Gull and Tern Breeding Colonies on Great Slave Lake, 1986-2010

Survey results of active gull and tern breeding colonies on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, collected between 1986 and 2010. The dataset was compiled by the Canadian Wildlife Service and includes species counts, nest numbers, clutch size, chick presence, and habitat characteristics. Data were primarily gathered through ground surveys by boat between mid-June and early July.

Use Cases

• Analyze population trends for seven gull and tern species based on survey data from 1986 to 2010.
• Model breeding habitat suitability based on recorded vegetation cover and island characteristics.
• Assess colony site fidelity and distribution patterns along the northeastern shoreline of the North Arm.
• Support conservation planning for Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat and Important Bird Areas.

Strengths

• Covers a 24-year time series (1986-2010) for longitudinal analysis.
• Includes data for seven specific bird species, including the Caspian Tern, for which this is the only known Northwest Territories breeding site.
• Surveys recorded multiple variables per colony: species, nest counts, clutch size, chick presence, and habitat characteristics.
• Associated with a published technical report (Technical Report Series No. 526), providing context and validation.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale modeling.
• Spatial coverage is limited to the portion of the North Arm west of Yellowknife, with noted reduced data from the southwest shoreline.

Provenance

Source

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service.

Collection Method

Ground surveys conducted by boat, with data recorded at each colony.

Time Range

1986 to 2010

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-12 15:31:04.644572; freshness should be verified.

Geography

North Arm of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada, specifically the area west of Yellowknife.