For those either familiar or not with them, the first of Jean Irons's
fascinating reports from a James Bay location 500+ miles north of
Toronto appeared yesterday. This area is a nesting site for many
shorebird species, and a stopover for many others heading south this
time of year. While doing research and enduring attacks by numerous
biting insects and polar bears, Jean has for several years counted and
aged migratory birds and other wildlife at this location several times a
month during the season.
        Shorebirds moving through James Bay may be on their way to Ohio in
varying numbers. For some, stopovers here are routine, and others we see
only infrequently, when they deviate from a more easterly course south
along the Atlantic seaboard or offshore. Either way, observations from
up that way give indications of the success of shorebird nesting in the
Arctic, any deviations from expected schedules, and if nothing else
offer reassurance that these mighty travelers are once again on the
move. Jean's reports appear regularly on mailing lists for Ontario and
for Shorebirds, easily found on Jack Siler's mail pages at
http://www.birdingonthe.net/birdmail.html  . Both she and Ron Pittaway
have some valuable articles and photo-essays on shorebirds accessible
via the Ontario Field Ornithologists web-site.
Bill Whan
Columbus

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