Rock ptarmigan were uncommon at Chandler Lake. We observed the first bird in the area on August 22, 1952, 13 days after our arrival. Droppings of the birds were only occasionally seen there.
Grus canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus): Sandhill crane.—In 1952, two sandhill cranes called in the river valley north of Umiat on June 24. On June 26, 27 and 28, a single bird was seen there. It remained in the general area and called occasionally. Sandhill cranes are only occasionally seen along the Colville River. A pair of these cranes was seen near Meade River on August 16, 1952, by Marvin Mangus.
Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte: Semipalmated plover.—A pair of semipalmated plovers in company with their young along the edge of Seabee Creek at Umiat were seen on four consecutive days, July 18-21, 1952. A male and female measured, respectively, total length, 180 and 175 mm; weight, 50 and 55 grams.
Pluvialis dominica dominica (Müller): American golden plover.—Specimens, 10: Kaolak River, 159°47'40", 70°11'15", 30 ft., Nos. 30592-30596 including 2 ad. males and 3 ad. females, July 12, 14, 18, 1951; Kaolak, 160°14'51", 69°56'00", 178 ft., Nos. 30588-30591 including 3 ad. males and 1 ad. female, July 21-23, 1951; Umiat, 152°09'30", 69°22'08", 352 ft., No. 31312 of an adult of unknown sex, July 21, 1952.
On July 29, 1952, we noted a pair of golden plover 3⁄10 mile northwest of Umiat. At Kaolak River (July 12, 1951) golden plovers could be approached to within 80 feet and were less wary than black-bellied plovers at Topagaruk. When one bird was shot the mate remained near the dead bird.
At Kaolak (July 21-27) four families of plovers were within a radius of ½ mile of camp. Each of these families remained apart from the others whereas at Kaolak River the physiography of the terrain permitted the pairs to form social groups of several families of adults and young. At Kaolak males flew to meet any intruder and attempted to decoy the intruder while the female remained with the young, but at Kaolak River an observer would approach to within 80 feet of a nest or young whereupon the female feigned injury by fluttering her wings and moving on her belly in an effort to decoy the intruder, the male meanwhile remaining within 40 feet of the observer. At Kaolak River, birds stayed in the nesting or feeding territory until approached to within a hundred or so feet. Young birds (July 21) were approximately ¾ the size of adults. The largest bird collected at Umiat (July 21) weighed 155 grams and measured 26 mm in length. Five males, shot on July 12-23 at Kaolak and Kaolak River, averaged 144(130-150) grams. The testes were 4.4(4.0-5.0) mm long. Four females collected at the same time from this area, averaged 144(140-150) grams. The ovaries were 7.7(5.0-10.0) mm long and the largest ovum was 2.0 mm in diameter.
The call of the adult was two distinct curlewlike notes that differed from the slurred call of the black-bellied plover. Golden plovers can be decoyed by imitating their call.
At Barrier Lake, in a two hour field trip (July 29, 1951) we observed a flock of eight birds and one single; golden plovers were active there all day and night.
At Kaolak River (July 12, 1951) six pairs and their young were on open and exposed surfaces.
Squatarola squatarola (Linnaeus): Black-bellied plover.—Specimens, 2: Topagaruk, 155°48', 70°34', 10 ft., No. 30597, ad. male and No. 30598, ad. female, July 9, 1951.