Williams Lake
- Lake name:
- Williams Lake
- Location:
- British Columbia
- Latitude:
- 52.112321
- Longitude:
- -122.050893
- Primary emergent vegetation:
- Scirpus
- Primary vegetation for nesting:
- Myriophyllum Cattail round-stem bulrush (Scirpus acutus) Scirpus
- Management agency:
- Indian Reserve No. 1 (Sugar Cane Reserve); local First Nations band
- Region associations:
- Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
- Comments:
- Not much information about this lake.
Summary of Surveys (10)
Survey Citation:
Forbes. 1988. Western grebe nesting in British Columbia. The Murrelet. 28-33
-
Time period
1933, 1966 -
Source
Notes -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | 1935 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | 1962 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | 35 | 1935 |
| Most Recent Nests | 1 to 100 | 25 | 1962 |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
Forbes sourced historical data from British Columbia Nest Records Scheme and Munro 1935, Munro 1941, and Munro and Cowan 1947 for Table 1.
Survey Citation:
Campbell, R. W., Dawe, N. K., McTaggart-Cowan, I., Cooper, J., Kaiser, G. W., McNall, M., & Campbell, R. W. C. W. S. (1992). Nonpasserines : Introduction, loons through waterfowl. UBC Press.
-
Time period
1935, 1965 -
Source
Book -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 35 | 1935 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 25 | 1962 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | 6 | 1949 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 1965 |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
Source is from British Columbia Nest Records Scheme. Colony was considered extinct in 1965, entered as 0 nests found for that year (minimum nest # and most recent nest survey). Disturbance and unstable water levels attributed to the lack of nesting grebes.
Survey Citation:
David A. Munro, Notes on Western Grebe in British Columbia, The Auk, Volume 71, Issue 3, 1 July 1954, Pages 333–335, https://doi-org.uidaho.idm.oclc.org/10.2307/4081697.
-
Time period
N/A -
Source
Notes -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | ? |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | ? |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | ? |
| Most Recent Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | ? |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
Cites Munro (1941) as there being a nesting colony observed with no year nor other details.
Survey Citation:
Munro, J.A. 1941. Studies in Waterfowl in British Columbia: the grebes. B.C. Prov. Mus. Occas. Pap. No. 3. 71pp.
-
Time period
1935, 1941 -
Source
Species account -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | 1940 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | 1940 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | 25 | 1939 |
| Most Recent Nests | 1 to 100 | 25 | 1939 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | 1 | 1941 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 1 to 100 | 1 | 1941 |
Comments:
Observations from 1935 to 1941, not formal surveys. The 1935 nesting colony was found by O.J. Murie. The 1935 observation is of about 35 pairs and the 1941 observation is of 50 pairs (both multiplied by 2 for total estimate of adults). The 1939 observation of 25 nests was made by Leo John.
Survey Citation:
Stirling, D. 1962. Another Western Grebe colony
in British Columbia. Murrelet 43:3.
-
Time period
1941, June 1962 -
Source
Notes -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | 1941 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | 25 | 1962 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 1941 |
| Most Recent Nests | 1 to 100 | 10 | 1962 |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
Observations from 1941 (Munro 1941) and 1962 (A.R. Davidson) of colony and adults or pairs (1941). In 1962, Davidson noted that the colony had declined and there was industrial development at the marsh edge and speedboat activity.
Survey Citation:
Blood, D. A., and F. Backhouse. 1999. Western grebe, low breeding numbers and threats to their nesting colonies put these birds at risk. Wildlife at risk in British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
-
Time period
N/A -
Source
Brochure -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 70 | 1930s - early 1940s |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | ? | early 1940s |
| 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:
Not a survey but some historical data. Williams Lake considered abandoned, no nesting since ~1964. Did support a colony of 5 to 35 pairs from the 1930s and early 1940s.
Survey Citation:
Burger, A. E. 1997. Status of the Western Grebe in British Columbia. Wildlife Working
Report WR-87, Wildlife Branch, Ministry of the Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada.
