OLD CROW 203 



ice, and later, as small pools appeared, floated on them. Like the 

 early ducks and geese the early arriving mew gulls which landed 

 remained still, as if resting. There was certainly scant food available 

 to excite the gulls on the icy river and snow-covered land, and they 

 seemed to accept the scarcity without wasting efforts on search. 

 Unlike the direct flight of the large gulls the flight of mew gulls ap- 

 peared casual and easily diverted, although there was little difference 

 to be seen in the choice of the frozen landing places. It was clear that 

 they came up Porcupine Eiver from the west and apparent that most 

 of them continued, or after a rest departed, eastward. 



Between May 9 and 11 the eastbound traffic past the village became 

 more intense. In their wavering flight and irregularly organized 

 flocks these gulls nevertheless make swift progress. The flights com- 

 prised from 1 to 16 gulls. On May 13 few were seen and on May 14 

 none. It seemed that the early migration had left no settlers at Old 

 Crow. 



On May 16 a compact flock of 30 settled on the ice in mid-river. 

 Four Bonaparte's gulls were with this flock, keeping near each other, 

 but not otherwise discriminating as to position. Three times this flock 

 made a great crying as it was disturbed, but alit again nearby after 

 each disturbance. When two were wounded the flock scattered and 

 individuals flew close to the wounded birds on the ice until I ap- 

 proached. The flock then reassembled and after many circles disap- 

 peared on an erratic eastward course. This was the last day on which 

 we crossed the river on the ice. From May 15 until May 19 small 

 flocks and single birds occasionally alighted, but it seemed that most 

 of them continued eastward. 



As the water began to run over the ice the migratory trend became 

 less evident and gulls often left the river as a course. When the ice 

 started moving on May 22 it appeared that many mew gulls were 

 scattering over the country nearby, although a continuing easterly 

 trend in the flights suggested that some migration persisted imtil 

 June. 



Peter Lord did not remark any gulls on Crow Flats until May 16. 

 He said that only small gulls remained there in summer, and that they 

 were common. Lazarus Charlie reported the first sea gull at Johnson 

 Creek, about 80 miles south by east on the upper Porcupine on May 7. 

 Spring weather is said to come earlier there than at Old Crow, and 

 migration of a few species was reported in the upper valley of the 

 Porcupine before it reached Old Crow. It seems likely that many of 

 the earliest migrating mew gulls, passing Old Crow when the country 

 seemed destitute of opportunity for gulls to feed, were following 

 Porcupine River toward the more advanced spring in its southern 

 valley. 



