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RESPONDENT
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Richard Anthony
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SITE NAME
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Yukon-Kuskokwim outer Delta south-west, Alaska, USA
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (907)786-3508/(907)786-3636(f) // mike_Anthony@usgs.gov // Alaska Science Center, USGS, Biological Science Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Black Brant Video Nesting Survey
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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6.06
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12.06
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2
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Flooding occurred at the Kokechik Bay brant colony during nest initiation (mid-May) as evidenced by displaced down and eggs among active nests during our visit on 12 June. Nests within 300 m of the bayshore were affected.
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
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Breeding conditions:
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Total number of brant nests was up from 2004, probably as a result of reduced human activity at 2 colonies (Kokechik Bay=KB and Baird Island=BI) and fox trapping for Spectacled Eider protection at one colony (Kigigak Island). However, fox predation was heavy during nest initiation and early in incubation. The trend in the annual mean of estimates continues to be negative despite the improved success this year.
Numbers at KB are still below the average of 6893±902 nests from 1995-2000, which argues for further reduction in disturbance by humans at this colony. Also, contributing to lower numbers of nests at KB was the occurrence of flooding of nests within 300 m of the shoreline. Undisturbed nests were found among flooded ones indicating that flooding probably occurred early in nest initiation. Estimated number of nests at BI also was higher than last year, despite evidence of continued human activity in the colony.
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Rodent dynamics:
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Number of brant nests in 5 colonies were estimated from aerial digital photography, continuing a survey that was begun in 1992. Detailed in the report to Pacific Flyway Council "AERIAL SURVEYS OF BRANT COLONIES ON YUKON DELTA NWR IN 2005". July 14, 2005.
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