-
Time period
1935, 1995 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | 1936, 1941 |
| Most Recent Adults | 0 | 0 (see comments) | 1995 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | 25 | 1939 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 1978 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | 50 | 1936 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 0 | 0 | 1980 |
Comments:
Considered a lake with historically regular breeding in the 1930s and 1940s, but now extirpated. Last recorded breeding was in 1964 though chicks were sighted in 1974. There are still summer visitors but numbers declined since the 1940s and were usually less than 10 birds during the breeding season in the 1980s. No nest surveys since the 1970s were conducted. Combined Table 2 and Table 4 (June through August numbers only, not including increases in August due to possible migration stopover) data with some minor discrepencies and incomplete survey data. Survey years from 1935 to 1995 with some skipped years and no numbers for adults during breeding season in 1990, 1992, and 1995. Unclear if surveys were conducted during the breeding season those years or zero counts were left blank. Sources are BCNRS (B. C. Nest Record Scheme of the Royal B. C. Museum), SRC (Sight Record Cards of the Royal B. C. Museum, and SINC (Scout Island Nature Centre).
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
-
Time period
1970, 1990 -
Source
Report -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 28 | 1970-1990 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | ? | 1990 |
| 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:
MAYBE THIS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED BECAUSE NON-BREEDING ADULTS (low #). From Table A.1, maximum counts of Western grebes (which may include non-breeding adults) at breeding lakes in B.C. from June to August (Burger 1997, Anderson et al. 2011). Stated as 20 year chunks: 1970 - 1990 and 1991 - 2011 without breaking those down into years or other details. The 28 in 1970 - 1990 are non-breeding adults with no estimated nor confirmed breeding. There is no count for 1991 - 2011. No breeding reported since 1964. From 1930s to 1964, supported 5 to 35 nests but ceased due to human disturbance and development (Burger 1997).
Survey Citation:
Woods, John. 2023. Unpublished data. Personal communications. Cites Munro and Cowan 1947.
-
Time period
1941, 1962 -
Source
Personal communication -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | 100 | 1941 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | ? | 1962 |
| Max Nests | 0 | 0 | 1962 |
| Most Recent Nests | 0 | 0 | 1962 |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
In an email from John Woods (2023), cites Munro and Cowan (1947) that Western grebes were only nesting at Williams Lake and Swan Lake in B.C. historically, with 50 pairs in 1941 in Williams Lake. However, by 1962, the colony declined and no longer remained due to speedboats.
Survey Citation:
Munro, J. A., and I. McTaggart-Cowan. A Review of the Bird Fauna of British Columbia. British Columbia Provincial Museum, Dept. of Education, 1947.
-
Time period
12 July 1938, 5 June 1942 -
Source
Book (species account) -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | 1938, 1939, 1942 |
| Most Recent Adults | 1 to 100 | presence | 1938, 1939, 1942 |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | 18 | 1942 |
| Most Recent Nests | 1 to 100 | 18 | 1942 |
| Max Chicks | 1 to 100 | presence | 1942 |
| Most Recent Chicks | 1 to 100 | presence | 1942 |
Comments:
Observations of eggs in 1939 and 1939 with no nest numbers, and observation of nests with chicks in 1942 but no chick numbers.
Sources of Information
- Forbes. 1988. Western grebe nesting in British Columbia. The Murrelet. 28-33.; Campbell, R. W., Dawe, N. K., McTaggart-Cowan, I., Cooper, J., Kaiser, G. W., McNall, M., & Campbell, R. W. C. W. S. (1992). Nonpasserines : Introduction, loons through waterfowl. UBC Press., David A. Munro, Notes on Western Grebe in British Columbia, The Auk, Volume 71, Issue 3, 1 July 1954, Pages 333–335, https://doi-org.uidaho.idm.oclc.org/10.2307/4081697.
- Campbell, R. W., Dawe, N. K., McTaggart-Cowan, I., Cooper, J., Kaiser, G. W., McNall, M., & Campbell, R. W. C. W. S. (1992). Nonpasserines : Introduction, loons through waterfowl. UBC Press., David A. Munro, Notes on Western Grebe in British Columbia, The Auk, Volume 71, Issue 3, 1 July 1954, Pages 333–335, https://doi-org.uidaho.idm.oclc.org/10.2307/4081697.
- Canadian Geographical Names Database (CGNDB)