Birds Found on the Arctic Slope of Northern Alaska — John Shaqi
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
Robert McKinley told us that on May 16, 1952, approximately 25 gulls,
probably glaucous gulls, arrived at the Arctic Research Laboratory and
remained until May 25. On July 4, 1951, there, we recorded all gulls
passing over the ice from 8:45 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. At this time the
shore line and first 100 feet of water was free of ice; beyond,
seaward, the ice was rough and dark for 1/4 mile, succeeded by white ice
for 1/4 mile, next the high pressure ridge, and then open water of the
Arctic Ocean. Glaucous gulls, singly, passed to the southwest and to
the northeast at intervals of 6(3-10) minutes at a distance of
500(300-800) feet from the shore line, except for one bird that was
approximately one mile off-shore.
On July 10, 1952, off-shore from the Laboratory, where garbage from
camp was deposited on the ice, approximately 130 glaucous gulls were
present--some resting on the ice and some flying. At six P.M., four
hours later, 84 gulls including several immatures remained. Birds in
groups were constantly walking about or flying short distances, but
lone individuals stood perfectly still for long periods. On July 11,
only 22 birds remained; they were flying up and down the shore line.
At Topagaruk (July 5-10) glaucous gulls fed on the refuse pile at
camp. The number varied from day to day, from as few as 10 to as many
as 22; a few remained at the feeding grounds at all times.
The testes of an adult male (30739), shot on July 9, 1951, at
Topagaruk were 15 mm long and 9 mm thick.
At Kaolak River (July 12-19, 1951) gulls occasionally cruised up or
down the river, but did not remain in the area. When we flew from the
mouth of Canning River Canyon to Umiat (July 16, 1952) the only
glaucous gulls noted were in the vicinity of the Colville River. At
the Will Rogers Monument 12 miles southwest of Barrow Village (July
18, 1951), 275 glaucous gulls were at the mouth of one of the streams
entering the Arctic Ocean, and 50 miles southwest from Point Barrow
along the ocean six gulls flew over the water where a muddy stream
from the land was discharging into the Arctic Ocean. On July 20, 400
of these gulls were near the Arctic Research Laboratory and in the
large lake southwest of camp. At Kaolak (July 21-27, 1951) five to
eight birds remained near camp. Along the larger creeks they flew by
approximately every two hours.
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