JPMyers 1977 Journal Atkasook, Meade River, N. Slope Borough, Alaska 5 June (Cont'd) and cursing more difficult than Barrow tundra. One remarkable overall observation is impression in the patchy distribution of birds along the transect, even w/o habitat patches. Some areas have a lot of birds, others don't. A significant fraction of this can be attributed to habitat distributions, with fewer birds in upland tundra. But even in that habitat the birds are clumped. I will be interested to see how intensity of use through the season varies in different units. MELT-OFF largely complete, with snow cover extensive only in snowbanks. Last nights + this am's rain certainly hurried the process. A few flying insects are about, diptera, hymenoptera, moths, and there are also Colembola-like on pond surfaces. A few aquatic inverts beginning to be visible in the water. The following annotated spp list summarizes bird observations here during 31 May -> 5 June. Gavia adamsii - 1st seen 1 June flying over. Regular 2 June. Displaying in air + calling by 4 June. 5 June paired on large lake at (9,28) Gavia arctica - 1st seen 4 June flying by in flock of 4. Seen 5 June flying over Anser albifrons - flocks seen 31 May and through to 5 June. Some obviously passed on 4 June. Branta bernicla Branta nigricans - 2 flocks totaling 25 seen 1 and 5 June Anas acuta - flocks and pairs seen 31 May. Nid-w/1 egg found 3 June. Obvious early & common by 5 June but small flocks still apparent. common. Anas bahyryphus - 1st seen 2 June (18°). Single pair seen 3 and 5 June. Anas crecca carolinensis - flock of 6 seen 4 June flying over Anas spatalata - 0+9 seen flying over 5 June Clangula hyemalis - 1 flock heard 31 May. Few heard 1 June but a few pairs evident by 2 June 4 and 5 June paired in many ponds. Overflight continues Somateria spectabilis - pairs seen flying by 4 June. 5 June a few seen landing, Somateria mollissima - 5+ individuals seen flying by 5 June Somateria fischeri - 1 pair seen 5 June. 16 flying low 6 June - 8+ paired Aythya marila - [illegible] pairs seen 1 and 2 June Falco rusticolus - 1 seen on bluffs 6 June