Radar Observations of Bird Migration at Cape Prince of Wales

Abstract

Observations of bird movements at Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, were made by means of radar during the spring migration seasons of 1969 and 1970. Between 10 and 15 May 1970, flocks of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) made huge radar targets and were tracked easily as they flew westwards across the Bering Strait. It is believed that lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens) were also followed by radar, en route to Wrangel Island, U.S.S.R., on 19 May 1970. On later dates in May and early June 1969, extensive westward and northward flights and some eastward movements were recorded by radar. Automatic camera data obtained from the Cape Prince of Wales radar site also show extensive eastward migration from Siberia to Alaska by 24 July 1969.