Aerial Waterfowl Surveys: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Meixwell BE. 2007. Aerial Waterfowl Surveys: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Alaska Bird Observtory. Fairbanks, Alaska
As part of cooperative efforts among state and federal agencies in the preparation for response to an avian influenza virus H5N1 outbreak in North America, we conducted aerial surveys during May and June, 2007, to investigate the chronology, distribution and areas of aggregation, and species of waterfowl present in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (the Park). Surveys were flown along transects spaced at 2-mile intervals throughout probable waterfowl habitat within the Park and were replicated in three consecutive weeks between 24 May and 13 June. Estimates of waterfowl abundance in the Park declined from a high of 25,115.8 (SE = 4,096.9) in week 1 to 15,159.2 (SE = 2,973.8) in week 2 to 13,762.5 (SE = 2,996.3) in week 3. Diving ducks were the most abundant group of waterfowl, and of 19 observed species, scaup were the most common. I observed few large aggregations of waterfowl, and the majority of observations consisted of breeding pairs and lone males. Therefore, I suspect that waterfowl use during spring within the Park may be limited primarily to nesting and brood rearing.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Meixwell, Brandt
- Date of Issue
- 2007-08
- Units
- WRST
- Keywords
- Aerial Survey, Ducks, Waterfowl