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P. De Bensdolte 1965 Stercorarius pomarinus June 8 Barrow, Alaska - almost all the birds seen today were well within the area by the old AFB radar installation remains. Most of the rest of the area is snow covered and scattered jaegers were seen sitting in the snow or behind the few tufts of soil present; a few flying low over the tundra, not more than 10 birds away from the AFB area. In the AFB are counted 23 birds in sight at once but I believe at least 10-15 more were present as there were at least 6 and probably 8 pairs of territorial birds in the area. Aerial fights were not common feet were seen regularly, and the wing up display was given by many birds on the ground as other flew over. Saw very little V-flying. Only one food chase and several of the birds were sitting on the ground. As we approached one Snowy Owl nest, the 3 flushed at about 30 feet distance. Immediately 3-5 jaegers descended on the nest and began to peck at the eggs, obviously eating the egg contents. At one time there were 3 jaegers at the nest, a 4th hovering over and a Glaucous Gull (which never got anything) nearby with at least 700-900 birds eventually got some egg material. 3 whole eggs were carried off (after they had been broken) and an additional large piece of shell was carried out of the nest, leaving 500 eggs behind. Dr. Pitselka and I stood 12-15 feet from the nest at one time and 3 jaegers landed nervously + repeatedly by the nest but would not get into it. After we left they returned only slowly to the nest area and did not appear to get any additional eggs; AFB = VOTH
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P. Le Benedicts 1965 Skovorovius pomonivus 16 July Bawoo, Alaska, was also a legg ren on 22 June. This igave a incubation period of 24+ days, and the date for the 2nd egg should be checked; if normal it is probably indicative of a long interval between eggs. 17 July There was 1 chick out of the nest and a piped egg in the Jaque nest found 27 June (with 2 eggs then). The adults still boubbed me. There appear to be two new pairs of jaegeys in the area where the road crosses DOTH creek to the goalwell, and one acts like they came eggs but I have not seen them sitting. Other nests checked with eggs. The 1st nest found can't be located as the marker is gone but the adults are in the area, the nest almost certainly having hatched. 20 July The nest just N of Gouline Ridge contained 1 young and 1 cracked egg. Shells in the nest, but the young bird quite dry. 21 July Checked nests along Wohlschlag and Olson Lagoon. The nest on Pitelka's plot was gone the last time the side nest checked and the fruit in the area, though birds from Holmes' Marsh have moved into the area. The birds in the N part Central Marsh not nesting and no indication of hatch in birds in the East part of the marsh. The pair with a piped egg 16 July now far from nest stalk. The next 3 pairs along the road each had 1 young and 1 egg, this cracked but no hole in 2 cases; a one egg nest in from the road unchanged; the 7 of this pair almost eaten on my head. The 1st brood nest along the lagoon with 1 (probably 2
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P. DeBenedictis 1965 Stercorarius longicaudus 20 June Barrow, Alaska; - one seen flying from the FATE Tower area tower the S end M. Salt lagoon; I landed on the rim of its lagoon for a short time and then took off by NE across the lagoon out of sight. The back was a little darker than the other two long-tails I have seen briefly; tail feathers vibrated up & down in typical fashion as it flew. 21 June In contrast to the other shearbirds, this species appeared to be somewhat more numerous today than yesterday. (Applies to Red Phalarope ?). 21 June A single bird in plumage similar to the one seen yesterday flew in and landed between M & S Salt lagoons; it flew in from the W and remained 3-5 minutes; it first preened, then walked over to a polygon and began to pick up something that looked by cobalt guts to a bird (carion) and dropped it; I went to this spot chasing its jaeger away before it had been able to eat this and was unable to find anything except clumps of reddish-brown lichen or moss. The tarsi are almost bluish-white and the rest of the legs & feet are black; 24 June Saw one over family lagoon and one carrying a lemming high in the air (above), dropped the lemming, then gobbled it again and swallowed it, in the AM and two together near the S entrance to Wohlgeschlag Slough in the afternoon. 25 June A short-tailed individual was seen on two occasions (about noon & 10 P.M.) near ATE. 26 June A "no tail" bird allowed very close approach on Dr. Pickel's plot.
