Birds - General Information

Coronation Gulf Maps

The bird maps for the Coronation Gulf area document only general groupings of birds, not the distribution of specific species. The groupings covered are All Gulls, Geese, Sea Ducks and Shorebirds. It is not known which individual species will be found in the areas of concentration.

Bird Groupings

Fulmars, Jaegers and Other Oceanic Birds

This group includes the Long-tailed Jaeger and the Northern Fulmar. Others are the Greater Shearwater, Northern Skua, Parasitic Jaeger and Pomarine Jaeger.

Auks

The Inuktitut name for Auks is Appaq. The group includes the Black Guillemot, the Dovekie and the Thick-billed Murre. Other Auks are the Atlantic Puffin and the Razorbill.

Ducks and Sea Ducks

The Inuktitut name for a duck is Mitiq (plural Mitiit) and for sea ducks is Mitiit tariurmiisuut. In all of these birds, flight feathers are moulted in the summer and the bird is unable to fly for a time until new feathers grow out. These include the Common Eider, the King Eider and the Oldsquaw. Others are the Black Scoter, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser.

Geese and Swans

There are two Inuktitut names for geese: Kanuq and Nirliq. Swans are called Qugyuk. In all of these birds feathers are moulted in summer and the birds are unable to fly for a time until new feathers grow out. This group includes the Brant, the Canada Goose, the Snow Goose and the Tundra Swan. Other geese include the Greater White-fronted Goose and the Ross' Goose.

Gulls and Terns

The Inuktitut name for a gull is Nauyaq (plural Nauyaat). The name for terns is Imiqqutailat. This group includes the Arctic Tern, the Black-legged Kittiwake, the Glaucous Gull, the Iceland Gull, the Thayer's Gull, and the Ivory Gull. Other gulls include Bonaparte's Gull, Franklin's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Herring Gull, Mew Gull, Ross's Gull, and Sabine's Gull.

Loons

The Inuktitut name for loons is Qarsauq. These include the Pacific Loon and the Red-throated Loon. Another Loon is the Yellow-billed Loon.

Shorebirds

The Inuktitut name for shorebirds is Timmiat sinaarmiutat. These include the Northern Phalarope and the Red Phalarope.

Sensitivity Information

It is felt that normal shipping activities are likely to have inconsequential effects on sea-associated birds when the birds are in the water, since the birds are highly mobile and may avoid the ship by flight or by diving. However, seabird nesting colonies are felt to be very susceptible to disturbance from the passage of both ships and aircraft. The noise of ships and aircraft passing in close proximity may cause birds to abandon their nests in fright. Cliff-nesting birds, such as Northern Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Thick-billed Murre, may knock eggs and young from the cliff when this occurs, causing a population decline. Young and eggs left alone in the nest are also more susceptible to predation and harsh weather. Waterfowl are less likely to encounter ships as they nest inland.