KILBUCK AND AHKLUN MOUNTAIN BIRDS 



29 



eluded 0 in 1979 (1 Oetober; R. Gill, Jr., and B. Conant, unpublished), 2 in 

 1980 (6 October; R. GiU, Jr., and R. J. King, unpubUshed), 0 in 1982 

 (6 October; R. J. King and K. S. Bollinger, unpublished), 0 in 1985 

 (10 October; R. J. King and W. D. Eldridge, unpubUshed), 245 in 1987 

 (2 October; R. J. King and W. D. Eldridge, unpublished), 12 in 1988, and 

 0 in 1989 (8 and 7 October, respectively; R. J. King and L. Denlinger). 

 Nanvak and Chagvan bays are critical staging areas for Alaskan brant during 

 spring and fall migration (Table 2). 



Canada goose (Branta canadensis). Cspm, Usr, Afm (23 April- 

 10 October). 



Two sizes of Canada geese occurred on the study area. The smaller, 

 presumably cackling Canada geese (B, c. minima), and the larger, 

 presumably Tavemer's Canada geese (JB. c. tavernert), migrated past 

 Cape Peirce and along the coast during spring (30 April- 10 June), and 

 Tavemer's type migrated inland to as far as the Tuluksak River (late 

 May-early June). Migrants used the bays and estuaries on the study area 

 (Table 3). Estimates from aerial surveys in spring included 10,000 birds 

 in 1963 a. G. King, unpublished), 295 in 1981 (23 April; C. P. Dau, 

 unpublished), 3,040 in 1982 (3 May; C. P. Dau, unpublished), 4,126 in 

 1983 (25 April; C. P. Dau, unpublished), 512 in 1984 (28 April; C. P. 

 Dau, unpublished), 90 in 1985 (12 May; C. P. Dau and R. J. King, 

 unpublished), 2 in 1986 (4 May; C. P. Dau and R.J. King, unpublished), 

 1,189 in 1987 (1 May; R.J. King and C. P. Dau, unpublished) and 208 in 

 1989 (4 May; R. J. King and C. P. Dau, unpublished). In fall (late 

 September through early October), numbers of Canada geese observed 

 during aerial surveys included 310 in 1979 (1 October; R. Gill, Jr. and 

 B. Conant, unpublished), 2,270 in 1982 (6 October; R. J. King and 

 K. S. Bollinger, unpublished), 1,182 in 1985 (10 October; R.J. King and 

 W. D. Eldridge, unpublished), 2,335 in 1987 (2 October; R.J. King and 

 W. D. Eldridge, unpublished), 2,188 in 1988, and 295 in 1989 (8 and 

 7 October, respectively; R. J. King and L. Denlinger, unpublished). 

 Generally, fall migrants first occurred along the coast in mid-August, 

 although migrants were noted past Nanvak Bay as early as 24 June 1970. 

 Fall migration peaked past Nanvak Bay on 5 September 1973- Fall 

 migration was generally completed by early October (see previous dates 

 in this paragraph). Fall migration at the Tuluksak River occurred through 

 September and continued to as late as 10 October. 



We found Canada geese (presumed to be B. c. tavernert) breeding 

 at the Tuluksak River (in 1974 and 1983, but not in other years) and the 

 Salmon River, and they may have nested near the Kisaralik River and at 

 the Ilanik Lakes. Twelve Canada geese were along the Kisaralik River on 

 17 June 1987 (B.J. McCaffery, personal communication), and birds were 

 seen at the Eek River on 26 June 1985 (M. Brown et al., unpublished). 



