Frog Lake
Grebe Survey Summary
- Max Adults: 750
- Year: 1970-1990
- Most Recent Adults: 4
- Year: 2016
- Survey Type: Shore; Boat; Air
- Most Common Threats Reported: Water level too low; lack of/poor nesting habitat
- Lake name:
- Frog Lake
- Location:
- Alberta
- Latitude:
- 53.9138889
- Longitude:
- -110.3338889
- Surface area (km2):
- 58.36
- Basin type:
- non-reservoir
- Management agency:
- Alberta Environment
- Region associations:
- Eastern North Saskatchewan River Basin; Frog Lake First Nation; Puskiakiwenin Indian Reserve 122; Unipouheos Indian Reserve 121
- Comments:
- A very large and deep lake. Water level has slowly been declining.
Surveys (8)
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 | 501 to 1000 | 750 | 1970-1990 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | ? | 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 Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service).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
15 July 2008 -
Source
Dissertation -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 600 | 1991 |
| 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.
Survey Citation:
Found, C. and A. Hubbs. 2004. Survey of Colonial Nesting Birds and Lakeshore Habitats in Northeast Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 88, Edmonton, AB. 32 pp.
-
Type
boat; air -
Time period
1957, 2003 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 600 | 1991 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | 2003 |
| Max Nests | 101 to 500 | 300 | 1991 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 2003 |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
According to Table 10 Historic information on breeding populations of western grebes on lakes in Northeast Alberta, these breeding adult numbers are nests X 2 and is sourced from Hanus (2002). I divided by 2 the historical adult numbers in Table 10 for the historical nest numbers. No colony detected in 2003 (0 nests as minimum nest count) and adults detected but no adult count number.
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
1956, 2016 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 600 | 1991 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 4 | 2016 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 1956, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1989-1992, 1998, 2003 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | presence? | 1956, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1989-1992, 1998, 2003 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
Comments:
Sources are AESRD and ACA (2013), FWMIS (Accessed Nov 2015 including field surveys from 2015 and 2016), Found and Hubbs 2004, Wollis and Stratmoen 2010, Hanus 2002, and Wilson and Smith 2013. 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
1990, 1991 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 500 to 999 | 1990, 1991 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | ? | 1991 |
| 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. Frog Lake is in the Boreal 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
1990, 2008 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 600 | 1991 |
| Most Recent Adults | 0 | 0 | 2008 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 1991 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 2008 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | presence | 1991 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 0 | 0 | 2008 |
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 1991 but it is no longer or unknown in 2008. In late June of 1992, the water level was very low (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
1991, 2008 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 600 | 1991 |
| 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:
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.
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
1991, 2016 -
Source
Management plan -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 501 to 1000 | 600 | 1991 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 4 | 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 and lake was occupied by Western grebes. Sources are Prescott et al., 2018 and Alberta Environment and Parks, 2018.