Just got this comment on Friday, June 26, about spring conditions from NWT biologist Richard Popko who is stationed in Norman Wells:

"Local situations varied  during spring migrations. Few whimbrels were seen.  It seems like most flew by. Waterfowl concentrated very thick in open areas at Brackett Lake and downriver from Fort Good Hope in the Mackenzie River. It seems like winter was late then green up was very fast in the Mackenzie Valley"

"The Coppermine River area is also frozen still and people are ice fishing on Great Bear Lake. Yes that does seem like late melting."