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Between September and November each year, nearly the entire world population of Pacific black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) stages at Izembek Lagoon and surrounding estuaries (hereafter: Izembek Complex). The Izembek Complex is a unique area of protected brackish waters, supporting one of the world’s largest eelgrass beds and a diverse array of wildlife. The Alaska Fall Brant Survey has been conducted annually since 1976 in late-September through October, to provide an index of abundance for the entire post-breeding Pacific black brant population (Branta bernicla nigricans), while secondarily, providing annual fall population indices for cackling geese (Branta hutchinsii), emperor geese (Anser canagicus), and...
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Shorebirds are among the most rapidly declining species in North America (Rosenberg et al. 2019), with many long-distance migrants experiencing the greatest declines (Environment Canada 2020). Nonetheless, not all shorebirds are declining and there may be differences among species and populations using different migratory routes. For instance, previous meta-analyses have suggested that shorebirds using the Mid-Continental Flyway are experiencing more rapid declines than those using the Pacific or Atlantic flyways (Thomas et al. 2006). At the same time, within a species, more northerly breeding populations are experiencing greater phenological mismatches and lower reproductive success than southerly ones (Kwon et...
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The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) Aerial Breeding Pair Survey provides data on the spring abundance of targeted waterfowl species nesting on the YKD coastal zone in western Alaska. This region supports millions of waterbirds that comprise one of the largest and most important waterfowl breeding grounds in North America, including species of concern such as the red-throated loon (Gavia stellata), emperor goose (Chen canagica), Pacific black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans), common eider (Somateria mollissima), black scoter (Melanitta nigra), long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), and the threatened spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri). The YKD goose, swan, and crane survey was first implemented in 1985 to monitor...
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FY2019 Multijurisdictional, international landscape with many shared priorities but lacks landscape (inter-jurisdictional) perspective. Landscape conservation design process will provide landscape context and future scenarios to support coordinated conservation investment. FY2020 Entering Phase 2 of a 3-year project, a Landscape Conservation Design (LCD) will deliver a set of strategies that the Crown Managers Partnership and dozens of stakeholders can deploy to achieve desired ecological conditions based on defined, measurable resource outcomes across the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. LCD is a holistic, participatory process bringing stakeholders together to define a desired future for the Crown landscape and...
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The primary objective of this project was to monitor the growth of shorebird chicks by recapturing them from hatch to fledgling in relation to food abundance and weather conditions. In 2014 and 2015, we attempted to estimate the impacts of trophic mismatch by experimentally creating late hatched broods by refrigerating eggs to delay hatch. Transmitters were then attached to adults and chicks to follow and recapture chick in order to estimate growth rates and survival (see annual protocol documents for further information).Information for the Utqiagvik chick monitoring study were obtained concurrently with information obtained for the Utqiagvik shorebird project and information on chicks and nests included in these...
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This layer represents fundamentally suitable and unsuitable habitat for freshwater mussels in the Meramec Basin as modeled by these authors on May 17, 2017 based on spatial data ranging from 1990 to 2014. Identification of habitat characteristics associated with the presence of freshwater mussels is challenging but crucial for the conservation of this declining fauna. Most mussel species are found in multi-species assemblages suggesting that physical factors influence presence similarly across species. In lotic environments, geomorphic and hydraulic characteristics appear to be important factors for predicting mussel presence. We used maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to evaluate hydrogeomorphic variables associated...
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Boreal wetland birds are among the continent’s most rapidly declining avifauna. However, many of these declining species still breed commonly on military lands in Alaska. We propose to survey these species, as well as, additional boreal wetland obligates at breeding sites on Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) and then track migratory movements throughout the annual cycle. Our surveys aim to identify important wetland features for conservation and levels of fragmentation that may reduce bird breeding numbers. Our tracking of birds during migration will identify habitats for conservation at key stopover and wintering areas, and therefore allow conservation on military lands in Alaska to be directly linked to conservation...
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Upland Sandpiper is one of many declining shorebird species (-4.6%/year in Alaska; Ziolkowski et al. 2023) which breed on military and adjacent lands in Alaska. Western and eastern populations are small and unstable, and the species is endangered at the state level in several eastern U.S. states (Houston et al. 2023). Though there has been considerable work with Upland Sandpipers in their core, central U.S. breeding areas, this is the first dedicated study of Upland Sandpipers in Alaska. The objectives are to resight, band, and track Upland Sandpiper at breeding sites in Delta Junction, AK and Donnelly Training Area (TA 501 & TA 511) to estimate vial rates, determine migratory connectivity, and determine important...
