Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern AlaskaBee, James W.
Science
Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern Alaska
Bee, James W.
Birds -- Alaska
Atanak and his companions from Wainwright told us that other whistling
swans were observed (July 16-17, 1951) from our camp on the Kaolak
River to a point seven miles up the Kaolak River from the junction of
the Avalik and Ketik rivers. In the previous month (June), these same
Eskimos had observed 12 pairs of swans between Wainwright and our
camp.
+Branta canadensis minima+ Ridgway: Canada goose.--On July 8 and 9,
1951, four geese fed on a large lake at Topagaruk and when disturbed,\
flew from the lake in groups of two or four, never as single
individuals. Upon returning to the lake they reformed in a group of
four. Drilling for oil was underway there but geese, ducks and smaller
water birds 300 or more feet away from the well were relatively
unmolested and present in normal numbers. Men at the well told us that
birds were not so plentiful in 1951 as in the previous year and that
it was the latter part of May, this year being earlier than last year,
when waterfowl and shore-birds arrived on the tundra. In late May 50
per cent or more of the ground is covered with snow and the lakes are
frozen. Creeks and rivers are used until lakes open up. This is a time
of loud clamor and nuptial performances when geese and brant call all
night. The noise and much of the activity ceases at nesting time. In
the cool weather of autumn (September 1), lakes freeze and the birds
leave the tundra and congregate along the shores of the Arctic Ocean
preparatory to flock formation and migration. Geese and ducks tarry
but the shore-birds leave suddenly. The fall migrations at Point
Barrow begin in the middle of August.
+Branta nigricans+ (Lawrence): Black brant.--On June 19, 1951, two
black brant flew east over the tundra at Salt Water Lagoon and
continued in that direction as far as we could follow the birds with
binoculars. On August 25, 1952, between Birnirk and Point Barrow, we
flushed a flock of 60 brant seven times; they were loathe to leave the
peninsula. On the following day, 58 brant were seen in the same area.
+Anser albifrons frontalis+ Baird: White-fronted goose.--Specimen,
1: 9/10 mi. W and 9/10 mi. N Umiat, 152 deg.10'58", 69 deg.22'53", 380 ft.,
No. 31303, ad. female, July 1, 1952.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account