
17 
A WATERFOWL RECONNAISSANCE IN THE JAMES BAY - HUDSON BAY REGION 
1950 
A. S. Hawkins, E. G. Wellein, and W. F. Crissey 
The primary objective of this trip was to measure waterfowl numbers along 
the coastal marshes and adjacent muskeg or tundra in terms of ducks and geese per 
Square mile, We were particularly interested in learning more about goose nesting 
within the area examined. Counts were kert also of other kinds of wildlife, such as 
caribou, moose, and ptarmigan. Findings of this survey are presented in this report. 
The route is shown on the attached map, 
We are indebted to Dr. Harrison F. Lewis for providing maps; to Deputy 
Commissioner Gibson, Northwest Territories, for furnishing an explorer's license; 
to Dr. C. H. D. Clarke for maps and suggestions; to Hudson Bay Company for aid in 
arranging for gas, providing details on landing sites, housing and other courtesies; to 
Northwest Air Command of the R. C. A. F. for permission to operate in the area 
under its command, and for use of its facilities at Churchill; to the U. S. Army at 
Churchill, where we were fed and quartered; and to the individuals at various outposts 
who treated us so hospitably. 
Methods 
To arrive at population densities, all ducks seen within one-eighth of a mile 
on either side of the plane were tallied. All geese seen were counted, the effective 
strip being about one-half mile wide. Since much of the flight was along the shores 
of James and Hudson Bays, the flight route was alternated between a coverage of the 
immediate shore line and the marshes which occurred a few miles inland. The data 
were kept separate and have been presented separately in the two tables included with 
this report. The strip adjacent to the Bays has been termed "'coastal", while coverage 
a mile or more from the shore has been termed "interior. "' 
One observer spent full time recording ducks and geese by species, while the 
pilot and second observer counted total ducks and geese on their hand tally counters. 
Weather Conditions 
We were informed that the season was at least two weeks late along the 
entire route traveled. Ice break-up dates, arrival dates and other phenological 
indicators from Moosonee to Eskimo Point all agreed on this point. The season has 
been unusually wet as well as cold. Moosonee reported rain on 24 of the first 25 days 
of June. Attawapiskat and northward reported that mosquitoes had bothered on only 
one or two days due to the cold. On the north side of Akimiski Island the bay was full 
of floating ice, a condition which remained constant from there northward, On the 
same date in 1949, except for icebergs and an ice field far off-shore, the bay was 
clear north to 60 degrees. 
During our 1949 trip, which was much less extensive than this year's, but 
at the same calendar time, we recorded 96 duck broods. This year until we reached 
the Saskatchewan Delta Marshes, we saw only one brood of ducks. 
Populations 
A total of 15,855 ducks, 3, 504 Canada geese and about 17,000 other geese 
were recorded along the transects. These data are summarized in Tables 1 - 3. 
