BREEDING CONDITIONS REPORT, 2006


RESPONDENT

Susan Savage

SITE NAME

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:

Alaska Peninsula Lowland bird Survey (Focus on shorebirds).

Start of survey:

End of survey: Team size:

10.05

31.05

4


WEATHER CONDITIONS

Season phenology: late

Weather conditions:

Remote Area Weather Station at Mother Goose Lake (57.1797øN 157.2781øW) in place since 2000.

 

Season temperature: cold
Season humidity: rainy
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:

At least nine shorebird species demonstrated evidence of breeding. Dunlin and least sandpiper nests were found. Nests of several predators were also found. We did not remain at any one plot long enough to evaluate breeding success. We have not visited these plots previously so no between-year changes could be noted.
 

Rodent dynamics:

Rodent species recorded:

LatinAbundance

Summary of fauna studies:

This year's work is part of an ongoing shorebird inventory started in 2004. The inventory includes 64 plots in two strata systematically dispersed across lowland areas of the Alaska Peninsula from the Naknek drainage to the end of the peninsula. Point transects are conducted on the plots. All shorebirds and avian predators are recorded. To date 629 points have been surveyed on 42 plots. Distance estimation is being used with hopes of generating density estimates. The work is still in progress. Point counts are also being done for all other birds. Habitat data are collected at each point. Incidental records are kept on mammal, invertebrate observations and conditions. Nests found incidentally were recorded, but no return visits could be made to evaluate success. Annual and final reports will be available.

 

FAUNA IN STUDY AREA

Group of speciesPresenceAbundanceBreedingDetailed studiesComment
volesYesrare   
wadersYescommonbreedingYes 
swansYescommonbreeding  
geeseYesrare   
ducksYescommonbreeding  
birds of preyYesrarebreedingYes 
buzzardsYesrarebreeding  
ptarmigansYesrarebreeding  
cranesYesrarebreedingYes 
skuasYes  Yes 
gulls/ternsYescommonbreedingYes 
owlsYesrare Yes 
passerinesYescommonbreeding  
red foxesYesrare   

 

SEABIRD COLONIES

speciesComment

 

WATERBIRD NON-BREEDING AGGREGATIONS

speciesAggregation typeNumberComment

 

HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THE STUDY AREA

Human activityComment
permanent polar/meteorological/reserve stationRAWS station at Mother Goose Lake and Yantarni
seasonal fishing/huntinglarge commercial and smaller sport fishing
summer field camp 

 


Recommended citation

Savage, S. (2006). Breeding conditions report for Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, USA, 2006. 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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