Big Lake

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Grebe Survey Summary

  • Max Adults: 3
  • Year: 1982
  • Most Recent Adults: 0
  • Year: 2011
  • Survey Type: Shore; Boat; Air
  • Most Common Threats Reported: N/A
Lake name:
Big Lake
Location:
Alberta
Latitude:
53.594926
Longitude:
-113.718828
Surface area (km2):
29.88
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Management agency:
Alberta Fish and Wildlife; Alberta Parks; City of St. Albert
Region associations:
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park; Sturgeon River
Designations:
Park
Comments:
Recognized as one of the 20 most important waterfowl habitat units in Alberta. It is very shallow.

Surveys (2)

Survey Citation:
COSEWIC. 2014. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 55 pp. www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm

  • Type
    shore; boat; air
  • Time period
    1970, 2011
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 3 1970-1990
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2011
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 Table A.2, maximum counts of breeding Western grebes from surveys mostly conducted during nesting season from June and July (sourced from Wilson, A. and Smith, P.A. 2013. Distribution and population status of Western Grebes in Canada. Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service). Stated as 20 year chunks: 1970 - 1990 and 1991 - 2011 without breaking those down into years or other details.

Survey Citation:
Erickson, M. E. 2010. Persistence and abundance of the western grebe in Alberta. Dissertation. University of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Same lakes and abundance estimated were checked against Erickson, M. E., C. Found-Jackson, and M. S. Boyce. 2017. Habitat associations with counts of declining western grebes in Alberta, Canada. Avian Conservation and Ecology. 12(1):12. Appendix to Erickson et al 2014 is unavailable but presumed to be the same list of lakes and abundance estimates.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    24 May 2008, 9 August 2008
  • Source
    Dissertation
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 3 1982
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2008
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 Table B.1 and Table C.1, survey methods and dates for 2008 field season, and latest abundance estimate from 2008, compared to maximum abundance estimate. Source of maximum abundance estimate is historical data from Wildlife Status Reports (WSR) #60. I didn't include maximum abundance estimate as part of the survey date for Erickson's surveys.

Sources of Information