WIWO (NL) - Monitoring and breeding ecology of arctic birds at Medusa Bay

Study Extent

See sampling description

Sampling

Bird migration was recorded using two methods. (1) From June 10 to July 20, migratory birds were counted daily for 1.5 hours along the coastline of Medusa Bay from the rocky ridge just south of the Willem Barentz station. (2) During the many hours of fieldwork of territory mapping all movements of non-territorial birds, except for those of common passerines were recorded per day, including number of birds and direction. In order to determine densities of breeding birds, for most species a territory mapping was performed as proposed by Willems et al. (wiwo report 77, 2002). Birds were counted in plots of 0.75 km2, 4 km2, 12 km2 or 30 km2 according to their level of abundance. A few inconspicuous species were counted by searching for nests (Temminck's Stint, Red-throated Pipit and Curlew Sandpiper). The territory mapping was performed twice, with a 10 day gap between both measurements. During a territory mapping (day time, no precipitation, no wind), all snow-free patches of tundra are visited, by walking a zigzag route through the landscape. Arthropod abundance was followed throughout the breeding season on nine series of pitfall traps. Each pitfall series consisted of 10 traps and was emptied every five days. The contents of the traps were identified to family-level.

Method steps

1. Data was extracted for wiwo report 86. downloaded from: http://wiwo.org/wiworeport86medusabay2005.pdf

1. Gavia stellata
   common name: Red-throated Diver rank: species
2. Gavia arctica
   common name: Black-throated Diver rank: species
3. Gavia adamsii
   common name: White-billed Diver rank: species
4. Anser fabilis
   common name: Bean Goose rank: species
5. Anser albifrons
   common name: White-fronted Goose rank: species
6. Branta ruficollis
   common name: Red-breasted Goose rank: species
7. Branta bernicla
   common name: Brent Goose rank: species
8. Anas crecca
   common name: Common Teal rank: species
9. Aythya fuligula
   common name: Tufted Duck rank: species
10. Somateria spectabilis
    common name: King Eider rank: species
11. Polysticta stelleri
    common name: Steller's Eider rank: species
12. Clangula hyemalis
    common name: Long-tailed Duck rank: species
13. Mergus merganser
    common name: Goosander rank: species
14. Circus cyaneus
    common name: Hen Harrier rank: species
15. Buteo lagopus
    common name: Rough-legged Buzzard rank: species
16. Falco perigrinus
    common name: Peregrine rank: species
17. Falco columbarius
    common name: Merlin rank: species
18. Lagopus mutus
    common name: Ptarmigan rank: species
19. Charadrius hiaticula
    common name: Ringed Plover rank: species
20. Charadrius morinellus
    common name: Dotterel rank: species
21. Pluvialis fulva
    common name: Pacific Golden Plover rank: species
22. Pluvialis squatarola
    common name: Grey Plover rank: species
23. Arenaria interpres
    common name: Turnstone rank: species
24. Calidris canutus
    common name: Knot rank: species
25. Calidris ferruginea
    common name: Curlew Sandpiper rank: species
26. Calidris alpina
    common name: Dunlin rank: species
27. Calidris minuta
    common name: Little Stint rank: species
28. Calidris temminckii
    common name: Temminck's Stint rank: species
29. Calidris melanotos
    common name: Pectoral Sandpiper rank: species
30. Philomachus pugnax
    common name: Ruff rank: species
31. Numenius phaeopus
    common name: Whimbrel rank: species
32. Limosa lapponica
    common name: Black-tailed Godwit rank: species
33. Tringa erythropus
    common name: Spotted Redshank rank: species
34. Tringa ochropus
    common name: Green Sandpiper rank: species
35. Phalaropus fulicarius
    common name: Grey Phalarope rank: species
36. Phalaropus lobatus
    common name: Red-necked Phalarope rank: species
37. Stercorarius skua
    common name: Great Skua rank: species
38. Stercorarius pomarinus
    common name: Pomarine Skua rank: species
39. Stercorarius parasiticus
    common name: Arctic Skua rank: species
40. Stercorarius longicaudus
    common name: Long-tailed Skua rank: species
41. Larus hyberboreus
    common name: Glaucous Gull rank: species
42. Larus heuglini
    common name: Heuglin’s Gull rank: species
43. Sterna paradisaea
    common name: Arctic Tern rank: species
44. Cepphus grylle
    common name: Black Guillemot rank: species
45. Nyctea scandiaca
    common name: Snowy Owl rank: species
46. Asio flammeus
    common name: Short-eared Owl rank: species
47. Lullula arborea
    common name: Wood Lark rank: species
48. Eremophila alpestris
    common name: Horned Lark rank: species
49. Linyphiidae
    rank: family
50. Carabidae
    rank: family
51. Staphylinidae
    rank: family
52. Chrysomelidae
    rank: family
53. Curculionidae
    rank: family
54. Tentredinidae
    rank: family
55. Ichneumonidae
    rank: family
56. Chalcidae
    rank: family
57. Apidae
    rank: family
58. Tipulidae
    rank: family
59. Nematocera
    rank: family
60. Brachycera
    rank: family
61. Delphinapterus leucas
    rank: species
62. Pusa hispida
    rank: species
63. Rangifer tarandus
    rank: species
64. Aves
    common name: Birds rank: class
65. Chordata
    common name: Vertebrates rank: phylum
66. Arthropoda
    common name: Arthropods rank: phylum

Most of the research is carried out in the area adjacent to Medusa Bay, measuring some 30 km2.