Albert Creek Bird Observatory
CMMN Status: Associate station (Application for
provisional status was submitted in February 2007).
Affiliation: Albert Creek Bird Observatory is a project of
the Southeast Yukon Proper Land Use Society
Location: ACBO operates a migration monitoring station in
southeast Yukon, 15 Km west of Watson Lake. The station is
road-accessible and is open to the public. The station is on land
within the Kaska traditional territory. Watson Lake is the nearest
airport with charter flights available. The nearest international
airport is Whitehorse 456 km to the west.
Special Features: Located just 1.5km off the Alaska
Highway at Upper Liard by the Liard River within the Tintina Trench.
The site is a boreal marsh complex with mixed vegetation of various
age groups. This area, in the Liard Basin within the Tintina Trench,
hosts many species of breeding songbirds at the extreme northern and
northwestern extent of their continental range. The station has
banded over 17,500 birds of 78 species and observed 130 species
since 2001. Albert Creek and the nearby Teslin station in south
central Yukon are the northernmost stations in Canada.
History: The site was tested by Ted Murphy-Kelly in the
spring and fall of 2000 and proved a worthwhile site to establish a
long term monitoring project. Thanks to volunteers and student
employment programs, the station has managed to operate both spring
and fall since 2001. Funding has come from various NGOS, and
federal and territorial government departments. Yukon Department of
Environment and the Canadian Wildlife Service have been the main
contributor over the years.
Migration monitoring: The standard migration monitoring at
ACBO consists of 6 hours of banding using 22 mist nets and 5 potter
traps. A one hour census is conducted during the banding period.
Daily estimated totals are compiled using numbers of banded,
recaptured, censused, and casually observed individuals. Spring
migration monitoring begins on April 23rd and runs until June 10th.
Fall migration runs from July 23rd to September 23rd.
Other projects: The primary emphasis at Albert Creek is
passerine migration monitoring. During passerine banding, feather
samples are taken for stable isotope analysis and DNA bar coding and
bird ticks are collected. Rusty Blackbirds are banded with an
additional color band. Owl and duck banding projects were commenced
in the fall of 2007.
Volunteer opportunities: Albert Creek relies heavily on
volunteers to ensure the successful running of the station each
season. Volunteers have come from various parts of North America.
The station hosted four Swedish exchange students in 2005. ACBO also
uses summer student programs on a yearly basis.
For more information: Visit the Publications section of
the Yukon Bird Club website:
www.yukonweb.com/community/ybc/
Contact Person:
Ted Murphy-Kelly
E-mail: plus@northwestel.net
Tel: (867) 456 7431
Mailing Address: 4B Gillis Place, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5R2
