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Beaverhill Lake/Beaver Hill Lake

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Grebe Survey Summary

  • Max Adults: 600
  • Year: 1960
  • Most Recent Adults: 0
  • Year: 2016
  • Survey Type: Boat
  • Most Common Threats Reported: Water too low; lack of/poor nesting habitat
Lake name:
Beaverhill Lake/Beaver Hill Lake
Location:
Alberta
HydroLAKE ID:
563
Latitude:
54.364583
Longitude:
-94.865754
Surface area (km2):
179
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Management agency:
Alberta Parks; Alberta Fish and Wildlife
Region associations:
Beaverhill Lake Heritage Rangeland Natural Area; North Saskatchewan River
Designations:
Ramsar; Important Bird Area of Global Significance; Bird Sanctuary; Natural Area
Comments:
A large and very alkaline shallow lake, it is a designated RAMSAR site. It is significant for migratory birds and a federally recognized Bird Sanctuary. Water levels were very low due to drought. In 2005, the lake dried up completely.

Surveys (5)

Survey Citation:
Prescott, D. R. C., J. Unruh, S. Morris-Yasinski, and M. Wells. 2018. Distribution and abundance of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta: an update. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 160, Edmonton, AB. 23 pp.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    1923, 2016
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 600 1960
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2016
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1923, 1958, 1960, 1980-1981, 1991, 1999
Most Recent Nests 0 0 2016
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence? 1923, 1958, 1960, 1980-1981, 1991, 1999
Most Recent Chicks 0 0 2016

Comments:

Sources are eBird (accessed Nov 2015 and Dec 2016), FWMIS (Accessed Nov 2015 including field surveys from 2015 and 2016), Wollis and Stratmoen 2010, Hanus 2002, and Riske 1976. This report is an update of Western grebe distribution in Alberta based on previous provincial status reports, additional breeding records (between May 1 to August 31) through end of 2014 from new sources. Lakes were visited in 2015 and 2016 for occupancy and habitat conditions. In a given year, if there are multiple sources of data, the highest count was given. From the Appendix, I entered only lakes (67) with evidence of breeding (either chicks or nests, but doesn't specify which and no nest nor chick numbers provided). Otherwise, 318 lakes supported adult grebe populations. This report compiled a list of 35 priority lakes for grebe surveys and management actions through the provincial recovery plan based on high population and habitat scores. New lakes with breeding reveal a changing system of lake occupancy and possibly higher populations than previously thought in Alberta.

Survey Citation:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 2006. Status of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 60, Edmonston, AB. 29 pp.

  • Time period
    1960
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 500 to 999 1960
Most Recent Adults 501 to 1000 500 to 999 1960
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Data from Table 1 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta supporting western grebe colonies of over 500 breeding birds, adapted from Hanus 2002) which is divided into categories of lakes with 1000+ birds and lakes with 500 to 999 birds and not specific count numbers. Beaverhill Lake is in the Parkland natural region.

Survey Citation:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 2013. Status of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta: Update 2012. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 60 (Update 2012). Edmonston, AB. 48 pp.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    1960, 2009
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 600 1960
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2009
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1960
Most Recent Nests 0 0 2009
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence 1960
Most Recent Chicks 0 0 2009

Comments:

Data from Table 1 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta supporting western grebe colonies of over 200 breeding birds, adapted from Hanus 2002) already entered from 2006 Alberta report. Table 3 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta that once had large breeding colonies (over 100 birds) but no longer have active colonies). HIghest breeding population estimates and most recent estimates are presented here"). Table 1 is divided into categories of lakes with 1000+ birds and lakes with 200 to 999 birds and not specific count numbers. Number of western grebes from Table 3 is from abundance estimates (minimum estimate of western grebes for that year) and came from nest counts (X2 for breeding adult numbers), boat surveys of adult grebes, or incidental observations, using highest estimate. Breeding confirmed in 1960 but it is no longer or unknown in 2009. Lake was nearly dry in 2013 (H. Wollis, pers. comm.)

Survey Citation:
Wollis, H., and C. Stratmoen. 2010. Population study of western grebes in Alberta 2001-2009: Implications for management and status designation. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 138. Edmonton, AB. 18 pp.

  • Time period
    1960, 2009
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 600 1960
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2009
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests 0 0 2009
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This report is a continuation of a western grebe monitoring project started in 2001 to survey colonies in Alberta and assess population trends and distribution. Known and new colonies were searched for each year through 2009. This entry is from Table 2 comparing most recent estimate of # adults with highest estimate year. In 2009 there was no nesting.

Survey Citation:
Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2021. Management Plan for the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 5 iv + 52 pp.

  • Time period
    1960, 2016
  • Source
    Management plan
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 600 1960
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2016
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

From Appendix B, data columns are historical high count, high count since 2000, and most recent count. Since minimum count was not stated, I entered the minimum from these columns though it might not be the actual minimum across the span of years reported. Also, there is no detail on years that were excluded from surveying so range of survey years may be inaccurate. Footnote for this lake indicates that for 2015 to 2016, breeding was confirmed but there were no Western grebes. Sources are Prescott et al., 2018 and Alberta Environment and Parks, 2018.

Sources of Information

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