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RESPONDENT
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Robert Gill, Jr.
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SITE NAME
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Kobuk National Park & Preserve, USA
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| Contact
details (phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 907-786-3514/907-786-3636(fax) // robert_gill@usgs.gov // U. S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK, 99503, USA |
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PROJECT DETAILS
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Project name:
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Montane-nesting bird inventory |
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey:
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Team
size:
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30.05 |
1.06 |
2 |
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WEATHER CONDITIONS
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| Season
phenology: |
average |
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Weather conditions: |
| Major snow (est. 2-10 cm) at higher elevation with wind and freezing temperatures occurred for 12-18 h on 31 May. |
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| Date of ice-break
on rivers: |
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| Date of final loss
of snow: |
late May |
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BIOTIC CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low |
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Breeding conditions:
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| No owls were observed during the study period (30 May - 12 June). Observers were present on this plot between 30 May and 1 June with actual census work conducted 30-31 May. The plot is in the Waring Mountains and contains mostly patchy boreal forest-which is at its northern limit in this portion of Alaska-and alpine tundra. The north end of the plot rises abruptly from the broad floodplain of the Kobuk River. The plot was mostly snow free except for forested portions and north-facing exposures where <15% snow cover was usually found. Daytime temperatures reached 12øC but dropped to -2øC at night. The avifauna recorded on the plot reflected the predominantly forested landscape with species like Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis), Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus), Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata), Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca), and Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) occurring regularly. A single species of shorebirds, Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delecata), was recorded on the plot, while the only mammal observed was the porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Most species were actively singing and chasing suggesting that birds were still establishing territories and acquiring mates. Only Common Ravens (Corvus corax) were repeatedly seen making direct flight to and from areas suggesting they may have already been feeding young. |
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Rodent dynamics:
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| All evidence points to 2002 as being a low in Lemmus and Microtus cycles. At 14 of the 22 sites we recorded no evidence of voles or lemmings, while single red-backed and tundra voles were noted at only 2 and 3 sites, respectively.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| We were present at site 40228 for 2.5 days doing point counts (n = 25) spaced 500 m apart in a 10-km by 10-km area that encompassed various landscapes, mostly sparsely forested (Picea glauca, Betula papyrifera, Alnus crispa) uplands with large patches of shrub tundra and bare ground. This survey questionnaire for site 40228 plus those for sites 42628 and 44290 are representative of three major landcover assemblages censused in 2002 in the Noatak River Basin of the Brooks Range of northern Alaska as part of an ongoing inventory program for the National Park Service. The 3 sites are among 22 such plots randomly distributed over an area of about 60,000 square kilometres (230 km x 250 km). |
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