The Seward Peninsula
Our study site in on the Seward Peninsula, outside of Nome Alaska. It sits just below the Arctic circle (~65°N), but the climate is best described as low Arctic. The landscape is rolling tundra hills with cliff-lined rivers and sporadic tors that provide nesting substrate for Gyrfalcons, Rough-legged Hawks, Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Common Ravens. The study site is divided by the Kigliuk (Sawtooth) Mountains and also includes some of the Bendeleben Mountains. The vegetation is predominately low lying lichen, mosses, and sedges, with alder and willow stands in riparian areas. The Seward Peninsula includes the demarcation point between the boreal forest and tundra (although it sits out side of our study area) and is undergoing substantial changes to its climate and landscape composition. It is a fantastic study area for understanding the impacts of climate change on raptors and is also a very special place full of vast views, unique wildlife, and amazing people - including the rich culture of the Inupiat people.
The wildlife on the Seward Peninsula can be breath taking and frequently includes Muskoxen, which have an interesting history in the State of Alaska. It is a unique experience to see these animals in the wild, but they can also be problematic nears towns and villages, particularly for dogs.
Map of our Seward Peninsula study site in western Alaska.
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Roughly 220 miles of maintained roads radiate from Nome deep into the tundra ecosystem, providing ample opportunities for research and a fair amount of raptor nests (relative to other tundra systems!)
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Nome, and the Seward Peninsula, have strong ties to gold mining and signs of large dredging operations are apparent on the landscape. Gold mining still occurs in the area, including mining from a barge on the coast of the Bering Sea.