Recent Observations in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska

Abstract

Little has been published on the avifauna of the Wrangell Mountains in southern Alaska. Therefore I wish to record some of my observations there during late June and July 1973. Of 56 species recorded in the study area, details are given below for 22 species which are of interest. In view of their known distribution in Canada, most of these species might be expected to occur in the Wrangell Mountains but have not previously been recorded there. The area studied was the immediate vicinity of Rock and Ptarmigan lakes in the eastern Wrangell Mountains, some 140 miles ESE of Glennallen on the Richardson Highway, and close to the Canadian border at 61o48' N 141015' W. The terrain was comprised of the two lakes and their connecting river valley, in which was a small unnamed lake, surrounding muskeg and spruce forest, and the adjacent mountains up to elevations a little in excess of 5000 ft above sea level. Willow and birch scrub extended from the lakes up the mountain slopes almost to the highest elevations, and above the spruce forest a belt of Populus balsamifera was usually present at 3900-4100 ft. Aythya marila. Greater Scaup. A pair on Rock Lake on 30 June, three pairs in the valley east of this lake on 4 July, and three females on Rock Lake on 15 July. No evidence of breeding was found. Bucephala islandica. Barrow's Goldeneye. There were more than six females on the unnamed lake on 1 July. On 3 July a female with six young was located on a pool on the south side of Rock Lake, and on the same date four females were seen on the river. Bucephala albeola. Bufflehead. A female appeared on Rock Lake on 16-17 July but was not seen again. Melanitta perspicillata. Surf Scoter. There were two pairs on Rock Lake on 3 July. Oxyura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. A female was present on the unnamed lake on 9 July. This duck has been recorded closest to the Wrangell Mountains in the Tetlin Lake area, about 100 miles to the north (Hansen, Condor 62:137, 1960). Aquila chrysaetos. Golden Eagle. Two adults, a subadult, and a juvenile were seen on various dates over the mountains immediately north of Rock Lake. A recently occupied aerie was located at about 5000 ft.