Bird use of a Beaufort Sea barrier island in summer

Abstract

The number and distribution of birds near a barrier island west of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, were recorded during the phenologically "late" summer of 1972. During eastward (spring) migration, most birds were restricted toa small area of open water in the nearby river delta. Although numerous eiders (Somateria sp.) fed and rested in the island area during spring migration, few did so in late summer, when Oldsquaws (Clangula hyemalis) and Red Phalaropes ( Phalaropus fulicarius) congregated near the island.