Murray Lake
- Lake name:
- Murray Lake
- Location:
- Alberta
- Latitude:
- 49.8133333
- Longitude:
- -110.9538889
- Basin type:
- non-reservoir
- Primary vegetation for nesting:
- Typha
- Comments:
- Not much information on this lake.
Summary of Surveys (7)
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
1991, 2011 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 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 from 1991 to 2011 (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 Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service). No break out of data per year 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
12 June 2008, 13 June 2008 -
Source
Dissertation -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 14 | 2008 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 14 | 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 method and date for 2008 field season, and latest abundance estimate from 2008, which is the same as maximum abundance estimate. Source of maximum abundance estimate is from the 2008 field data.
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
1967, 2016 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 2009 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 6 | 2016 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 1967, 1998, 2007, 2009 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | presence? | 1967, 1998, 2007, 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), Wollis and Stratmoen 2010, Erickson 2010, and Hanus 2002. 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. 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
2009 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 2009 |
| Most Recent Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 2009 |
| 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 2 ("Most recent abundance estimates from known western grebe breeding lakes in Alberta based on structured surveys; at some lakes, more recent observations have been made but these were not complete counts"). Table 2 data is from Wollis and Stratmoen 2010. Estimates of western grebe numbers are a minimum estimate for that year derived from nest counts (x2 for breeding adult numbers) or boat surveys of adult grebes, using highest estimate. According to Table 4, the 2009 count is 1% of estimated proportion of provincial population. Water levels fluctuate due to being part of an irrigation system (H. Wollis, pers. comm.). This lake has a low amount of recreational activity.
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
2009 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 2009 |
| Most Recent Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 2009 |
| 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 1 and Table 2 comparing most recent estimate of # adults with highest estimate year.
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 2007, June 2007 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 13 | 2007 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 13 | 2007 |
| 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.
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
2009, 2016 -
Source
Management plan -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 101 to 500 | 107 | 2009 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 6 | 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.