Suggested Citation: Petersen, M.R., 2022, Observational data of migratory birds during spring and fall migration and their use of habitats in the Yakutat Foreland of Alaska in 1980: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9OF3NRM

This data package supports raw legacy data collected during 1980 on the Yakutat Forelands of Alaska. The data were collected to support a short-term study of waterbird migration patterns and habitat use during spring (April - May) and fall (August - October). The primary objectives of the study included: 1) determine the timing and rates of migration by waterbirds; 2) correlate observed patterns of migration with weather; 3) determine the use of estuarine and riverine systems by waterbirds during migration; 4) determine the use of wetlands and deep-water habitats by migrant waterfowl and shorebirds. Data is available upon request by contacting ascweb@usgs.gov

About the Legacy Data

In spring and fall of 1980, biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Biological Services- Coastal Ecosystems (precursor to USFWS Alaska Region departments and ultimately the Ecosystems Office at the USGS Alaska Science Center) collected observational data on birds and marine and terrestrial mammals occurring within the Yakutat Forelands of Alaska. Primary results were summarized in Petersen et al. (1981; see 'Related Reports and Publications').

This U.S. Geological Survey Data Release is a collection of original field data, maps, notes, and infrared photographs. All documents and photographs have been digitally scanned in PDF format and are archived along with original physical copies at the USGS Alaska Science Center.

Data Constraints

Observational raw data, notes, maps, and infrared photographs are available for download in PDF format upon request by contacting ascweb@usgs.gov. All PDF documents were checked for accuracy and completeness prior to retirement by the principal investigator. Finally, all PDF documents are provided “as is” and do not follow 508 compliance standards.

Please note: All bird species checklists have been submitted to the eBird database hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ebird.org). Checklists are also available as a data download from USGS Alaska Science Center under the :Southeast” region (Bird Species Checklists from USGS Alaska Science Center Field Camps).

Data Inventory

• Bird and Mammal Taxonomy List
  • Taxonomic species list of all birds and mammal recorded duringaerial and ground plot surveys. List includes order, family, genus, species,common name, historical common name, and species codes. Corresponds to all species lists described in the inventory below:

Migration Sea Watches

• Bird and Mammal Species Surveys (marine)
  • RAW DATA: Bird and mammal species observed during daily 15-min increment counts in spring and fall of 1980 [2 documents; 22.7 MB]
  • PROCESSED DATA: Summary of bird species observed on specific dates in April-October of 1980 [1 document; 7.10 MB]

Migration Aerial Surveys

• Bird and Mammal Species Surveys (aerial)
  • RAW DATA: Aerial observation of bird and mammal species by day and location (i.e., intertidal or rivers) via a Turbo Beaver or Piper Super Cub aircraft [1 document; 16.9 MB]
  • MAPS: Aerial survey routes indicated on maps [1 document; 436 KB]
  • NOTES: Aerial survey distances and notes on flight routes and species observed [2 documents [2 documents; 13.8 MB]

Migration Ground Plots

• Bird Species Lists (ground-based)
  • RAW DATA: Bird lists from walking surveys by day and species. Spring and fall are combined on data sheets [1 document; 1.12 MB]

• Habitat Classification
  • RAW DATA: Vegetation classification (Viereck and Dyrness 1980) and the corresponding bird habitat (Kessel 1979) code for ground-based survey plots [1 document;  1.15 MB]

• Habitat Use
  • RAW DATA: Habitat use by birds including date, weather, location, species, and activity [1 document; 4.34 MB]

Migration Species Accounts

• Bird and Mammal Observation Summary
  • PROCESSED DATA: Summary of bird and mammal species observed during sea watch and ground plot surveys [1 document; 8.28 MB]
  • NOTES: Handwritten notes summarizing date, location, survey type and species observed [1 document; 21.2 MB]

Migration Habitat

• Habitat Classification
  • PHOTOS: Color infrared photographs of the Yakutat Forelands [1 document; 2.54 MB]
  • MAPS: Identification of vegetation classes by interpreting color infrared maps [1 document; 1.69 MB]

Related Reports and Publications

The following reports and publications have presented results from this study or serve as a follow-up to this study. It is possible that other documents supported by these data exist but are not included in this list. Documents are available for download through ServCat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; access by DOI agencies only) or ARLIS (Alaska Resources Library and Information Services; https://www.arlis.org/.

Petersen, M.R., Greilich, J.C., Harrison, N.M. 1981. Spring and fall migration, and habitat use by water birds in the Yakutat Forelands, Alaska – 1980. Unpublished report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fisheries Research Center, Marine Bird Section, Anchorage, Alaska. 106 pp.

Shephard, M.E. 1993. Plant community ecology and classification of the Yakutat forelands, Alaska: 1992 progress report. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Anchorage, AK.

Andres, B.A., Browne, B.T. 1998. Spring migration of shorebirds on the Yakutat Forelands, Alaska. The Wilson Bulletin 110(3):326-331. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4163956

Andres, B.A., Browne, B.T. 2004. The birds of Yakutat, Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Technical report R10-TP-131. Arlington, VA.

Andres, B.A., Browne, B.T., Brann, D.L. 2005. Composition, abundance, and timing of post-breeding migrant landbirds at Yakutat, Alaska. The Wilson Bulletin 117(3):270-279. https://www.doi.org/10.1676/04-039.1

DataID: 504 | doi:10.5066/P9OF3NRM | Date Posted Online: 2022-08-25 | Last Updated: