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SITE NAME
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Naskonat Peninsula, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, USA
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 907-786-3908/907-786-3641 // Christian_Dau@fws.gov // U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management Division, Mail Stop 201, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503-6199, USA
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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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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7.06
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
Snow melt and habitat availability in 2007 was at least 10 days earlier than in 2006 and was comparable to the early spring phenology in 2003 and 2004. We were present at the study site from 29 May to 7 June which preceded hatching of waterbirds. All waterfowl clutch sizes were on average larger in 2007 compared to 2006 and hatching of primary species was predicted to be 5-7 days earlier than in 2006 (i.e. the Emperor Goose 7-8 June, Cackling Branta hutchinsii minima and Brant geese 9 June, Spectacled Eider 10 June). Early seasonal phenology and a favourable climate prior to hatching predicted good waterbird productivity.
Flowering dates for sedges Carex spp. (30 May), Arctic Butterbur (29 May), Canadian Dwarf Cornel (5 June), and Cloudberry and Sourdock (29 May) were 6-17 days earlier than in 2006. Green-up of Mare's-tail (4 June) was 12 days earlier than in 2006 and the first large mosquito emergence in 2007 was 1 June compared to 17 June in 2006. Chironomidae midges appeared 15 days earlier in 2007 (30 May) than in 2006 (14 June).
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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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Arctic Fox tracks were scarce but more common than in 2005 and 2006. One active Arctic Fox den was observed with six Cackling Goose carcasses present; otherwise fox predation on eggs and adult waterbirds appeared low.
Other notable species and habitat observations in 2007 include the Grey Phalarope and Ruddy Turnstone which continue to be of concern due to low numbers. These species are well below historic levels based on subjective observations by long-term field biologists. Fifteen breeding plumage Red Knots were observed migrating northwesterly through the study area on 6 June. Cackling Geese were commonly observed nesting at atypical sites in open marshes and along slough borders, habitats preferred by Emperor and White-fronted geese. Brants were also found nesting atypically along tidal sloughs. Both of these species prefer insular sites in shallow ponds and these sites are declining due to erosion.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| As in 2006, no microtines were observed in 2007 and there was little evidence of over-winter or spring activity adjacent to uplands and none in lowland marshes. Microtine have suffered from storm surge flooding in recent years, evidence of which was common throughout the study area.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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