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P. DeBenedetti 1965 My Tree Scandiacas 7 June Barrow Alaska - saw my first birds of this species today. They fly somewhat between a Short-eared & a Great Gray Owl, depending on how much wind they Beetle. Saw 2 nests close one with 7 eggs the other was near the old #1 Radar installation. When approached to about 50-30 feet the 9 flew off and a number of Bwainian Jaegers (g.v.) quickly attached (as nest destroying certainly 2 and probably 3 eggs (clean, 2 intact). The Owl remained about 100 yards away but the 9 came to within about 25 feet of the nest. When the jaegers I approached they had a leaning which they device dropped. The second time it was dropped the Fox picked it up and carried it away, perched only loosely by a jaeger, the cut having turned to the nest. The Owls must have been disturbed by our presence for when we (seemed off) the pair (which copulated once shortly before) quickly returned to the nest & the 9 landed near by, 1st looking it over and then settling on the eggs. About 3 jaegers who attempted to get at this nest were quickly discouraged by the owls, the 1 striking one; they turned to the food we had already taken and finished them off, then settled down again. 10 June Visited one nest and saw several additional birds. Dr. Pikelka's 11 egg nest now contains only 9 eggs and 2 henness carcass were nearby. No sign of egg shells nearby. Saw one pair, the 9 injury flying and the male in a deep-winged display flight near the Beach Ridge; the 11 egg nest is near
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P.D.Benedict's 1965 Lemmus trimucronatus 28 June Barrow, Alaska - They do not seem very conspicuous although it seems I tried on one (almost) every 25-30 feet a 50, so that actually #s must still be fairly high. Teggers not having much trouble finding them and a # of dead ones about; the flesh one fairly large and the only small ones seen very old. 30 June Although central marsh is rather badly flooded they are still fairly numerous of lemmings out in it, although they are quite a bit more numerous along its periphery than in the centre. They enter the water readily when approached and swim well. Populations on the whole do not appear to be as high as elsewhere in drier areas. 2 July Now as last time the small individuals rather inconspicuous. Some burrow systems are getting quite extensive and are no-longer seen tufts of lemming fur protruding from burrows. A herdsy from the lab spent much time chasing them this afternoon; lemmings bounded off at the approach of the dog, which usually caused the dog to move in. When passed on the surface the lemming attempted to run for cover, screening all the tufts but as the dog came near they would turn around and face it causing the dog to back off - it obviously had great respect for the lemmings as it was very careful about how it made each kill, going in slowly and frequently playing for some time before a capture was made. The lemmings did not escape very often - only when they got to a burrow system that the dog couldn't dig out.
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P. De Benedicts 1965 Least weasel 29 July Barrow, Alaska - She carried the young by its side of the rope and the young beast was clearly and roughly dragged along; the 4 stayed to runways while carrying the young. After about 1-2 seconds, the 4 returned, repeated the procedure and carried off a 2nd young weasel the same way; the jaeger returned at this time so the 4 ditched the weasel under some cuttings and hid; the jaegers moved off, and the 4 came back to us and going through the same procedure, carried off a 3rd young weasel, making it to a hole about 20 from the hole the 1st young was taken to, and here was cornered by the jaeger. She kept popping up and going down & and the jaeger stayed off; they were scared off by one of the small people and the weasel took this opportunity to go after the ground that had been ditched, getting it to the little to which she broke the 2nd young. She was again cornered by the jaegers, both of the pair standing about 1 foot off; the weasel went through the same procedure of popping up and down and the jaegers were clearly hesitant to attack. After about a minute of this it appeared the weasel took the initiative and attacked the jaeger, running towards the jaeger and jumping towards the jaeger's throat. The jaeger balked off and the 4 soon left. The weasel over played her hand because the jaeger eventually got hold of the weasel, after 1-2 minutes, holding it behind its head, and flying up about 15 feet; the weasel squirmed and the jaeger