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Beginning in 2003, we have conducted a long-term shorebird breeding ecology study at Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska. The objectives of this study are to (1) collect baseline data on temporal and spatial variability of shorebird diversity and abundance, (2) collect information on nest initiation and effort, replacement clutch laying, clutch and egg size, nest and chick survival, and other demographic traits of Arctic-breeding shorebirds, (3) establish a marked population of as many shorebird species as possible that will allow us to estimate adult survival, mate and site fidelity, and natal philopatry, and (4) relate weather, food availability, and predator and prey abundances to shorebird productivity and survival....
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Information on abundance, distribution, chronology, and habitat associations of birds at U.S. Air Force Long Range Radar Sites (USAF LRRS) and U.S. Navy lands is either outdated or lacking. In other situations, existing information has been obtained using a variety of incompatible methods thereby complicating the ability to discern changes to bird communities or the habitats they rely upon. Up-to-date information on the use of military lands by all bird species is important for both the Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Furthermore, updating avian inventories and implementing a standardized monitoring program across military lands helps USFWS-MBM by improving avian trend...
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These datasets describe the inventory of feather and blood samples collected from shorebirds that were captured primarily in northern Alaska but also in other parts of the world where studies were conducted on migratory species that breed in Alaska. These samples are maintained by USFWS and the feather samples in particular are part of the AviSample Network metadata repository (see Brlik et al. 2022. The reuse of avian samples: opportunities, pitfalls, and a solution. Ibis 164:343-349).Additional information for samples collected at Utqiagvik and in association with the tracking project can be found in the Utqiagvik shorebird project (file://ifw7ro-file.fws.doi.net/datamgt/mbm/mbmsh_009_Utqiagvik_shorebird_project)...
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The degradation of critical wintering and migratory stop-over sites is known to have direct consequences on the survival and reproductive condition of migratory shorebirds. However, little is known about migratory movements and connectivity of shorebird populations. By identifying migratory stop-over and wintering areas, we can begin to identify sites that should be conserved and evaluate the relative risks of development and climate change scenarios. Beginning in 2017, we initiated a project to track the migration movements of shorebird species using Argos, GPS, and Pinpoint tags. The primary objective of this study is to collect baseline information on movement patterns of shorebirds during the post-breeding period...
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In 2008 and 2009, we investigated the survival of chicks from initial and experimentally-induced replacement nests of arcticola Dunlin (Calidris alpina) breeding near Utqiaġvik, Alaska. We monitored survival of 66 broods from 41 initial and 25 replacement nests. See Saalfeld, S.T., B.L. Hill, C.M. Hunter, C.J. Frost, and R.B. Lanctot. 2021. Warming Arctic summers unlikely to increase productivity of shorebirds through renesting. Nature Scientific Reports 11-15277 for more detailed methods and data analysis.Information for the Dunlin brood survival project were obtained concurrently with information obtained for the Utqiagvik shorebird project and information on chicks and nests included in these files may also be...
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The Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) is a critically endangered species (Bird Life International 2011) with a population estimated at 661-678 individuals (but only 210-228 breeding pairs, Clark et al. 2016). Although it principally breeds in Russia and has not officially been documented breeding in Alaska, observations of Spoon-billed Sandpipers have been recorded in Alaska during the breeding season (Kessel and Gibson 1978), and a recently developed habitat suitability model indicated that suitable nesting habitat occurs in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea region (RSBP 2012). However, no systematic survey of potential breeding habitat had been conducted in this region during the spring and summer when this species...
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Feathers have been collected from shorebirds from 2006-2019 across Alaska and Canada. To determine the impact of feather pulling on subsequent feather growth, we identified and scanned feathers that were collected in subsequent years. In this case, we restricted our dataset to samples in which the same feathers were pulled in subsequent years and for those collected only after their initial pulling (i.e., year x and x+1). These scans will then be used to look at size and shape in comparison to original feathers to determine if pulling of feathers has any impact on growth of feathers in the following year.The data providers have invested considerable effort in QA/QC, but it is possible that undetected errors remain....
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Principal to the management of migratory landbird resources is an understanding of their occurrence within the landscape. Baseline information on bird distribution is a primary need “to preserve a natural diversity and abundance of fauna and flora on refuge lands” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1993a). Documenting the occurrence and distribution of all migratory bird species is a priority of the USFWS’s action plan for developing a nongame bird inventory and monitoring strategy for National Wildlife Refuge system lands (USFWS 1993b ). Distribution and abundance information previously collected on National Wildlife Refuges has contributed to the description of distributional patterns of birds in Alaska....
