Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey
Science Center Objects
Alaska provides breeding habitats for 135 species of landbirds, half of which breed predominantly north of the U.S.-Canada border. The road-based North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides some data on population trends in Alaska but most northern species are inadequately monitored because of a paucity of roads. Boreal Partners in Flight thus developed the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS) to monitor breeding populations of landbirds in roadless areas in Alaska and complement data collected from the roadside BBS.
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Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey emblem, Boreal Partners in Flight
(Public domain.)
The primary objectives of ALMS are to (1) monitor long-term population trends; (2) determine abundance by habitat; and (3) model distribution across Alaska. ALMS is a collaborative program whereby agencies participate by conducting standardized surveys of breeding birds and their habitats on their resource lands and contributing the data to the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Science Center for storage and analysis. ALMS and its pilot program have recorded >100,000 observations of birds across approximately 400 sites in Alaska.
The short-term implementation goal of ALMS is to survey a grid of 25 points within each of 100 randomly selected sample units with ALMS matching the number of BBS surveys run in each of Alaska's BCRs (see Table 1 for proposed and current sampling). In addition, we aim to establish new surveys in the Aleutian and Bering Sea islands, which have no roadside surveys. Surveys will be conducted biennially, with 50 surveys run in alternating year. Routes were stratified by accessibility and cost-effectiveness and the initial set of surveys are located in areas accessible by foot, vehicle, boat, or fixed-wing aircraft as these can be surveyed more cheaply and reliably over time. For this reason, BCRs 4 (Interior) and 5 (Northern Pacific Rainforest) were targeted first and additional routes in the remaining BCRs will continue to be added to the program. In particular, Western and Arctic Alaska (BCRs 2 and 3) are of primary interest due to predicted effects of climate change on these regions.
Each grid will be surveyed using 10-min point-transects once per summer on a biennial basis; habitat data will also be collected. Trend data will be analyzed jointly with BBS data to test for differences between roadless and roadside areas and to increase power to detect statewide trends. Additional grids will be surveyed in areas that are more difficult and expensive to access as resources become available in the future. Long-term monitoring will enable analysis of change in bird populations in relation to fire, disease and insect damage, resource development, climate-related change, and other landscape-level disturbances in these threatened forests.
Status of ALMS
Table 1. Target number of surveys to be conducted for the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey and current participation in the program. Most sites will be surveyed biennially, with 50 sites surveyed per year.
(Public domain.)
Although ALMS is a new program, considerable progress has already been made in establishing surveys and gaining agency support. As of the 2009 field season, 60 surveys have been instituted in BCRs 4 and 5 combined (Table 1). ALMS has also received broad backing from nine state, federal, and non-governmental agencies which signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2005 supporting the program. We still need your help, however, to establish new surveys on individual land units to reach the statewide goal of implementing and maintaining 100 ALMS survey routes. In 2009, roving survey teams were introduced to ALMS with the intent of increasing efficiency in establishing new plots. This program was funded by a State Wildlife Grant, which pays for observer salaries, major travel costs, and data entry. Roving teams, composed of trained observers provided by the Alaska Bird Observatory, set up new routes in Kanuti and Innoko National Wildlife Refuges in 2009 and we are seeking additional participants in future years. To find out more about how to participate in ALMS please see the additional information included on this site or contact the Program Coordinator.
Additional information on ALMS
- Supporting agencies—A memorandum of understanding supporting ALMS was signed in 2005 by nine federal, state, and non-governmental agencies.
- Proposed sample allocation by land management unit—The proposed biennial sampling for individual federal resource lands in Alaska.
- Protocol for setting up and conducting surveys—Instructions for conducting ALMS surveys.
- Data Forms—Forms for collecting ALMS data in the field.
Program coordinator
Colleen Handel
U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508
907-786-7181, cmhandel@usgs.gov
Logo by Bryce Robinson, ornithologi.com
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Date published: April 28, 2017Status: ActiveBoreal Partners in Flight
WELCOME to the Alaska Landbird Resource Information System, the official web site for Boreal Partners in Flight! Thanks for taking the time to learn more about the Boreal Partners in Flight program and our efforts to understand and conserve northern populations of landbirds.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D.
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Date published: September 24, 2018Status: ActiveAbout Boreal Partners in Flight
Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from...
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D., Steven M MatsuokaAttribution: Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 22, 2018Status: ActiveMonitoring and Research Boreal Partners in Flight Projects
Boreal Partners in Flight has five major regional projects designed to monitor broad-scale trends in populations of landbirds. There are also many projects throughout Alaska that address specific research questions or local monitoring needs.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D.Attribution: Region 11: Alaska, Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 20, 2018Status: ActiveConservation of Landbirds in Alaska
Boreal Partners in Flight is concentration on the following conservation matters in Alaska.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D.Attribution: Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 19, 2018Status: ActiveBird Conservation Areas
Five Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) were designated in Alaska as part of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative in order provide a framework that would facilitate coordinated conservation and evaluations of major bird initiatives.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D.Attribution: Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 18, 2018Status: ActiveFestivals Celebrating Birds in Alaska
Here are a few festivals celebrating birds around the state of Alaska.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D.Attribution: Region 11: Alaska, Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 17, 2018Status: ActiveMeeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight
Information on topics discussed by Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF) working groups organized by year.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D., Steven M MatsuokaAttribution: Region 11: Alaska, Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 16, 2018Status: ActiveAlaska Raptor Group
Thirty-one raptor species, including 18 species of diurnal raptors (Orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and 13 species of owls (Order Strigiformes), have been documented in Alaska, 23 of which are known to breed within the state.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D., Chris BargerAttribution: Alaska Science Center -
Date published: September 15, 2018Status: ActiveResources and Links for Boreal Partners in Flight
There is enormous value in learning about our natural world. Educational resources help us with this endeavor and help us teach others about landbirds. Note: This list is for your convenience. We are not advertising or endorsing any product or entity listed.
Contacts: Colleen Handel, Ph.D.Attribution: Alaska Science Center -
Date published: August 22, 2017Status: ActiveBeak Deformities in Landbirds
Over the past 20 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds. This disease, called avian keratin disorder (AKD), is characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening, and may suffer high rates of mortality...
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Date published: July 13, 2017Status: ActiveLandbird Research in Alaska
On this page, learn about USGS work on Beak Deformities and Boreal Partners in Flight.
Female McKay's Bunting on St. Matthew Island
Female McKay's Bunting on St. Matthew Island.
Male McKay's Bunting on St. Matthew Island
Male McKay's Bunting on St. Matthew Island
Male Wilson's Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Male Wilson's Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska . This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Male Wilson's Warbler in a shrub on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Male Wilson's Warbler. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Lone male Yellow Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Lone male Yellow Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Male Lapland Longspur in dwarf shrub mat habitat
Male Lapland Longspur in dwarf shrub mat habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Bluethroat
Bluethroat bird in Alaska
Short-eared Owl on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Short-eared Owl. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
A male Willow Ptarmigan
A closeup of a male Willow Ptarmigan.
Yellow Warbler nest in a tall shrub thicket habitat
Yellow Warbler nest in a tall shrub thicket habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Male Arctic Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska
Male Arctic Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
American Golden-Plover nest in dwarf shrub mat habitat
American Golden-Plover nest in dwarf shrub mat habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.