Alaska Bird Observatory

Publication - Denali National Park & Preserve Research

Paton, Peter W.C. and Thomas H. Pogson. 1996. Relative abundance, migration strategy, and habitat use of birds breeding in Denali National Park, Alaska. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110: 599-606. (Contact birds@polarnet.com for reprints of this article)

The breeding bird community in Denali National Park, Alaska, was studied over a three-year period (1993-1995). Birds were surveyed from nine off-road routes in spruce forests from 1993-1995 and from four on-road routes in 1994 and 1995. Thirty-nine species were detected during off-road routes, whereas 80 species were detected from on-road routes. The most abundant species were sparrows (White-crowned Sparrow [Zonotrichia leucophrys ], American Tree Sparrow [Spizella arborea ], and Savannah Sparrow [Passerculus sandwichensis ]) and warblers (Wilson's Warbler [Wilsonia pusilla ] and Orange-crowned Warbler [Vermivora celata ]). The avian community in Denali National Park was similar to other areas in the region, although there were some distinctive differences. The majority of detected individuals (69%) presumably migrate to the tropics; residents accounted for only 9% of the individuals detected. Shrublands had the greatest relative abundance of any habitats surveyed, whereas species richness was greatest in tall shrub and spruce forest habitats. These findings generally concur with previous research in the region. Both habitats should be important components in any program that attempts to monitor avian populations in Interior Alaska.