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Wolf Lake

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Lake name:
Wolf Lake
Location:
Alberta
Latitude:
54.6941667
Longitude:
-110.9558333
Surface area (km2):
31.5
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Management agency:
Alberta Environment
Region associations:
Wolf Park West Provincial Park
Comments:
This deep lake hosts a diversity of wildlife habitat and is also 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 501 to 1000 720 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 Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service).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:
Erickson, M. 2010. Persistence and abundance of the Western grebe in Alberta. Dissertation. University of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • Type
    shore
  • Time period
    28 June 2008, 22 August 2008
  • Source
    Dissertation
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 720 1985
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:

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. I didn't include maximum abundance estimate as part of the survey date for Erickson's surveys.

Survey Citation:
Found, C. and A. Hubbs. 2004. Survey of Colonial Nesting Birds and Lakeshore Habitats in Northeast Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 88, Edmonton, AB. 32 pp.

  • Type
    boat; air
  • Time period
    12 June 2003, 14 July 2003
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 732 1988
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 20 2003
Max Nests 101 to 500 366 1988
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 35 2003
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

According to Table 10 Historic information on breeding populations of western grebes on lakes in Northeast Alberta, Wolf Lake's breeding adult numbers are nests X 2 and historical data is sourced from Hanus (2002). I entered the minimum adult count from Table 3, the survey number from 2003 of the entire lake instead of nest count X2 (which would be 40). Also, I entered the 35 nests counted from Table 3 instead of the 20 nests sampled from Table 4. At time of surveys (does not say when), all nests were abandoned. I divided by 2 the historical adult numbers in Table 10 for the historical nest numbers.

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
    1980, 2011
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 732 1988
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 1 2011
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2003
Most Recent Nests 0 0 2011
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence? 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2003
Most Recent Chicks 0 0 2011

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), Found and Hubbs 2004, Kemper et al. 2008, 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. 2006. Status of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 60, Edmonston, AB. 29 pp.

  • Time period
    1985, 2003
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 500 to 999 1985, 1988, 1989
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 40 2003
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 1 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta supporting western grebe colonies of over 500 breeding birds, adapted from Hanus 2002) and Table 2 ("Summary of the most recently published western grebe population data for the province of Alberta".). Table 1 is divided into categories of lakes with 1000+ birds and lakes with 500 to 999 birds and not specific count numbers. Table 2 data is sourced from Found and Hubbs 2004. Wolf Lake is in the Boreal natural region.

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
    1985, 2008
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 720 1985
Most Recent Adults 0 0 2008
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1985
Most Recent Nests 0 0 2008
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence 1985
Most Recent Chicks 0 0 2008

Comments:

Data from Table 1 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta supporting western grebe colonies of over 200 breeding birds, adapted from Hanus 2002) already entered from 2006 Alberta report. 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"). Table 1 is divided into categories of lakes with 1000+ birds and lakes with 200 to 999 birds and not specific count numbers. 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 1985 but it is no longer or unknown in 2008.

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
    1988, 2011
  • Source
    Management plan
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 501 to 1000 732 1988
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 1 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 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, potential habitat was available but no Western grebes. Sources are Prescott et al., 2018 and Alberta Environment and Parks, 2018.

Sources of Information

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