Marine birds of the Hell Gate Polynya, Nunavut, Canada

The importance of the Hell Gate Polynya to marine birds in High Arctic Canada has not been assessed for two decades. Our breeding season surveys in 2002–04 found 19 species of marine birds using the polynya, in annual numbers perhaps reaching 25 000 individuals. The site appears to support nationall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Research
Main Authors: Mallory, Mark L., Grant Gilchrist, H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 2005
Subjects:
Arctic
Nunavut
Canada
Fulmar
Hell Gate
Brant
Branta bernicla
Cepphus grylle
Fulmarus glacialis
Northern Fulmar
Polar Research
Somateria mollissima
Online Access:https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2062
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v24i1.6255
Description
Summary:The importance of the Hell Gate Polynya to marine birds in High Arctic Canada has not been assessed for two decades. Our breeding season surveys in 2002–04 found 19 species of marine birds using the polynya, in annual numbers perhaps reaching 25 000 individuals. The site appears to support nationally significant populations of northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Thayer’s gull (Larus thayeri) and High Arctic brant (Branta bernicla hrota), as well as locally important numbers of other species including common eiders (Somateria mollissima borealis) and black guillemots (Cepphus grylle). The polynya may be particularly important for migration, as many species are observed here earlier than elsewhere in the High Arctic.

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