Spring Migration of Eiders and Other Waterbirds at Point Barrow, Alaska

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Authors: Woodby, Douglas A., Divoky, George J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1982
• Subjects: Animal migration; Common Eiders; Ducks; Glaucous Gulls; Ice leads; King Eiders; Long-tailed Ducks; Sea birds; Waterfowl; Starvation; Barrow; Point; Alaska; Alaskan Beaufort Sea; Chukchi Sea; Arctic; Beaufort Sea; Chukchi; Eider commun; Goéland bourgmestre; Larus hyperboreus; Point Barrow; Somateria mollissima; Somateria spectabilis
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65394

Birds migrating along the flaw lead at Point Barrow, Alaska were observed from 6 May to 4 June 1976. Little migration occurred until 25 and 26 May, when winds shifted from northeasterly to southwesterly and widened the lead. King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis) were the most abundant migrant; their movements were greatest with southwesterly (following) winds and between 1200 and 1800 h (Alaska Daylight Savings Time). On 26 May 360,000 King Eiders passed within a 10-hour period. Ninety percent of the migrant Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus) moved east by 25 May. Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) and Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) were most abundant in early June and the bulk of their migration probably occurred after 4 June. Male King Eiders passed mostly in May while females were more common in June, suggesting that this species delays pair bonding until the latter part of their migration. This strategy necessitates an early migration and introduces the risk of possible starvation due to late spring freezing in the high Arctic.Key words: waterbirds, eiders, King Eiders, Somateria spectabilis; Glaucuous Gulls, Larus hyperboreus; Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima; Oldsquaw, Clangula hyemalis; migration Mots clés: oiseaux marins, eiders, eiders respectable, Somateria spectabilis; goéland bourgmestre, Larus hyperboreus; eider commun, Somateria mollisima; canard à longue queue, Clangula hyemalis; migration