Biogeography of select avian species in Alaska’s National Parks
Gotthardt TA, Fields TL, McClory JG. 2009. Biogeography of select avian species in Alaska’s National Parks. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, ENRI, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska.
In response to the detection of the highly pathogenic Asian H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI)in wild birds in Asia, the U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan for early detection of HPAIrecommended that monitoring efforts focus on cross-over routes of birds from Asia toNorth America. Understanding migration strategies is essential in examining the role ofwild birds in the spread of avian influenza and in predicting transmission routes withinand across continents. The migratory connection between Alaska and Asia and the aviandata available in National Parks makes Alaska’s National Parks a logical target for datasummarization efforts. The objective of this project was to collect and summarizeoccurrence information to display seasonal distribution and potential migratory patternsfor 36 avian species within and adjacent to Alaska’s 16 National Parks. Target taxa wereselected because they were recognized by the Alaska Interagency HPAI BirdSurveillance Working Group as having the highest potential of contacting the H5N1 virusand bringing it to Alaska. Information on the occurrence and seasonal distribution of the36 avian target species was collected from numerous and disparate data sources andsummarized in a relational/spatial (Access/ArcGIS) linked geodatabase. In total, wesummarized 11,042 observations for this project from 319 unique data sources whichspanned the time period 1881 to 2008. Observation data for individual species varied bytotal number, observation type (e.g., breeding, migration, stopover, wintering), seasonand presence within the four park networks. To assist managers with identification ofseasonal distribution patterns or avian concentration areas, we designed the geodatabaseto allow for easy viewing by number of birds observed, observation type, and season foreach species. This report summarizes information housed within the database for the 36target taxa on a species by species basis. Within each “species account” we includedinformation from the literature about the range of the species as well as information onmigration and mobility. We then summarized our findings on the distribution andseasonal occurrence of each species within Alaska’s National Parks, provided specificdates on the timing of spring and fall migration, first breeding, molting and staging, andprovided a seasonal distribution map that included all location information gatheredduring this project.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gotthardt, Tracey; Fields, Tamara; McClory, Jodi
- Date of Issue
- 2009-09
- Units
- AKR
- Keywords
- Aleutian Cackling Goose, Arctic Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Larus glaucescens, Long-tailed Duck, Polysticta stelleri, Smith’s Longspur, Alaska, Aleutian Tern, Anas acuta, Arenaria interpres, avian influenza, Bar-tailed godwit, Birds, Brachyramphus brevirostris, Brant, Branta bernicla, Branta hutchinsii leucopareia, Branta hutchinsii taverneri, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Calcarius pictus, Calidris acuminata, Calidris alpina, Calidris canutus, Calidris melanotos, Calidris ptilocnemis, Catharus minimus, Chen caerulescens, Chen canagica, Clangula hyemalis, Common Eider, Contopus cooperi, Cygnus columbianus, Dendroica striata, dunlin, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Emperor Goose, Euphagus carolinus, Falco rusticolus, Gavia adamsii, glaucous gull, glaucous-winged gull, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Grus canadensis, Gyrfalcon, H5N1, King Eider, Larus hyperboreus, lesser snow goose, Limnodromus scolopaceus, Limosa iii lapponica, Long-billed Dowitcher, Motacilla tschutschensis, National Parks, northern pintail, Observations, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific Golden- Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Phylloscopus borealis, Pluvialis fulva, Red knot, Rock sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Rusty Blackbird, sandhill crane, Seasonal Distribution, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Somateria fischeri, Somateria mollissima, Somateria spectabilis, Spectacled Eider, Steller’s Eider, Sterna aleutica, Taverner’s Cackling Goose, Tryngites subruficollis, Tundra Swan, Yellow-billed Loon