Lac La Nonne
Grebe Survey Summary
- Max Adults: 54
- Year: 1985
- Most Recent Adults: 20
- Year: 2016
- Survey Type: Shore; Boat; Air
- Most Common Threats Reported: Human/ development/boat disturbance
- Lake name:
- Lac La Nonne
- Location:
- Alberta
- Latitude:
- 53.9372222
- Longitude:
- -114.3197222
- Surface area (km2):
- 11.8
- Basin type:
- non-reservoir
- Primary vegetation for nesting:
- bulrush
- Management agency:
- Alberta Environment; Alberta Parks
- Lake use:
- recreation fisheries
- Region associations:
- Athabasca River Watershed; Lac La Nonne Natural Area; Boreal Forest
- Designations:
- Natural Area
- Comments:
- A large, deep, and developed lake busy with recreation, this lake was a trading post for the Hudson's Bay County in the early 1800s. It is managed for recreation and fisheries and lacks quality nesting site for waterfowl and waterbirds.
Surveys (5)
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 | 40 | 1991-2011 |
| 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 Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service).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:
Hanus, S., H. Wollis, and L. Wilkinson. 2002. Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Eared (Podiceps nigricollis) Grebes of Central Alberta: inventory, survey techniques and management concerns. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Species at Risk Report No. 41. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
-
Type
air -
Time period
21 June 2001 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 25 | 2001 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 25 | 2001 |
| 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:
Small population may be remnant of historically larger population. Nesting not confirmed at this lake.
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
29 May 2008, 13 July 2008 -
Source
Dissertation -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 40 | 1992 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 31 | 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:
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
1970, 2016 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 54 | 1985 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 20 | 2016 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | presence? | 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
Comments:
Sources are eBird (accessed Nov 2015 and Dec 2016), AESRD and ACA (2013), FWMIS (Accessed Nov 2015 including field surveys from 2015 and 2016), Hanus et al. 2002a, Hanus et al. 2002b, Kemper et al. 2008, Wollis and Stratmoen 2010, Erickson 2010, Hanus 2002, Riske 1976, and Purdy et al. 1983. 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:
Hanus, S., L. Wilkinson, and H. Wollis. 2002. Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Eared (Podiceps nigricollis) grebes of Central Alberta: 2002 field season summary. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report Number 60. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
-
Type
boat -
Time period
20 June 2002 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 20 | 2002 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 20 | 2002 |
| Max Nests | 0 | 0 | 2002 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 2002 |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
Nest colony not found despite intensive search.
Sources of Information
- Hanus, S., L. Wilkinson, AND H. Wollis. 2002. Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Eared (Podiceps nigricollis) Grebes of Central Alberta: 2002 Field Season Summary. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report Number 60. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.; Mitchell, P. 1990. Atlas of Alberta Lakes, University of Alberta Press. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uidaho/detail.action?docID=3411706.
- Mitchell, P. 1990. Atlas of Alberta Lakes, University of Alberta Press. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uidaho/detail.action?docID=3411706.
- Lac La Nonne Lakewatch Report 2020
- Lac La Nonne Natural Area
- Canadian Geographical Names Database (CGNDB)