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Figure 2.
Location of the study site for the Developed Mosaic habitat |
The approximate locations of each site surveyed for each habitat are delineated on maps of the Big Lake area (adapted from Alberta Community Development, 2001). Species lists are separated into migratory (species seen or heard in the habitat between May 9 and May 31. 2003) and breeding (species seen or heard in the habitat between June 2 and July 10, 2003). Bar graphs represent numbers of species within each bird Order and abundance of individuals within each habitat, respectively. The bird families used are as follows:
|
Avian Order |
Common Avian Categories |
|
Gaviiformes |
Loons |
|
Podicipediformes |
Grebes |
|
Ciconiiformes |
Bitterns, Herons |
|
Anseriformes |
Swans, geese, dabbling ducks, diving ducks |
|
Falconiformes |
Osprey, eagles, harriers, hawks, falcons |
|
Gruiformes |
Rails, coots |
|
Charadriiformes |
Plovers, avocets, phalaropes, gulls and terns |
|
Piciformes |
Woodpeckers |
|
Passeriformes |
Flycatchers, towhees, sparrows, longspurs, buntings, crows, jays, magpies, catbirds, warblers, sparrows, blackbirds, cowbirds, chickadees, waxwings, vireos, thrushes, finches |
Species with a * by their name denote those ranked as "sensitive" by the "General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2000" Alberta Environment/Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Other species listed are considered to be "secure".
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|
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Figure 2.
Location of the study site for the Developed Mosaic habitat |
Developed
Mosaic |
|
|
Migratory
Species (24) |
Breeding
Species (30) |
|
Anseriformes
Canada Goose Cinnamon Teal Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler American Wigeon Gadwall Canvasback Redhead Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Gruiformes American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Common Snipe Franklin's Gull Passeriformes Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Yellowthroat Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird |
Anseriformes
Canada goose Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Canvasback Redhead Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Gruiformes
American Coot Charadriiformes
Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Black Tern* Passeriformes Alder Flycatcher American Crow American Robin Gray Catbird Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Clay-coloured Sparrow Le Conte's Sparrow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch |
|
|
|
Figure 4.
Abundance of individuals by Order in the Developed Mosaic habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: Despite its managed nature, the developed mosaic habitat proves to be quite a stable environment for both migratory and breeding species. In general, quite a diversity of species were seen in the area but at a low abundance, especially during spring migration. The diversity is shared by both upland and waterfowl species, but the abundance owes much to Anseriformes species (ducks and geese). |
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|
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Figure 5.
Location of the study site for the Flooded Farmland habitat |
Flooded
Farmland |
|
|
Migratory Species (22) |
Breeding Species (10) |
|
Anseriformes Canada Goose Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Canvasback Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Common Snipe Common Tern Franklin's Gull Passeriformes Least Flycatcher American Crow Chipping Sparrow Clay-coloured Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird |
Anseriformes Mallard Blue-winged Teal Gadwall Gruiformes American Coot Passeriformes Alder Flycatcher American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Clay-coloured Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird |
|
|
Figure 7.
Abundance of individuals by Order in the Flooded Farmland habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: The Flooded Farmland habitat housed a diversity of upland birds (Passeriformes) but a much greater abundance of shorebirds, gulls, terns and waterfowl (Charadriiformes and Anseriformes). The flooded farmland habitat appears to be especially important for the migration of shorebirds (such as the pectoral sandpiper), gulls and terns. It has a reduced abundance of species and individuals in the breeding surveys, indicating the unsuitability of the habitat for nesting. |
|
Lake Margin Complex |
|
|
Migrating Species (50) |
Breeding Species (71) |
|
Podicipediformes Horned
Grebe* Red-necked
Grebe Eared
Grebe Western
Grebe* Anseriformes Tundra
Swan Canada
Goose Green-winged
Teal Mallard Cinnamon
Teal Blue-winged
Teal Northern
Shoveler Gadwall American
Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked
Duck Lesser
Scaup Common
Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy
Duck Falconiformes Red-tailed
Hawk Gruiformes Sora
Rail American
Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer
Lesser
Yellowlegs Spotted
Sandpiper Common
Snipe Franklin's
Gull Ring-billed
Gull Common
Tern Passeriformes American
Crow Black-billed
Magpie Common
Raven Black-capped
Chickadee Least
Flycatcher Eastern
Phoebe House
Wren Ruby-crowned
Kinglet American
Robin Common
Yellowthroat Yellow
Warbler Chipping
Sparrow Savannah
Sparrow Fox
Sparrow Song
Sparrow White-throated
Sparrow Red-winged
Blackbird Yellow-headed
Blackbird Common
Grackle Brown-headed
