From 1988–1999, ABR, Inc., conducted avian
studies for ARCO Alaska, Inc., in the Kuparuk
Oilfield on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. In
2000–2008, we continued this work under the new
operator of the Kuparuk Oilfield, ConocoPhillips
Alaska, Inc. Our studies in 2008 focused on three
species: Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri),
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), and Brant
(Branta bernicla). This report summarizes the results of surveys
in 2008 for these species. Unlike previous annual reports, this data report provides only a brief
summary of the study objectives for each species
and the annual survey results, along with
supporting tables and figures,* without an
extensive discussion of results. A brief summary of
methods is provided for the surveys conducted in
2008 (Appendix 1) and more details on
methodology and previous analyses were presented
in the 2003 and 2004 annual reports (Anderson et
al. 2004, 2005).
