Description
The information presented in this report represents the findings from the second year of surveying western and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area in Alberta. The surveys are projected to span a five year period and the project is designed to monitor population trends and reproductive success of western grebes and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area. In 2002, surveying effort was focused on the primary grebe populations identified in the initial year of the project. The regional population of western grebes was estimated to be approximately 2611 adults on six lakes. The Wabamun Lake colony continues to show signs of poor nesting success, which we now believe to be attributed to high rates of corvid nest depredation. This is a major concern since this colony is ranked nationally significant. Eared grebes were found on 10 lakes, for a conservative overall population estimate of 8633 adults.