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RESPONDENT
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Robert Gill, Jr.
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SITE NAME
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Saint George Island, Pribilof Islands, 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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Population assessment of Pribilof Rock Sandpipers
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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2.05
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20.05
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4
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
| The island experienced a mild winter and most of the area was snow free upon our arrival; however, large snowfields persisted on steep, northwest-facing slopes and ridgelines. Daytime temperatures ranged from 2-9øC and winds were predominantly from the southwest or southeast, usually at 5-15 knots but some days (e.g., 5-7 May) steady at 30-40 knots. Low clouds, fog, snow squalls, and/or rain were experienced most days.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
mid April
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
late April
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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| Paired Rock Sandpipers were noted on 3 May, as were numerous other males in flight display. A 3-egg clutch was found on 13 May (4th egg laid 15 May); a single egg nest was found on 16 May; and 2, 4-egg clutches were found 14-15 May indicating birds on St. George were on a similar schedule as birds on adjacent St. Paul Island in spring 2001 (see Arctic Birds # 4). The nesting density of Rock Sandpipers on St. George in 2002 appeared to be about twice that on St. Paul in 2001. Density is likely a function of the different landcover composition between the two islands with St. George having more heath and shrub tundra than St. Paul and less ford tundra and sand dunes than St. Paul. St. George also appeared to have fewer Arctic foxes and about half the number of caribou as found on St. Paul. Fox populations on St. George are likely constrained by the limited intertidal areas accessible to them as compared to that available on St. Paul.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Lemming seen in mouth of fox on 8 May; no other signs of overwinter survival.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Detailed weather data available from meteorological station on St. Paul Island. Focus of study was to assess the size of the breeding population of the Pribilof Island subspecies (Calidris p. ptilocnemis) of the Rock Sandpiper and assess the impacts reindeer might have on habitat selection and nest success. Results combining studies done on St. Paul island in spring 2001 should be written up by autumn 2003.
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