TUNDRA SWAN SURVEY, NOATAK NATIONAL PRESERVE 1987-88

National Park Service

Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) in the Noatak River drainage utilize nesting areas on lands managed by the National Park Service, NANA, and private landowners. Currently, eastern and western populations of tundra swans are thought to be increasing (Bartonek et al. 1981). Historical population levels for the Kotzebue Sound area are unknown. The Resource Management Division began surveys in the southwest portion of Noatak Preserve and surrounding land within the river corridor (Noatak Flats) in 1987 and repeated the survey in 1988. In 1988 545 birds were counted, including 244 paired birds, 196 young, 71 single adults, and 28 in flocks. The total number of broods was 70 averaging 2.8 young per brood. In 1988 a 9% decrease in overall numbers was observed (Fig.2). This was due to 58 fewer paired birds, 19 more birds in flocks, and 28 fewer young (Fig.3). The decrease did not occur at any specific site but rather throughout the study area. Average brood size was 2.57 in 1987 and 2.8 in 1988. Density of total swans in the survey area was 2.31/km2, adults - 1.48/km2, and broods - 0.28/km2 in 1988. The results of the 1987 and 1988 survey indicate the importance of the lower Noatak River corridor as nesting habitat for tundra swans and provide a numerical baseline to which future monitoring efforts can be compared. Due to the number of variables that affect this population, additional years of data will be necessary to determine the natural variation in swan numbers. The additional data provided by the USF&W Service verifies the importance of the State managed tidelands and deltas of the Noatak River to tundra swans nesting in and near the Noatak National Preserve.