Robert McKinley told us that in the last week of April of 1952, eiders (king?) arrived in the vicinity of the Arctic Research Laboratory in large numbers and continued to pass to the east for the next three weeks. King eiders were observed at Point Barrow on July 3, 1951.
Ninety king eiders and 30 Pacific eiders were resting on the shore of the Arctic Ocean at Point Barrow on August 25, 1952. The following day 200 king eiders were in the same area. A male, shot there, measured 560 millimeters in total length. The muscles were only a third the size of those on a normal bird. Another eider found dead also was emaciated and may have died from gun shot wounds inflicted by the guns of the Eskimos. For every bird killed by Eskimos, several are injured; many of these die along the migration route. On July 28, king eiders were flying northwest along the shore of Elson Lagoon, thence across the Point Barrow Peninsula at Birnirk, and thence southwest along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. This day was foggy and wind was from the east. On clear days and especially when wind blows from the northwest, king eiders cross the peninsula a fifth of a mile or so nearer Point Barrow, which is the most northern extension of the Peninsula. More eiders moved by on clear days than on cloudy or foggy days. In one hour, ten flocks, averaging 400 birds each, passed overhead at Birnirk (July 28); three days earlier flocks of from 50 to 300 passed approximately every 20 minutes. Eskimos on this date were shooting into these flocks of eider and bagging them in excess of the winter needs of the hunters. One Eskimo had 40 king eiders undressed and hanging on a drying rod at his home at Barrow Village (Sept. 2, 1952).
On July 29, 1951, we flew from Point Barrow to Teshekpuk Lake and observed (2:00-3:00 P.M.) only two small flocks of king eiders. On August 1, 1951, at Barrier Lake, three large flocks were flying west beyond the north end of the lake. This was the first day since July 29, on which we had seen such large flocks so far inland.
On September 11, 1952, eight king eiders were resting on the shore of the Arctic Ocean at Point Barrow.
Lampronetta fischeri (Brandt): Spectacled eider.—On July 28, 1951, at Birnirk, several flocks were flying along the Arctic Ocean.
Melanitta perspicillata (Linnaeus): Surf scoter.—Specimens, 2: Porcupine Lake, 146°29'50", 68°51'57", 3140 ft., No. 31307 and 31308, ad. males, July 15, 1952.
Two males shot at Porcupine Lake on July 15, 1952, measured as follows: Total length, 489 mm, 495 mm; length of testis, 9 mm, 11 mm; weight, 1134 grams, 998 grams. These birds were frequently seen together along the south side of the lake. At Lake Schrader (July 27, 1952), 15 scoters, in loose groups of two to six, fed in the southwest corner of the lake.
Buteo lagopus s. johannis (Gmelin): Rough-legged hawk.—On July 2, 1952, a nest of three young approximately six days old was examined ½ mile southeast of Umiat Mountain. The young were being fed small mammals. Another nest containing three addled eggs was also examined near Umiat. Many infertile and addled eggs of several kinds of birds were noted on the Arctic Slope.
Aquila chrysaëtos canadensis (Linnaeus): Golden eagle.—Marvin Mangus told us that he had seen young in nests at the following localities: Kurupa River, 155°11', 68°38', on July 1, 1946; 10 miles south of Driftwood in latter part of June, 1950; 11 miles NW from the north end of Chandler Lake, 152°56', 68°25' on June 10, 1951; Awuna River, 157°03', 69°12' July 4, 1952. Single adult birds were seen by us at Gavia Lake (Aug. 21, 1952) and at Driftwood (Aug. 31, 1952).
Atanak and his companions from Wainwright saw 12 eagles while hunting (July 16-18, 1951) from the junction of the Avalik and Ketik rivers to a point seven miles up the Kaolak River, but no eagles were seen between the junction of the above rivers and Wainwright.