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1911 J Brooks and Cobb, Notes from Eastern Alberta. 465 



NOTES FROM EASTERN ALBERTA. 



BY WINTHROP S. BROOKS AND STANLEY COBB. 



The following observations were made between August 15, 

 1909, and February 1, 1910, within a five mile radius of the north- 

 ern end of Birch Lake, Alberta (latitude 53° 20" N., longitude 

 111° 40' W.), about 90 miles east of Edmonton, the capital of the 

 province. The altitude here is about 1,800 feet above sea level. 



Birch Lake itself is a large body of water, some 20 square miles 

 in area, sending northward a long shallow arm. The country 

 immediately surrounding this northern arm consists of level 

 prairie, the smooth expanse of grass occasionally interspersed 

 with patches of bushes. About a mile and a half north of the 

 lake the topography changes to low, rolling hills, with an increase 

 of the bushy growth and scattered groups of small trees. This 

 area is thickly dotted with shallow sloughs and small lakes of 

 varying sizes; the whole forming an admirable resort for wild fowl 

 and waders. 



The waders, however, seemed to leave this region very early. 

 On August 15 when Birch Lake was first visited many varieties 

 of shore birds were seen by hundreds, but on returning on the 19th 

 the numbers were much diminished; thereafter they kept leaving 

 steadily, until by September 1 (when, by the way, the shooting 

 season in Alberta opens on these birds) the great majority had left 

 for the south. Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers were the only 

 species that remained abundant through September. 



The list is obviously limited, but as the observers went into 

 the country purely on a shooting trip, birds other than wild fowl 

 and waders were noted only during spare moments, or when they 

 chanced to be in the writers' paths. 



1. Colymbus holboelli. Holbcell's Grebe. — A few seen Sept. 3. 



2. Colymbus auritus. Horned Grebe. — Several noted. 



3. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. — Quite common. 



4. Gavia immer. Loon. — One immature shot, Sept. 15. 



5. Larus delawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. — Fairly common on 

 larger bodies of water. 



