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Thunder Lake

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Lake name:
Thunder Lake
Location:
Alberta
Latitude:
54.1269444
Longitude:
-114.7583333
Surface area (km2):
7.03
Management agency:
Alberta Environment, Alberta Parks
Lake use:
recreation
Region associations:
Thunder Lake Provincial Park
Comments:
This medium-sized lake has relatively stable water levels and is popular for sport fishing.

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
    1970, 2011
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 273 1970-1990
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 Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service).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
    boat
  • Time period
    22 June 2001
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 3 2001
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 3 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. Naturalist and local recount about 100 Western grebes in the 1960s that then declined after the development of Thunder Park Provincial Park, increased boating, and more anthropogenic impact (J. Kinnaird 2001, pers. comm.). 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
    28 May 2008, 12 July 2008
  • Source
    Dissertation
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 251 1980
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 4 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. 28 May and 12 July surveys are from the shore, 19 June data is from ASRD. 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
    1968, 2016
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 251 1980
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 >=80 2016
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1968, 1981, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2006, 2016
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 presence 2016
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence? 1968, 1981, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2006, 2016
Most Recent Chicks 1 to 100 presence? 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, 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:
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
    1968, 2008
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 100+ 1968
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 4 2008
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1968
Most Recent Nests 0 0 2008
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence 1968
Most Recent Chicks 0 0 2008

Comments:

Data from Table 3 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta that once had large breeding colonies (over 100 birds) but no longer have active colonies). HIghest breeding population estimates and most recent estimates are presented here"). Number of western grebes from Table 3 is from abundance estimates (minimum estimate of western grebes for that year) and came from nest counts (X2 for breeding adult numbers), boat surveys of adult grebes, or incidental observations, using highest estimate. Breeding confirmed in 1968 but it is no longer or unknown in 2008. Winter kill of fish and more boating activity (H. Wollis, pers. comm.).

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
    1981, 2008
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 273 1981
Most Recent Adults 0 0 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:

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 2 comparing most recent estimate of # adults with highest estimate year. The highest estimate of # adults in 1981 might include young of year because the count was done after fledging.

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
    1981, 2016
  • Source
    Management plan
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 101 to 500 273 1981
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 >80 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 A, 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, potential habitat was available and lake was occupied by Western grebes. Sources are Prescott et al., 2018 and Alberta Environment and Parks, 2018.

Sources of Information

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