Local movements and habitat use of tundra or whistling swans Cygnus columbianus in the Kobuk-Selawik Lowlands of northwest Alaska
Spindler MA and Hall KF. 1991. Local movements and habitat use of tundra or whistling swans Cygnus columbianus in the Kobuk-Selawik Lowlands of northwest Alaska. Wildfowl. 42::17-31
This article by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists documents behaviors of tundra swans in the Kobuk-Selawik Lowlands. Tundra swans were marked and monitored in and near the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge between 1984-1989. To better define swan habitat protection needs, the authors investigated habitat use, movements on late summer home range, movements from breeding to staging areas, and timing of staging and initial autumn migration. Family groups occupied smaller home ranges (1 139 ha) than non-breeding (1 1331 ha); late summer movements of family groups usually centered on one to three wetlands; late summer home ranges contained more water and wetland area than earlier ranges; and all flocked non-breeders made a staging movement, whereas 68% of families did so. Forty-five swans, including 34 adults and 11 cygnets were radio-instrumented between 1984 and 1989. The study showed that late summer home-range size differed according to breeding status.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Spindler, Michael; Hall, Kent
- Units
- KOVA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Behavior, Birds, Birds (Aves), Cygnus columbianus, Habitat Use, Home Range, inland lake, Kobuk Lake, Kobuk River, Kobuk River delta, Kobuk Valley National Monument, Kobuk Valley National Park, Migration, Movements, Range, Selawik Lake, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Selawik River delta, Selection, staging, Swans, Telemetry, Tundra Swan, Tundra Swans, whistling swans