Boertmann, D. & Nielsen, R.D. 2010. Geese, seabirds and mammals in North and Northeast Greenland. Aerial surveys in summer 2009. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University. 66 pp. – NERI Technical Report No. 773.
This report describes the results of an aerial survey carried out in North and Northeast Greenland in July and August 2009 (Figure 2), comprising the following elements.
The Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (Greenland Government) financed the surveys.
The surveys were carried out as “total counts” (cf. Laursen et al. 2008) along shores, rivers, ice edges, lush valleys and wetlands. A single set of transect flights was performed in the Hold-with-Hope lowlands. The results are presented on the maps shown in Figures 6-44.
The most significant results include:
Much fewer geese (pink-footed as well as barnacle) in Jameson Land compared to in the 2008 survey (Table 3)
Identification of the most important goose moulting areas in Hold-with-Hope and Wollaston Forland (Figure 30-33)
Identification of important moulting areas for at least 30,000 pink-footed geese in North Greenland (Figure 25)
Much fewer light-bellied brent geese along the coasts of Kronprins Christian Land, Peary Land and Johs. V. Jensen Land compared to 2008.
The survey for breeding colonies of ivory gull initiated in 2008 was continued in 2009. Five new colonies were located, and in 2009 the most important colony on Henrik Krøyer Holme was not occupied. Furthermore some colonies without birds in 2008 were occupied in 2009. A total of 31 breeding sites have now been identified in Greenland north of 79°.
One of the new colonies was situated on low gravel banks off the coast, 50 km east of Kap Morris Jesup at 83° 38’ N. Besides the ivory gulls, Sabine’s gulls and Arctic terns were present as well as common eider. Furthermore, the presence of two female and one male common eider also indicate breeding of this species. This colony must be the northernmost seabird breeding colony in the world.
The only known moulting area for male king eiders in East Greenland (located in Knighton Bugt in 2008) was surveyed again in 2009 and some hundred birds were observed.
The walrus haul-out on Sandøen held 34 males on 20 July 2009. The same date, 15 walruses were observed on ice floes in Clavering Stræde and, among these, at least one female with a calf. Very few were seen in the Northeast Water polynya.
Narwhals were observed along Blosseville Kyst, particularly in Barclay Bugt and de Reste Bugt. Many were also seen along the ice edge between Île de France and the Northeast Water.
The most important observation was a female bowhead whale in company with an approx. 3–month-old calf. This is the first observation of calves in the Spitsbergen stock of bowhead whales for many decades.
The little auk colonies in Liverpool Land and at Volquart Boon Kyst were surveyed on 21 and 22 July. It is the plan to estimate the extent of the colonies based on the photos from these areas and use this information to estimate the breeding population of little auks, just as has been carried out in the Thule area of northwest Greenland (Egevang et al. 2003).
The results indicate that the fauna and flora protection areas designated in 2009 (Aastrup & Boertmann 2009) should be supplemented with the ice edge between Île de France and the Northeast Water (bowhead whale) and with the long valley of Vitskøl Elv in Peary Land (pink-footed goose).
Full report in pdf (4.28 MB)
