Part 5

Atanak and his companions from Wainwright told us that other whistling swans were observed (July 16-17, 1951) from our camp on the Kaolak River to a point seven miles up the Kaolak River from the junction of the Avalik and Ketik rivers. In the previous month (June), these same Eskimos had observed 12 pairs of swans between Wainwright and our camp.

+Branta canadensis minima+ Ridgway: Canada goose.--On July 8 and 9, 1951, four geese fed on a large lake at Topagaruk and when disturbed,\ flew from the lake in groups of two or four, never as single individuals. Upon returning to the lake they reformed in a group of four. Drilling for oil was underway there but geese, ducks and smaller water birds 300 or more feet away from the well were relatively unmolested and present in normal numbers. Men at the well told us that birds were not so plentiful in 1951 as in the previous year and that it was the latter part of May, this year being earlier than last year, when waterfowl and shore-birds arrived on the tundra. In late May 50 per cent or more of the ground is covered with snow and the lakes are frozen. Creeks and rivers are used until lakes open up. This is a time of loud clamor and nuptial performances when geese and brant call all night. The noise and much of the activity ceases at nesting time. In the cool weather of autumn (September 1), lakes freeze and the birds leave the tundra and congregate along the shores of the Arctic Ocean preparatory to flock formation and migration. Geese and ducks tarry but the shore-birds leave suddenly. The fall migrations at Point Barrow begin in the middle of August.

+Branta nigricans+ (Lawrence): Black brant.--On June 19, 1951, two black brant flew east over the tundra at Salt Water Lagoon and continued in that direction as far as we could follow the birds with binoculars. On August 25, 1952, between Birnirk and Point Barrow, we flushed a flock of 60 brant seven times; they were loathe to leave the peninsula. On the following day, 58 brant were seen in the same area.

+Anser albifrons frontalis+ Baird: White-fronted goose.--Specimen, 1: 9/10 mi. W and 9/10 mi. N Umiat, 152 deg.10'58", 69 deg.22'53", 380 ft., No. 31303, ad. female, July 1, 1952.

As late as June 24, 1952, white-fronted geese were in flock formation at Umiat. Eight days later (July 1), 9/10 mile west and 9/10 mile north of Umiat, a nest held six incubated eggs; the embyros showed natal down. The nest was in a depression of moss (not excavated) on a mound 45 cm above water level among polygons. The concavity of the nest was 320 mm in diameter and was lined with an 80 mm thickness of sticks, pieces of moss, stems of grass and miscellaneous material. The cup, 160 mm wide and 80 mm deep, was lined with down feathers from the bird. The nest and brooding bird blended with the vegetation of Vaccinium, Arctagrostis, mosses and lichens. When the observer was 25 feet distant the female left the nest. She measured 685 mm in total length and weighed 2268 grams. The largest ovum was three mm in diameter.

On August 30 and 31, 1951, 16 white-fronted geese were feeding on the tundra along Seabee Creek. They called frequently at night.

When we flew from Point Barrow to Kaolak (July 20, 1951), approximately 100 miles southwest of Point Barrow, 12 white-fronted geese were in one group, and on a return trip (July 27) along the same route we noted several small groups.

Upon our arrival at Barrier Lake, northwest of Teshekpuk Lake on July 29, 1951, 12 white-fronted geese were resting at the south end of the lake. They had consistently used this shore, as well as the entire east shore line as evidenced there by fecal deposits. In the seven days that we camped at this lake the geese remained in the area but never returned to their original resting grounds. In the mud and silt of a lagoon on the west side of the lake, numerous tracks of these geese were associated with tracks of caribou, Arctic fox, wolf and small shore-birds. On August 1, thirty-five white-fronted geese left the north end of the lake and flew west approximately one mile where they remained feeding and calling until midnight. On the morning of August 3, two geese flew south over our camp to Teshekpuk Lake and at 8:45 P.M., 15 flew to the west.

+Chen hyperborea hyperborea+ (Pallas): Snow goose.--Atanak, an Eskimo, told us that snow geese were common along the coast at Wainwright in the early spring of 1951. On the date of interrogation (July 18, 1951) he reported that none was in the area.

+Anas acuta+ Linnaeus: Pintail.--Specimens, 2: 2 mi. W Utukok River, 161 deg.15'30", 68 deg.54'50", 1275 ft., No. 31304 and 31305, ad. females, Aug. 30, 31, 1952.

At Kaolak River (July 15, 1951), the primary feathers of a female in breeding plumage were being replaced by new feathers then 25 millimeters long. She was unable to fly and had secluded herself in the sedges and grasses along the edge of a lake. On July 18, a male flew over this lake. These were the only two pintails observed in this area.

At Kaolak (July 21-27, 1951), within one mile of our camp there were four females with young in groups of 4, 5, and 6. The young birds of the group of five were 75 mm in length. On June 17, 1952, several pintails were feeding in the Salt Water Lagoon at Point Barrow.

The largest of two adult females collected on August 30 and 31, 1952, two miles west of Driftwood, was 536 mm in total length and weighed 729 grams.