Cowbird |
Gaviiformes Common
Loon Podicipediformes Pied-Billed
Grebe* Horned
Grebe* Eared
Grebe Western
Grebe* Ciconiiformes American
Bittern* Great
Blue Heron* Anseriformes Canada
Goose Green-winged
Teal Mallard Northern
Pintail Blue-winged
Teal Northern
Shoveler Gadwall American
Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked
Duck Lesser
Scaup Common
Goldeneye Bufflehead
Ruddy
Duck Falconiformes Northern
Harrier Red-tailed
Hawk Gruiformes Sora
Rail American
Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Greater
Yellowlegs Willet Spotted
Sandpiper Common
Snipe Franklin's
Gull Ring-billed
Gull Herring
Gull Common
Tern Forster’s
Tern* Black
Tern* Passeriformes Alder
Flycatcher Least
Flycatcher Tree
Swallow Barn
Swallow Blue
Jay Black-billed
Magpie American
Crow Common
Raven Black-capped
Chickadee House
Wren Marsh
Wren Ruby-crowned
Kinglet American
Robin Cedar
Waxwing Gray
Catbird Warbling
Vireo Red-eyed
Vireo Yellow
Warbler Common
Yellowthroat Chipping
Sparrow Clay-coloured
Sparrow Savannah
Sparrow Le
Conte’s Sparrow Fox
Sparrow Song
Sparrow Lincoln's
Sparrow Swamp
Sparrow White-throated
Sparrow Red-winged
Blackbird Yellow-headed
Blackbird Brewer's
Blackbird Brown-headed
Cowbird Northern
Oriole American
Goldfinch |
|
|
Figure 10. Abundance of individuals by Order in the
Lake Margin Complex habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: In part due to the abundance of the Lake Margin Complex habitat and in part due to its composite nature, this habitat shows by far the greatest diversity and abundance of species in the Big Lake Natural Area. Upland birds and waterfowl (Passeriformes and Anseriformes) make up much of the diversity as well as abundance, but this was also a notable habitat for Falconiformes, specifically Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles. This was likely due to suitable nesting habitat. |
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Figure 11.
Location of the study sites for the Medium Freshwater Permanent habitat |
Medium Permanent Freshwater
Wetland |
|
|
Migratory Species (42) |
Breeding Species (42) |
|
Podicipediformes Pied-Billed Grebe* Horned Grebe* Red-necked Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe* Anseriformes Canada Goose Mallard Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Falconiformes Merlin Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Common Snipe Franklin's Gull Bonaparte's Gull Common Tern Forster’s Tern* Black Tern* Passeriformes Tree Swallow American Crow Marsh Wren Common Yellowthroat Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird |
Gaviiformes Common Loon Podicipediformes Pied-Billed Grebe* Eared Grebe Western Grebe* Ciconiiformes Great Blue Heron* Anseriformes Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Cinnamon Teal Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Falconiformes Bald Eagle* Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Spotted Sandpiper Marbled Godwit Common Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Franklin's Gull California Gull Herring Gull Common Tern Black Tern* Passeriformes American Crow Marsh Wren Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Savannah Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird |
|
|
Figure 13. Abundance of individuals by Order in the Medium Freshwater Permanent habitat
|
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: The permanent wetland habitat appears to be important for species diversity, notably grebes (Podicipediformes) but is dominated in abundance of waterfowl (Anseriformes), especially in the breeding surveys. There is also a greater abundance of rails and coots (Gruiformes) than seen in other habitats. |
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|
|
Figure 14. Location of the
study sites for the Seasonal Wetland/ Native Grassland habitat |
Seasonal
Wetland/Native Grassland |
|
|
Migratory Species (26) |
Breeding Species (37) |
|
Anseriformes Canada Goose Green-winged Teal Mallard Cinnamon Teal Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Common Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Franklin's Gull Bonaparte's Gull Common Tern Black Tern* Passeriformes American Robin Yellow Warbler Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird |
Ciconiiformes American Bittern* Anseriformes Canada Goose Mallard Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Redhead Lesser Scaup Ruddy Duck Falconiformes Red-tailed Hawk Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Common Snipe Wilson’s Phalarope Franklin’s Gull Ring-billed Gull Common Tern Forster’s Tern* Black Tern* Passeriformes Tree Swallow Black-billed Magpie American Crow Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kingbird American Robin Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Clay-coloured Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Le Conte's Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird |
|
|
Figure 16. Abundance of
individuals by Order in the Seasonal Wetland/Native Grassland habitat
|
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: The seasonal wetland/native grassland shows a marked diversity in shorebirds, gulls and terns (Charadriiformes) and relatively high numbers of species of “songbirds” (Passeriformes), with diminished numbers of waterfowl (Anseriformes), especially during the breeding season. Also notable is the consistency of rails and coots (Gruiformes) and the abundance of the two species in the breeding season when the native grassland is a more accurate description of the habitat. |
|
|
|
Figure 17.
