Sterna, bind 15 nr 3 (PDF-fil) - Museum Stavanger

A NOTE ON THE SNOW BUNTING IN SPITSBERGEN
David Balfour
This investigation was carried out on June 21 - July 5 1973 to try and
establish the area of ground used by a pair of Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax
nivalis) as breeding territory, and also how and from what area they obtain
their food.
The observations were carried out on the west side of Grgnfjord, Spitsbergen.
The area studied was the coastal strip from Kokerineset to Sandefjordneset,
and lies between sea leve1 and approximately the 25 m contour
line, Latitude 78" N. (Exact area shown on map.)
Much more snow lay on the west side of GrØnfjord than on the east.
In the area of observation the snow lay in river gorges, on the sea cliffs,
and in strips parallel to the seashore. By 4th July, 1973, most of the snow
had melted. (The air temperatures varied from 2" C., being the lowest
recorded and the average being about 5" C.).
Description of work.
A thorough search was made for as many Snow Buntings' nests as possible
in the area defined. It was recognized that since time was short, some nests
may have been overlooked. By observation it was sought to establish where
Buntings feed while they occupy their breeding territory. Where possible, the
eggs in each nest were counted and measured. Due to inaccessibility of the
nests this was not always possible.
Sites of Nests.
Snow Buntings nest in deep cracks in the rocks, or deep among boulders.
These nests are only accessible to these small birds themselves. Gulls and
foxes cannot penetrate, so predation on their eggs is prevented or decreased.
As can be seen from the map, the nests are most common along the seashore
or by riven. The seashore cliffs, with ledges and fissures, are very suitable
for Snow Buntings' nests. The rivers cut a deep gorge, the sides of which also
provide suitable nests sites. Above the 25 m contour, in the dry and wet
tundra, there were no good nest sites, except where scree existed.
Nests 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18 were all on seashore cliffs, the base
of which were in the sea at high tide. None of these nests were secn, except
6 and 18, since they were more than 1.5 m above shore level. Nest 18 could
be seen from the top of the cliff, and the rock on which nest 6 was resting
fell down as a result of snow melt, bringing the nest down as well. The sites of
the nests were confirmed by flushing the female at least twice and watching
her return to the same hole in the rock to sit on her eggs.
Nest 13. The female bird could be seen sitting on the nest as the nest was
situated in a fairly open hole in the side of a cliff.
1976, Sterna 15: 169-1 73
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