On August 25, 1951, three pintails fed in a small creek at the southwest corner of Chandler Lake. They were the first observed in the area where we began camping on August 9.

+Anas carolinensis+ Gmelin: Green-winged teal.--On September 4, 1951, one green-winged teal was on a small lake approximately 1-1/4 miles northwest of Umiat.

+Aythya marila nearctica+ Stejneger: Greater scaup.--On July 8, 1952, approximately 1/2 mile southwest of the east end of Wahoo Lake, a nest of seven eggs of this species was located on the edge of a small lake. Three males swam together in the lake.

+Clangula hyemalis+ (Linnaeus): Old squaw.--Specimens, 5; Barrier Lake, NE Teshekpuk Lake, 153 deg.05'40", 70 deg.39'40", 8 ft., No. 35080, ad. female and 30581, ad. female, July 30, 1951; Topagaruk River, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34', 10 ft., No. 30582, ad. female, July 7, 1951; Kaolak River, 159 deg.47'40", 70 deg.11'15", 30 ft., No. 50579, ad. female, July 14, 1951 and No. 50578, ad. sex?, July 15, 1951.

Two old squaws were feeding in Salt Water Lagoon on June 17, 1952. On June 30, 1952, a nest of seven eggs was 20 feet from the edge of a lake at Umiat. One of the eggs was infertile and in the others embryos had barely begun to form. The nest was unattended but the eggs were warm and covered with down feathers. The next day the male was in the lake adjoining the nest and the female was on the nest; we collected the eggs on this date. The nest was in a natural depression in the moss on top of a hummock one foot high. A dwarf alder gave overhead protection.

Each night, at approximately 10:00 P.M. (July 3-11, 1952) a male lit in Wahoo Lake and preened, ruffled and adjusted its feathers. This behavior indicated to us that he had just been relieved from incubating eggs. Old squaws were noted also on a small lake approximately 1/2 mile southeast of Wahoo Lake on July 8.

Most of the old squaws (July 4-10, 1951) were in pairs or small groups at Topagaruk. They constituted less than one per cent of the avian population and were more commonly seen around the edges of stabilized lakes of medium size than elsewhere. One adult female shot on July 7, weighed 600 grams and had ova as large as 17 millimeters in diameter.

On July 8, 1952, between 1:00 A.M. and 2:00 A.M., the ice started to move and formed leads near the shore of the Arctic Ocean at Point Barrow. Ordinarily the ice does not leave until approximately the 20th of the month. These new leads brought greater numbers of old squaws nearer shore. At 6:00 P.M. that same day eighteen old squaw ducks sat on the ice off-shore and approximately 100 flew to the east in three separate groups.

At Kaolak River (July 12-18, 1951), old squaws were observed every day. On a four hour field trip (July 15), four adults were seen. On July 18 an old squaw was flying in company with a male pintail. An Eskimo hunting party of three men had killed a female (July 18) near our camp and were going to prepare it for food that evening.

At Kaolak (July 21-27, 1951) we observed one pair with young and two single adults.

At Barrier Lake, northeast of Teshekpuk Lake (July 29-Aug. 4, 1951), old squaw ducks were in evidence at least once or twice a day. On July 30, three birds were sitting on an island in a small lake adjoining Barrier Lake. They were molting and although capable of flight were using the island as a place of refuge. Two females shot on July 30, weighed 650 grams and had masses of ova smaller than those in the female shot at Topagaruk 23 days earlier. The largest ovum in the latter female was 2.3 mm in diameter. On a flight on August 4, 1951, from Teshekpuk Lake to Point Barrow we saw two flocks of 18 each when 73 and 34 miles southwest of Point Barrow.

Between the mouth of the Canning River Canyon and Umiat (July 18, 1952), old squaws were more numerous in lakes adjacent to the Colville River than in lakes to the east.

Upon our arrival at Gavia Lake (Aug. 20, 1952) a family of two adults and two juveniles and another family of one adult and six juveniles were the only ducks on the lake. One of the juveniles rested on the bank instead of feeding in the lake with the other ducks, and on August 23 died. On August 21, one duckling in the second family strayed out toward the center of the lake, whereupon the adult female swam out and herded the young bird back toward the group nearer the shore line. On August 22, the female and two ducklings of the first family were shot. The adult was 390 mm in total length whereas the young were 300 mm in total length and weighed 320 grams. Neither young birds nor the mother could fly. The breast of each young consisted of only a few thin layers of muscles whereas the adult's breast was made up of thick muscles. The second family had frequented the south shore, but moved to the north side of the lake when fired upon. On August 22, one duckling was 214 mm long and weighed 119 grams. Although the season was far advanced and the snows of autumn were already falling, ducklings of the sizes specified above were still unable to fly and the females were still molting the essential flight feathers.

At Driftwood (Aug. 30, 1952) an adult and two juveniles were feeding in a lake northeast of camp.

+Polysticta stelleri+ (Pallas): Steller's eider.--Specimen, 1: Topagaruk, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34', 10 ft., No. 30325, ad. female, July 10, 1951.