Coastal Zone Use by Postbreeding Shorebirds in Northern Alaska
Andres BA. 1994. Coastal Zone Use by Postbreeding Shorebirds in Northern Alaska. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 58(2):206-213
Knowledge of shorebird habitat requirements along the Aretic coast of Alaska is crucial to asses potential impacts of oil development. Therefore, I studied and use of habitat by postbreeding shorebirds migrating through the coastal zone of the Colville River delta. Unvegetated silt barrens and vegetated and partially vegetated saltmarshes were surveyed for shorebirds during 1987 and 1988. I recorded 18 species of which 5 speices constituted 90% of 32,639 individuals observed. Dunlins (Calidris alpina) dominated observations (59% of all individuals). Across years and habitats, 150 birds/km2 were present in the delta coastal zone. Density of dunlins and sanderlings(C.alba) were higher (P ≥0.025) on shoreline silt barrens whereas densities of all other species were equitably distributed among silt barrens and saltmarshes (P > 0.05). Shorebrids, other than dunlins and sanderlings, were positively associated (P ≤ 0.01) with wet, sparsely vegetated saltmarshes. No other site surveyed in northern Alaska hosted as many dunils as the Colville River delta. Migrating shorebrids using coastal habitats, dunlins in particular, could be adversely affected by coastal oil development.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Andres, Brad
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Arctic, Caldiris spp Colville River Delta, Density, Habitat, Migration, Oil Development, preference, Shorebirds