End of Artificial Nest Trial 1, Reconyx Images

Yesterday and today saw the end of our first trial of artificial nests. Neither did very well in the long run, but both provided some interesting and candid shots of Arctic wildlife.

Bug-eyed caribou spots the camera.

Up close and personal.

Parasitic Jaeger struts by camera, but leaves nest alone.

Hello there!

Caribou butt.

Calf notices camera.

Calf nursing. Mom says, "What you lookin' at?"

Northern Harrier before it eats our nest.

Another view of the Harrier.

Fox checks out nest after Harrier eats it. Clearly bored.

Arctic ground squirrel says, "'Sup?"

Buff-breasted Sandpiper walks by nest. (It's on the left)

Semipalmated sandpiper checks it out too!

Red fox discovers camera, but does not eat nest.

I wanted to stage a predation of one of our nests since it was the end of the trial and we had to take and dispose of the eggs. Here are some pictures the camera took!

Fieldus biologistus discovers nest.

Checks to make sure no one is looking.

Takes eggs for science!

This camera was first set up on the 9th of June and the nest survived the whole season. It captured some wildlife, but also captured a time-lapse of sort of the changing season.

First day nest was set up.

Purple saxifrage starting to bloom.

Arctic dryad blooming.

Purple saxifrage and Arctic dryad in full bloom!

Considering we have not seen many lemmings this year may provide some explanation as to why our nests have faired so poorly. It seems unlikely that we would have caught a Northern Harrier depredating a nest if it had ample supply of lemmings to hunt. It would also affect many other mammalian and avian predators up here and drive them to seek out other prey items, including our artificial nests.

Unfortunately, we have yet to receive our duck eggs for the second trial, and time is running out. We were due to set it up tomorrow the 30th, but without them we have pushed it back a day. I am reluctant to push it back more than the one day, as we have to let the trial go for 20 days, and that would mean we would not finish until close to when we are supposed to be leaving the slope. I guess we will see tomorrow. We may be instructed to complete the trials without the duck eggs, or not at all. We shall see. In the meantime, MUFFINS!

Lapland Longspur chicks!