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RESPONDENT
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Brian Uher-Koch
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SITE NAME
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Chipp North, USA
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| Contact details
(phone/fax//e-mail//address): |
| 907-786-7052 // buher-koch@usgs.gov // USGS Alaska Science Center, 421 0 University Dr, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
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PROJECT DETAILS |
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Project name:
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Hydrologic influence on tundra, pond, and lake ecosystems important to avian herbivores, invertivores, and piscivores
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Start of survey:
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End
of survey: |
Team
size: |
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1.06
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20.08
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10
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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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| Season phenology: |
average
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Weather conditions: |
| Spring phenology did not differ from average. Snow cover on flat areas reduced to 50% on 12 June and disappeared completely on 25 June. During the summer of 2013, air temperatures at Chipp North were above the long-term mean for the region. Precipitation was also heavier than normal, although it is unclear how these influenced bird abundance or breeding success.
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| Date of 50%
snow-cover: |
12.06
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
25.06
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
low
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Breeding conditions:
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The Chipp North site is ca. 85 km southeast of Barrow and ca. 60 km north of the nearest village (Atqasuk). Access to the field site is via ski plane in spring, and float plane thereafter. Studies took place from 1 June to 20 August 2013.
Lemming, vole, and Arctic Fox numbers were much lower in 2013 than previous summers. Abundance of Arctic Foxes evaluated as frequent; also Stoats were recorded in small number.
Birds of prey, including Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Harrier, were rare and seen infrequently without signs of breeding. Snowy Owls were rare at Chipp North in 2013; we found no nests this year. This contrasted sharply with 2011, when many Snowy Owls nested at the site. Pomarine Jaegers were also quite rare and seen only in early June. Parasitic Jaegers, however, were common and occurred in much higher numbers than previous years. Long-tailed Jaegers and Glaucous Gulls were also common.
Chipp North has high nesting densities of many shorebird species, including Pectoral Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers, Red-necked Phalaropes, and Grey Phalaropes. Of 35 nests of Dunlin found on the study area from 12 June-9 July, we subsequently monitored 27. Fifteen of these were depredated, nine hatched, and three were still active when this research component finished on 11 July. Hatch dates ranged from 2-11 July over the period of observation with five nests hatched between 2-4 July, and four between 7-11 July. Chipp North also has high densities of nesting waterfowl and loons, especially Greater White-fronted Goose, Yellow-billed Loon, and Pacific Loon. Both Willow and Rock Ptarmigans were common breeders.
In general, nest success for shorebirds, Greater White-fronted Goose, and both loon species was lower in 2013 than previous summers and considered as being low. This is likely due to increased predation by avian predators, primarily Parasitic Jaegers.
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Rodent dynamics:
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| Both lemmings and voles were almost non-existent this year.
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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Impact of human activities:
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| This site is remote and mostly pristine; numerous cabins, which are used seasonally for hunting and fishing, are along the nearby Chipp River just outside of our study plot.
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