|
|
|
|
SITE NAME
|
|
Naknek River, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, USA
|
|
| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| (907) 246-1205/(907) 246-6696(f) // susan_savage@fws.gov // Alaska Peninsula / Becharof National Wildlife Refuge PO Box 277, King Salmon, AK 99613 USA
|
|
PROJECT DETAILS |
|
Project name:
|
|
Naknek Waterfowl Survey
|
|
|
Start of survey:
|
End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
|
14.03
|
16.05
|
4
|
|
WEATHER
CONDITIONS
|
|
|
|
Weather conditions: |
| According to observations from 14 March - 16 May the season was late in timing, cold and rainy. Naknek River at King Salmon broke on 19 March, refroze on 22 March, and final break-up occurred on 29 March. Air temperatures in King Salmon in March through mid-May were below 50-year average, but the end of May was well above average resulting in a monthly mean above average in temperature. Total precipitation in April twice exceeded typical amount.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
|
|
| Date of final loss of
snow: |
|
|
BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
|
| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
|
|
|
Breeding conditions:
|
The total waterfowl peak count (11550 birds) occurred on 28 April on the upper route with a previous peak (of 11375 birds) on 24 April. On the lower route the peak occurred on 12 April at 3225 birds. Peak abundances of 11 of 13 principal species on the upper route were notably higher than average (by at least one third) in 2006. Peak abundances of four of eight principal species on the lower route were also notably higher than average this year. In general, peak counts were high (especially for dabbling ducks, geese and swans) and many arrival and peak count dates were late for many species compared against 15 year averages for the same study. Peak numbers may have been triggered as weather conditions further north held birds at this staging location. This study did not focus on breeding success. The Rough-legged Buzzard, skuas, owls and Red Fox - all were rare while gulls were common, but no information on their breeding is available.
|
|
|
Rodent dynamics:
|
|
|
|
Rodent species recorded:
|
|
|
|
|
Summary
of fauna studies: |
Abundance of any waterfowl species observed was tracked as the major focus of this study. An unpublished report has been completed and is available in English, either paper or PDF version.
Savage, S.E. & W. Murray. 2007. Spring staging waterfowl on the Naknek River, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, March - May 2006. Unpubl. US Fish & Wildlife Service, King Salmon, AK. 46 pp.
Staff also tracked arrival phenology of all birds. These data are currently available in an Excel spread sheet.
|
|