Location of the study sites for the Semi-permanent Wetland habitat |
Semi-permanent
Wetland |
|
|
Migratory Species (39) |
Breeding Species (41) |
|
Anseriformes Canada Goose Mallard Cinnamon Teal Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Falconiformes American Kestrel Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Lesser Yellowlegs Willet Common Snipe Wilson’s Phalarope Common Tern Black Tern*
Passeriformes Tree Swallow Barn Swallow American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee Sprague’s Pipit* Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Clay-coloured Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird |
Ciconiiformes American Bittern* Anseriformes Canada Goose Green-winged Teal Mallard Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall Canvasback Redhead Lesser Scaup Ruddy Duck Falconiformes American Kestrel Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Common Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Franklin's Gull Black Tern* Passeriformes Alder Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Tree Swallow American Crow Common Raven House Wren Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Clay-coloured Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Le Conte’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch |
|
|
Figure 19. Abundance of
individuals by Order in the Semi-permanent Wetland habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: The semi-permanent wetland habitats show huge diversity for a small number of sites. This habitat supports an especially large variety and abundance of shorebirds, gulls and terns (Charadriiformes), as well as very diverse songbirds (Passeriformes) and waterfowl (Anseriformes). There is a relatively consistent split between these families and Gruiformes, rather than a domination of one set of species. |
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|
|
Figure 20.
Location of the study sites for the Small Permanent Wetland habitat |
Small
Permanent Wetland |
|
|
Migratory Species (40) |
Breeding Species (36) |
|
Podicipediformes Pied-billed Grebe* Red-necked Grebe Anseriformes Canada Goose Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Falconiformes Bald Eagle* Northern Harrier Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Killdeer Lesser Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Common Snipe Franklin s Gull Ring-billed Gull
Passeriformes Tree Swallow American Crow Black-capped Chickadee House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Yellow Warbler Chipping Sparrow Clay-coloured Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird |
Gaviiformes Common Loon Podicipediformes Red-necked Grebe Eared Grebe Ciconiiformes American Bittern* Anseriformes Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Falconiformes Bald Eagle* Merlin Gruiformes Sora Rail American Coot Charadriiformes Greater Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Common Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Franklin's Gull Ring-billed Gull Common Tern Black Tern* Passeriformes Alder Flycatcher Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Clay-coloured Sparrow Le Conte’s Sparrow Song Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird |
|
|
Figure 22. Abundance of
individuals by Order in the Small Permanent Wetland habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: The Small Permanent Wetlands encompass much less edge habitat than do the semi-permanent habitat and are therefore dominated by waterfowl (Anseriformes). Other families are represented with a few individuals from many species and thereby create a large diversity in this habitat. The migratory and breeding populations are both largely diverse, but the breeding season is dominated by waterfowl. |
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|
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Figure 23.
Location of the study site for the Upland Deciduous Forest habitat |
Upland Deciduous Forest |
|
|
Migratory Species (11) |
Breeding Species (14) |
|
Piciformes Yellow-bellied
Sap Sucker Passeriformes Least
Flycatcher Black-capped
Chickadee Orange-Crowned
Warbler Yellow
Warbler Yellow-rumped
Warbler Song
Sparrow House
Wren White-throated
Sparrow Dark-eyed
Junco Brown-headed
Cowbird |
Anseriformes Canada
Goose Falconiformes Red-tailed
Hawk Piciformes Downy
Woodpecker Passeriformes Alder
Flycatcher Eastern
Phoebe American
Robin Red-eyed
Vireo Warbling
Vireo Common
Yellowthroat Clay-coloured
Sparrow Fox
Sparrow Lincoln's
Sparrow Red-winged
Blackbird Yellow-headed
Blackbird |
|
|
Figure 25. Abundance of
individuals by Order in the Upland
Deciduous Forest habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: Being in a wooded area, the species and individuals are mostly in the Passeriformes Order, with the proportions of species and abundance being similar. This is an important habitat for a variety of upland species that were not found in any other habitat (Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers). |
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Figure 26.
Location of the study site for the Upland White Spruce Forest habitat |
Upland White Spruce Forest |
|
|
Migratory Species (10) |
Breeding Species (14) |
|
Passeriformes Least Flycatcher American Crow Black-capped Chickadee House Wren American Robin Yellow Warbler Chipping Sparrow Clay-coloured Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow |
Anseriformes Blue-winged
Teal Charadriiformes Killdeer
Passeriformes Least Flycatcher American Crow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Red-eyed Vireo Yellow Warbler Chipping Sparrow Clay-coloured Sparrow Song
Sparrow |
|
|
Figure 28. Abundance of
individuals by Order in the Upland White Spruce habitat |
|
Summary of observed species and
abundance during migration and breeding season: The white spruce forest habitat is dominated by Passeriformes and is notably diverse in species. This small area is the remnant of a mature white spruce forest that still provides habitat for such species as the White-breasted Nuthatch and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. |
