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RESPONDENT
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Daniel Ruthrauff
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SITE NAME
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Katmai National Park and Preserve, USA
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| 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
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Inventory of montane-nesting birds in National Parks of Southwest Alaska
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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11.05
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25.05
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6
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Only ~2% of surface were still snowcovered on 15-16 May, and creeks were high and rushing at this time. During our period of visit to this particular site, the weather was excellent, with clear, warm, and sunny conditions prevailing. Over the entire length of our visit to the Katmai region (11 May - 25 May), however, weather conditions varied considerably. Observers experienced rain, wind, and sleet in addition to the more benign weather conditions noted above. Because this was our first visit to the region, we are uncertain if the spring conditions we experienced were typical. However, based on discussions with researchers familiar with the region, it is our belief that the spring conditions were typical and the wide range of weather conditions we experienced was likewise typical. Low elevation sites were mostly snow-free and nearly all lakes and ponds in the region were free of ice upon our arrival. In contrast, high elevation sites, especially those along the Shelikof Strait coastline, were still completely covered in snow with very little avian activity noted during our period of study. We experienced no extreme weather events during our two week stay.
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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: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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Western sections of the Katmai region were mostly snow-free during our survey period, in contrast to eastern sections of the Park with delayed spring phenology typified by near complete snow cover and below-normal temperatures. No evidence of lemmings or voles was noted during our survey period, but Brown Bears, Wolverine, Lynx, Caribou, Moose, and Arctic Ground Squirrel were observed throughout the region.
Noteworthy bird observations included sightings of breeding Baird's Sandpipers Calidris bairdii, Surfbirds Aphriza virgata, and Wandering Tattlers Heterosculus incanus at locations at or beyond the southern limit of their known breeding range, and unexpectedly high numbers of Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and American Golden-Plovers Pluvialis dominica in the area surrounding Kukaklek Lake. Pacific Golden-Plovers P. fulva, while known to be common in low-lying areas of the Alaska Peninsula, were detected at sites further inland than expected. In contrast to these intriguing shorebird observations, observers were struck by the relative dearth of high-montane passerines (e.g., Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya), Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)), species which were detected in low numbers at Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in 2004. The most widespread raptors were Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus, Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Merlin Falco columbarius, and Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, observed on 17, 11, 8, and 4 10X10 study plots, respectively. Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus, Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus, and Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus were all encountered on only two plots each. We will conclude the inventory of this region in the spring of 2006 by visiting coastal sites in both Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks.
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Rodent dynamics:
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
| Our crew of 6 observers visited a total of 23 10 X 10 km sites during the period 11-25 May, 2005. At each study site, we conducted up to 25 unlimited distance point counts in order to estimate densities of montane-breeding birds. Each site was visited for 1 to 2 days. In 2006, we will visit additional sites located in both Katmai and Lake Clark National Park and Preserves, finishing our three-year inventory of montane-nesting birds in National Parks of southwest Alaska.
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