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Quill Lakes, Big and Middle/Little/Mud Lake

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Grebe Survey Summary

  • Max Adults: 516
  • Year: 2016
  • Most Recent Adults: 226
  • Year: 2019
  • Survey Type: Shore; Boat
  • Most Common Threats Reported: N/A
Lake name:
Quill Lakes, Big and Middle/Little/Mud Lake
Location:
Saskatchewan
Latitude:
51.875183
Longitude:
-104.375315
Surface area (km2):
635
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Primary vegetation for nesting:
Schoenoplectus Typha
Management agency:
Province of Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Region associations:
Quill Lakes; Big Quill Lake; Middle Quill Lake; Little Quill Lake; Mud Lake
Designations:
Ramsar Site
Comments:
Part of a complex of three saline lakes made up of Big Quill Lake, Little Quill Lake, and Mud Lake, collectively referred to as Quill Lakes. Big Quill Lake is considered the largest saline lake of the prairies and is threatened by high water levels due to flooding with no outlet. It is a Ramsar Site and major shorebird stopover. This complex of Quill Lakes (Big and Middle or Little or Mud Lake) were combined into one entry because they are adjacent and bisected by a road and some marsh. Also, the Mud Lake entry is assumed to be this one as there is at least one another Mud Lake in Saskatchewan.

Surveys (2)

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
    2019
  • Source
    Management plan
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 226 2019
Most Recent Adults 101 to 500 226 2019
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 C, 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 is that breeding was confirmed. Sources are McKellar et al. 2019 and McKellar et al., in press.

Survey Citation:
Beyersbergen, G. W., W. A. Calvert, R. C. Bazin, S. J. Barry, and B. A. Gingras. 2009. Spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of the Franklin’s gull in the Canadian Prairie Provinces: 2005–2007. Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report Series Number 504, Prairie and Northern Region. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • Type
    shore; boat
  • Time period
    May 2006, June 2006
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 15 2006
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 15 2006
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 was focused on Franklin's gull colonies but other waterbirds, such as western grebes, were counted as nesting in association with them. These are minimum counts of western grebes and not the target species so uncertain if this entry should be included.

Sources of Information

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