ARCTIC Breeding Distribution and Numbers of Black Guillemots in Jones Sound, N.W.T.

• Main Authors: Raymond W. Prach, Alan R. Smith
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Arctic; Cardigan Strait; Hell Gate; Jones Sound; Black guillemot; Cepphus grylle
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.523.9887; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic45-2-111.pdf

ABSTRACT. Aerial surveys of Jones Sound, N.W.T., reveal a highly clumped distribution of black guillemots in the early spring and throughout the breeding season. Black guillemots are uncommon throughout much of Jones Sound except at its mouth and in the western portion. By September, most guillemots have left the area. Both early spring and breeding distributions appear to be influenced by the Hell Gate and Cardigan Strait polynya located in western Jones Sound between Ellesmere and Devon islands. Evidence presented suggests that annual variation in the distribution of ice edges in Jones Sound may influence distribution of breeding birds among suitable breeding s tes. Key words: black guillemot, Cepphus grylle, breeding distribution, Jones Sound, aerial surveys RESUME. Des relevts atriens effectds dans le dttroit de Jones (T.N.-0.) indiquent une distribution trks regroupte de guillemots B miroir au dtbut du printemps et durant toute la saison de reproduction. On ne trouve pas beaucoup de guillemots B miroir dans I’ensemble du dttroit de Jones, sauf B son embouchure et dans la partie occidentale. Quand arrive septembre, la plupart des guillemots ont quittt la rtgion. Les distributions du dtbut du printemps et de la saison de reproduction semblent &re influenctes par les polynias de Hell Gate et de Cardigan Strait situtes dans la partie occiden-tale du dttroit de Jones, entre les iles Devon et Ellesmere. Les faits prtsentts suggkrent que la variation annuelle dans la distribution des lisibres de glaces du dttroit de Jones pourrait influencer la distribution des oiseaux reproducteurs aux divers sites qui se prstent h la nidification. Mots clts: guillemot B miroir, Cepphus grylle, distribution de la nidification, dttroit de Jones, relevts aeriens