Alaska Project
Ecology of Smith's Longspurs in Northern Alaska
August 2007 - December 2015
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- National Park Service
The overall goal of this project is to contribute to conservation strategies for Smith’s Longspurs by further refining our knowledge of their breeding ecology in Alaska, using the unique availability of individually marked birds and baseline data at the Arctic Refuge. Our objectives are to (1) document natal and breeding site fidelity using resightings of individually banded birds, (2) estimate nest survival and analyze covariates that influence nest survival (e.g. habitat and temporal factors), and (3) continue to collect and analyze life history information to better understand breeding parameters such as breeding phenology, adult survival and movements, nesting chronology, habitat preferences, and nest site requirements.
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Wild, T. C., S. J. Kendall, N. Guldager, and A. N. Powell. 2015. Breeding habitat associations and predicted distribution of a tundra obligate, Smith's Longspur, in the face of changing climate. Condor 117: 3-17. DOI: 10.1650/CONDOR-14-77.1 | December 2014 |
| McFarland, H. R., S. Kendall, and A. N. Powell. Nest-site selection and nest success of an arctic-breeding passerine, Smith's Longspurs, in a changing climate. The Condor: Ecological Applications 119:85-97. DOI: 10.1650/CONDOR-16-87.1 | February 2017 |
| Craig, H.R., S. Kendall, T. Wild, and A. N. Powell. 2015. Dispersal and survival of a polygynandrous passerine. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 132:916-925, DOI: 10.1642/AUK-15-41.1 | Download | October 2015 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Craig, H., A. N. Powell, S. Kendall, and T. Wild. 2012. Effects of sex and age on survival of Smith's Longspurs in northern Alaska. 25 October. 15th Annual Alaska Bird Conference, Anchorage, AK. | October 2012 |
| Craig, H., A. Powell, S. Kendall, and T. Wild. 2012. Annual survival of Smith’s Longspurs in Alaska. Poster, 5th North American Ornithological Conference, Vancouver, B.C. | August 2012 |
| Craig, H., S. Kendall, and A. Powell. 2014. Reproductive success of Smith's Longspurs in Alaska's Brooks Range. 16th Alaska Bird Conference, Juneau, AK. | December 2014 |
| McFarland, H., A. Will, and A. Powell. 2019. Geolocators and stable isotopes reveal the migratory route and overwintering locations of an arctic-breeding passerine. American Ornithological Society, Anchorage, Alaska. | June 2019 |