Quebec

he summer temperatures were close to normal in most of the Region, although a slight departure towards higher values was observed in Nunavik.Precipitation was also near normal, but some parts of Nunavik had 30% more rain.Despite these near-normal conditions, 300,000 hectares of forest were lost to fire, which is four times the average.This increase is apparently due to longer periods of drought followed by heavy thunderstorms accompanied by lightning.Half of the fires this summer were caused by lightning, which is now twice as frequent in summer in northern areas as in the past.The effect of these fires on nesting boreal species remains difficult to assess.Various reports from northern Quebec, especially from the Nunavik region, by biologists of the Canadian Wildlife Service (C.W.S.) and by others also contributed new insights into the Regional distribution of some species.WATERFOWL THROUGH IBIS A Wood Duck a few km n. of the Rupert R along James Bay Road in mid-Jun was notable (MMe), as were 2 Mallards between Eastmain and Radisson, also in mid-Jun (LC, SB).The finding of 2 male Northern Shovelers at Kangiqsujuaq, in n.Nunavik 21-28 Jun, was quite intriguing (D.McMullen, ph., fide MR), although the species nested at Puvirnituq, some 300 km to the sw., along the coast of Hudson Bay, in 2002.Five male Northern Pintails and a female in the Pingualuit N.P., 23 Jun and 28 Jul respectively, were n. of the species' expected breeding range (MR).Up to 3 male Redheads took up residence in the Magdalen Is, a first record there in summer (OB et al.).Rare inland, 3 male Common Eiders on L. gantic 13 Jun were quite puzzling (C.Roy).A male Harlequin Duck on the Toulnustouc R., ne. of Baie-Comeau (MR, C. Marcotte), and two pairs, each on a different river sw. of Kangiqsujuaq (MR), contributed to our knowledge of the distribution of this species.Red-necked Grebe is doing well in the Abitibi region, where 12 pairs produced 17 young on four different lakes near Rouyn-Noranda (LI).One made an untimely appearance at Tadoussac 29 Jun (MMo, RP).Northern Fulmars were widespread along the lower n.shore, with a maximum count of 500+ made from the Rimouski-Blanc-Sablon ferry in mid-Jun (ES et al.).A Manx Shearwater wandered w. to Bergeronnes 18 Jul (RP, MMo).An extraordinary influx of American White Pelicans included one at B•cancour 1 Jun (D. Poliquin), one at Saint-l•tienne-de-Beauharnois 2-3

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