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SITE NAME
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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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WEATHER
CONDITIONS
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Weather conditions: |
| Spring was approximately one week later than normal along the outer coast of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Availability of nesting habitat was also delayed but only an estimated 2 days in comparison to 1998 which was reported as an early spring. Coastal lowlands were snow free by 1 June. Waterbodies in these lowlands were up to 50 percent ice covered on 28 May and ice free by 1 June. Ice break-up along the lower Kashunuk River occurred on 5 June (33-year average - 31 May).
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| Date of ice-break on
rivers: |
5.06
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| Date of final loss of
snow: |
1.06
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BIOTIC
CONDITIONS
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| Rodents abundance evaluation: |
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Breeding conditions:
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| Nesting delays reduced densities of nesting geese from 1998 (e.g. Canada Geese -14.4%, White-fronted Geese -18.2%, Emperor Geese -1.6%). It is likely that wader and other waterbird species also nested in densities lower than 1998. Of note was a breeding record of a Pectoral Sandpiper, normally seen only as a migrant to more northerly breeding areas. Also, the reporter has noted few Red Phalarope (approximately 1 Red to 10 Red-necked Phalarope) and Ruddy Turnstones since 1997. Both species were common throughout the 1970's.
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Rodent dynamics:
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Rodent species recorded:
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Summary
of fauna studies: |
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