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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, slopes of Mt. Douglas, 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 Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks and Preserves
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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29.05
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5.06
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4
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
| Weather conditions were typical for the season, with generally mild temperatures and little precipitation, with thick fog occasionally present along the coast. Spring phenology was normal, with low elevation sites mostly snow-free and nearly all lakes and ponds in the region free of ice upon our arrival. At many high elevation sites (>1,000 m), snow cover was extensive but birds were present and active during our period of study. We experienced no extreme weather events during our one-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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In the final year of a three-year project to inventory the montane-nesting birds of National Parks of southwest Alaska, we visited six sites in Katmai National Park and Preserve and three sites in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve from 29 May-5 June, 2006. All nine sites were located in mountainous terrain adjacent to the Shelikof Strait (Katmai) and Cook Inlet (Lake Clark) coasts.
In contrast to the previous two year's efforts at interior sites in both parks, shorebirds were uncommonly detected during this year's inventory. Only Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius (observed on one study plot), Wandering Tattler Tringa incana (two plots), and Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata (one plot) were detected despite visiting numerous montane and alpine sites containing suitable wader habitat. The most widespread raptors were Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus and Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, observed on eight and four 10 X 10 study plots, respectively. Merlin Falco columbarius, Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus, and Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus were all encountered on only two plots each. Brown and Black Bears, Wolf, Moose, and Arctic Ground Squirrel were observed throughout the survey region.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| A single vole or lemming (unidentified) was noted at two sites in Lake Clark during our survey period; overall abundance of microtone rodents was likely very low.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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