Long-term monitoring of breeding activity of Lapland longspur on Bylot Island, Nunavut

• Main Authors: Gauthier, Gilles, Bêty, Joël, Cadieux, Marie-Christine, Centre D'études Nordiques
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2015
• Subjects: Birds; Breeding colonies; Bylot Island; Lapland longspur; Nesting; Reproductive phenology; Reproductive success; ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada; Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna - Terrestrial; International Polar Year-Arctic Wildlife Observatories Linking Vulnerable EcoSystems; Arctic; Nunavut; Canada; Arctic Fox; ArcticNet; Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program; Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna; International Polar Year; Lapland
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5443/723; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=723

We are monitoring the nesting activity of Lapland Longspurs and other passerine birds. We find nests opportunistically during other routine work. Nests found are positioned with a GPS and revisited during the breeding period to determine laying date, clutch size, hatching date and fledging success. For a sample of nests, young are banded at the nest, and occasionally adults as well. : Purpose: The Lapland longspur is one of the most abundant and visible terrestrial songbird breeding in the Arctic. As other Arctic-nesting birds, they are constrained by a very short time period during which they can reproduce. Though the timing of hatch is critical for the growth and survival of young, even more crucial is the ability of longspurs to ensure that their nests survive until hatch. Nest predation is an important source of mortality for this bird especially when lemming abundance is low. Longspurs eggs are an alternative prey resource for the Arctic Fox , which preys primarily on lemmings. Alternately, when lemmings are abundant, the Arctic Fox will focus on lemmings, and longspurs may experience reduced predation pressure and increased nest success. : Summary: Not Applicable