Peat Deposits and Thick-billed Murre Colonies in Hudson Strait and Northern Hudson Bay: Clues to Post-Glacial Colonization of the Area by Seabirds

Abstract

Deposits of peat moss are found in association with several major seabird colonies in the area of Hudson Strait and northern Hudson Bay. Because such deposits are absent from similar ground away from seabird colonies, they seem to have developed as a result of manuring by the birds. Consequently dates for the base of the peat provide minimum dates for the establishment of bird colonies. Dates obtained at three colonies suggest that they were established 1500-3800 years ago, well after the opening up of Hudson Strait. The colony at Akpatok Island, in Ungava Bay, was established earlier than the two colonies farther west, at Digges and Coats Islands, which accords with the idea that colonization of the region took place from the Atlantic.Key words: thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia, colony age, Hudson Strait, peat formation