BREEDING CONDITIONS REPORT, 2004


RESPONDENT

Daniel Ruthrauff

SITE NAME

Turquoise Lake area, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, USA

Contact details (phone/fax//e-mail//address):
(907) 786-3514/(907) 786-3636(f) // druthrauff@usgs.gov // Alaska Science Center/USGS, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK 99503 USA

PROJECT DETAILS

Project name:

Inventory of montane-nesting birds in National Parks of Southwest Alaska

Start of survey:

End of survey: Team size:

16.05

29.05

6


WEATHER CONDITIONS

Season phenology: early

Weather conditions:

Snow was present only in valleys and >1200 m during the visit from 16-29.05. Creeks were rushing at this time, but dropping from maximum flows. No snowfalls occurred during visit. In contrast to sites on eastern side of Chigmit Mountains (northern extent of Aleutian Range), spring phenology in western sites was advanced approximately 3 weeks earlier than average. Minimal snow cover throughout most sites along western slope of Chigmit Mountains. Plot 22792 described herein is typical of areas visited in western sections of the park. We experienced no extreme weather events during our two week stay. Basic site information such as temperature, wind speed and direction, and precipitation was collected.

 

Season temperature:
Season humidity:
Date of 50% snow-cover:
Date of ice-break on rivers:
Date of final loss of snow:

BIOTIC CONDITIONS

Rodents abundance evaluation:

low

Breeding conditions:

Due to the short duration of our visit, we are unable to comment on how the early and late spring conditions may have ultimately affected breeding conditions on western and eastern sites, respectively, within the park.
 

Rodent dynamics:

Sub-nivean runways of unidentified voles were seen.

Rodent species recorded:

LatinAbundance

Summary of fauna studies:

Our crew of 6 visited a total of 25 10 X 10 km sites during the period 16-29 May, 2004. At each study site, we conducted up to 20 unlimited distance point counts in order to estimate densities of montane-breeding birds. Each site was visited for 1 to 2 days. In 2005, we will visit sites located in Katmai National Park and Preserve and Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve.

 

FAUNA IN STUDY AREA

Group of speciesPresenceAbundanceBreedingDetailed studiesComment
volesYesrare   
wadersYescommonbreedingYes 
ducksYescommonbreedingYes 
birds of preyYesrare Yes 
ptarmigansYescommon Yes 
skuasYesrare Yes 
gulls/ternsYesrare Yes 
passerinesYes breedingYes 

 

SEABIRD COLONIES

speciesComment

 

WATERBIRD NON-BREEDING AGGREGATIONS

speciesAggregation typeNumberComment

 

HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THE STUDY AREA

Human activityComment
seasonal fishing/hunting 

 


Recommended citation

Ruthrauff, D.R., Gill, Jr., R.E., Tibbitts, L. (2004). Breeding conditions report for Turquoise Lake area, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, USA, 2004. ARCTIC BIRDS: an international breeding conditions survey. (Online database). Eds. M.Soloviev, P.Tomkovich. . Updated 11 Dec. 2008. Accessed .

 more on citation guidelines

 

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