Observations of Birds and Mammals at Bluenose Lake

Abstract

Reports 4 Aug - 3 Sept 1953 observations at this lake at 1800 ft elevation in a large shallow basin in the Melville Hills of Mackenzie District. This belated note is prompted by the lack of other investigations there and by the fact that most of the breeding-bird records constitute range extensions. Only 35 bird species were recorded. The absence of some species could be correlated to an absence of varied habitat: no extensive willow thickets and no rock outcrops. Eleven mammalian species were seen. A barren-ground grizzly was observed to approach a muskox and turn away. There is no known record of a grizzly killing a muskox.