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Many of North America’s most rapidly declining avifauna breed in the boreal and alpine ecosystems of Alaska. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) located in Anchorage, Alaska, provides critical nesting habitat for five avian Species of Special Concern (SOSC): Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria, Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes, Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi, Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus and Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson derived the Species of Special Concern list from the Birds of Conservation Concern (USFWS 2008) and the Department of Defense Mission-Sensitive Priority Bird Species (DoD PIF 2015) lists. Department of Defense Partners in Flight recognizes...
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The roselaari subspecies of Red Knot is one of the rarest shorebird populations breeding in North America, based on a the current population size estimate of 17,000 individuals (Carmona et al 2013). As a result of suspected declines,the roselaari subspecies has been designated as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and was petitioned for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to not conduct a full status review for listing was based on the lack of substantial information identifying threats and population trends (USFWS 2011). The apparent low population size coupled with the scarcity of information on many demographic and...
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Indirect interactions between different prey species modulated by shared predators (e.g. Arctic fox) are believed to have important impacts on the structure and/or dynamics of some communities. Yet, our understanding of these types of interactions are still fragmentary. To fill this information gap, the joint circumpolar project on indirect trophic interactions was established in 2016. This project built upon ongoing projects exploring related questions in Canada (Marie-Andrée Giroux, Nicolas Lecomte, Joel Bety) and Greenland (Olivier Gilg, Niels M. Schmidt), while taking advantage of existing networks (ASDN in North America and “Interactions” program in Greenland and Eurasia). The aim of this project was to promote...
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The Pacific Flyway Winter Brant Survey (WBS) has been conducted annually since 1981 as part of a cooperative effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, Mexico, and the Pacific U.S. states, to estimate the abundance of the Pacific black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) in their principal wintering areas along the Pacific Coast (in Baja, Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska). The survey is conducted each winter in January-February by a composite of ground and aerial crews, with the Alaska portion being conducted by the Alaska Region of USFWS Migratory Bird Management. The primary objective of the Alaska survey component is to provide an annual index of...
map background search result map search result map Crown of the Continent Landscape Conservation Design Niche model results predicting fundamentally suitable and unsuitable habitat for freshwater mussel concentrations in the Meramec Basin Alaska Izembek Brant Winter Aerial Survey 1981-present Alaska Izembek Fall Brant Aerial Survey 1976-Present Alaska Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Aerial Breeding Pair Survey Alaska Red Knot Breeding Ecology Study 2010-Present Utqiagvik Alaska Joint Circumpolar Project on Indirect Trophic Interactions Alaska Shorebird Sample Inventory Alaska Shorebird Migration Tracking Study Utqiaģvik Alaska Shorebird Breeding Ecology Study Utqiagvik Alaska Dunlin Brood Survival Impact of Feather Pulling on Shorebirds in Alaska Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBSP) Surveys Near Kotzebue Alaska 2018 Alaska Department of Defense Shorebird Migration Project 2021-Present Utqiagvik Alaska Shorebird Chick Monitoring Study Alaska Department of Defense Migratory Movements Upland Sandpiper Study 2021-Present Avian Species Inventory and Monitoring at U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy lands near Point Barrow Alaska Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Avian Checklist Project 1991-2000 Alaska Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Installation Avian Study 2007-Present Alaska Eielson Air Force Base Avian Study 2019-Present Avian Species Inventory and Monitoring at U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy lands near Point Barrow Alaska Alaska Eielson Air Force Base Avian Study 2019-Present Utqiagvik Alaska Joint Circumpolar Project on Indirect Trophic Interactions Utqiagvik Alaska Dunlin Brood Survival Utqiaģvik Alaska Shorebird Breeding Ecology Study Utqiagvik Alaska Shorebird Chick Monitoring Study Alaska Izembek Fall Brant Aerial Survey 1976-Present Niche model results predicting fundamentally suitable and unsuitable habitat for freshwater mussel concentrations in the Meramec Basin Alaska Izembek Brant Winter Aerial Survey 1981-present Alaska Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Installation Avian Study 2007-Present Alaska Red Knot Breeding Ecology Study 2010-Present Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBSP) Surveys Near Kotzebue Alaska 2018 Alaska Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Aerial Breeding Pair Survey Crown of the Continent Landscape Conservation Design Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Avian Checklist Project 1991-2000 Alaska Department of Defense Shorebird Migration Project 2021-Present Alaska Department of Defense Migratory Movements Upland Sandpiper Study 2021-Present Impact of Feather Pulling on Shorebirds in Alaska Alaska Shorebird Migration Tracking Study Alaska Shorebird Sample Inventory