14 Birps OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION 29. Melanitta deglandi. WuitTE-wINGED Scorer.—This is a fairly common summer resident which breeds in the bushes about the lake. John Marsden reports having seen adults with young on several occasions on Lake St. Martin. Taverner, in his notes, records two white-winged scoters on the Fairford river on July 17, 1921. —July 10, 1936. 30. Erismatura jamaicensis. Ruppy Duck.—The ruddy duck is a fairly common nesting bird about the marshes on Lake St. Martin. They nest in the great umbrella-like masses of dried, cere tules but one seldom discovers these birds near their nests. The relatively large, white, pitted eggs are easily identified, however, even when laid in the nest of another species. A nest of a ruddy duck found on June 20, 1935 and which contained two eggs, was built of tules. It greatly resembled the nest of a coot both in materials used and in construction. On June 25, 1934 a male was observed with young. The ruddy duck is one of the few ducks in which this sex contributes to the care of the brood. An egg of this species was found in the nest of an American coot on July 9, 1936. The nest also contained one egg of the coot. @ May 16, 1934. o June 26, 1936. 31. Lophodytes cucullatus. HoopEpD MERGANSER.—The hooded merganser is not common but occurs in summer. It probably nests sparingly in the woods bordering Lake St. Martin. Three birds of this species, two of them evidently immature, were seen on June 20, 1934 and a female was killed by an Indian on the Lake St. Martin Indian Reserve on June 13, 1933. Taverner, in his journals, states ‘‘five were noted on the Fairford River, July 16” (1921). 32. Mergus merganser. ComMMON MERGANSER.—This merganser is not as common on Lake St. Martin as the next. Only one pair was noted in June, 1934, as compared with six pairs of red-breasted mer- gansers. This gives an approximate estimate of the relative numbers of these two species in summer in this region. A nest which contained six eggs, was found beneath an overhanging rock on a bouldery outcropping near Sugar Island on May 25, 1931. Indians state that once they found a nest of this species containing eighteen evgs. Since circumstances often enforce close association of several pairs and since the species is often indifferent in the disposition of its eggs, this nest may have contained the eggs of two or more females. Another nest containing two eggs was found on May 24, 1935. BirRDS OF THE LAKE St. MARTIN REGION 15 33. Mergus serrator. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.—This is the most common of the mergansers at Lake St. Martin. It breeds plenti- fully and is especially numerous in the fall. Females with young were seen in June, 1934 and a nest which had been destroyed by crows was found on Sugar Island on June 19, 1934. While observing several of these birds feeding, it was noticed that almost invariably after capturing a fish, bringing it to the surface and swallowing it, they momentarily immersed their beaks in the water as if to drink. This was followed by throwing the head up and back in the attitude of swallowing. 229°? Sept. 28, 1934. 9 Oct. 15, 1931. Q ? Sept. 30, 1936. 34. Cathartes aura. TURKEY VULTURE.—John Marsden saw a turkey vulture on Sept. 4, 1934, flying quite low in a southerly direction over Lake St. Martin. He stated that it was the first.he had seen in many years. His reputation for accuracy is such that the authors have no hesitation in including this easily recognized species in the list of Lake St. Martin birds. 35. Astur atricapillus. AMERICAN GOSHAWK.—This is a regular winter visitant, but to date it has not been found in this area in summer. The specimen taken is referable to A. a. airicapillus. co Nov. 30, 1934. 36. Accipiter velox. SHARP-SHINNED HAwk.—This species is a scarce summer resident. A highly agitated female observed on June 22, 1934 was presumed to have flying young nearby. A specimen taken on May 25, 1932 was heavily parasitized by large Hippoboscid flies. o& May 25, 1932. 37. Buteo borealis. REp-TAILED HAwk.—The red-tailed hawk breeds sparingly throughout the region. It was noted in three localities in June, 1934 including observations of parent birds accompanied by flying young. A nest containing one young was found on July 2, 1936, 30 feet up in a white spruce. 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