Annotated List of Historic Avifauna of Twin Oaks WMA

The Twin Oaks WMA is located near Tecumseh, in Johnson County, Nebraska. Three decades ago it was selected as a study site to investigate the effects of habitat management on nongame birds. This area had the diversity of habitats for a reasonable comparison of particular species present, based on surveys during 1981 and 1982. Two seasons of records were kept of the species observed, which provided an experienced perspective to derive a status indicated at the time. The details available are less then perfect, but sufficient detail is still available to denote the avifauna.

Relatively few records - approximately 230 - convey details of the birdlife, which has some value due to its historic context. There are very few records of bird occurrence at this place, with the last known survey done in late October, 2003.

The overall tally of species indicates the occurrence of 95 species, as derived from details available from any known source of bird observations from this site. The value given indicates the number of observations, not the number observed.

Common Name	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Snow Goose	- -	1	1	- -
Wood Duck	- -	2	- -	- -
Mallard	- -	1	- -	- -
Blue-winged Teal	- -	1	- -	- -
Ring-necked Pheasant	- -	2	- -	- -
Wild Turkey	- -	1	- -	- -
Northern Bobwhite	- -	1	- -	- -
Double-crested Cormorant	- -	1	- -	- -
Great Blue Heron	- -	1	1	- -
Green Heron	- -	1	- -	- -
Turkey Vulture	- -	2	- -	- -
Northern Harrier	- -	1	1	- -
Sharp-shinned Hawk	- -	1	- -	- -
Broad-winged Hawk	- -	1	- -	- -
Red-tailed Hawk	1	2	1	- -
American Kestrel	- -	1	1	- -
Killdeer	1	3	- -	- -
Spotted Sandpiper	- -	1	- -	- -
Solitary Sandpiper	- -	1	- -	- -
Upland Sandpiper	- -	1	- -	- -
Franklin's Gull	- -	1	- -	- -
Mourning Dove	- -	8	- -	- -
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	- -	6	- -	- -
Black-billed Cuckoo	- -	1	- -	- -
Eastern Screech-Owl	- -	- -	1	- -
Great Horned Owl	- -	1	1	1
Barred Owl	- -	1	- -	- -
Long-eared Owl	- -	1	- -	- -
Common Nighthawk	- -	1	- -	- -
Common Poorwill	- -	1	- -	- -
Eastern Whip-poor-will	- -	2	- -	- -
Chimney Swift	- -	1	- -	- -
Belted Kingfisher	- -	1	- -	- -
Red-headed Woodpecker	- -	4	- -	- -
Red-bellied Woodpecker	- -	3	1	- -
Downy Woodpecker	- -	3	1	- -
Northern Flicker	- -	3	1	- -
Eastern Wood-Pewee	- -	2	- -	- -
Eastern Phoebe	- -	3	- -	- -
Great Crested Flycatcher	- -	1	- -	- -
Eastern Kingbird	- -	9	- -	- -
Loggerhead Shrike	- -	4	- -	- -
Warbling Vireo	- -	1	- -	- -
Philadelphia Vireo	- -	1	- -	- -
Blue Jay	- -	2	1	- -
American Crow	1	3	1	- -
Horned Lark	- -	1	- -	- -
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	- -	2	- -	- -
Barn Swallow	1	10	- -	- -
Black-capped Chickadee	- -	2	1	- -
Tufted Titmouse	- -	1	- -	- -
White-breasted Nuthatch	- -	2	- -	- -
House Wren	- -	3	- -	- -
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	- -	1	- -	- -
Eastern Bluebird	1	3	1	- -
Veery	- -	1	- -	- -
Swainson's Thrush	- -	1	- -	- -
Hermit Thrush	- -	1	- -	- -
American Robin	- -	2	1	- -
Gray Catbird	- -	2	- -	- -
Northern Mockingbird	- -	1	- -	- -
Brown Thrasher	- -	8	- -	- -
European Starling	- -	2	- -	- -
Cedar Waxwing	- -	1	- -	- -
Yellow Warbler	- -	1	- -	- -
Yellow-rumped Warbler	- -	1	1	- -
Black-and-white Warbler	- -	1	- -	- -
American Redstart	- -	1	- -	- -
Common Yellowthroat	- -	2	- -	- -
Eastern Towhee	- -	2	- -	- -
American Tree Sparrow	- -	1	1	- -
Chipping Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -
Clay-colored Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -
Field Sparrow	- -	4	- -	- -
Lark Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -
Savannah Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -
Grasshopper Sparrow	- -	3	- -	- -
Song Sparrow	1	- -	- -	- -
Harris's Sparrow	- -	1	1	- -
Dark-eyed Junco	- -	1	1	- -
Northern Cardinal	2	2	1	- -
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	- -	2	- -	- -
Indigo Bunting	- -	2	- -	- -
Dickcissel	- -	2	- -	- -
Bobolink	- -	1	- -	- -
Red-winged Blackbird	2	4	1	- -
Eastern Meadowlark	- -	3	1	- -
Western Meadowlark	- -	2	- -	- -
Common Grackle	- -	5	1	- -
Brown-headed Cowbird	- -	2	- -	- -
Orchard Oriole	- -	3	- -	- -
Baltimore Oriole	- -	3	- -	- -
Pine Siskin	- -	1	- -	- -
American Goldfinch	- -	3	1	- -
House Sparrow	- -	2	- -

Species Accounts

The bird variety present is given in the following list, which includes a few game birds, but identifies the greater number of nongame birds present in the wildlife area habitats.

Double-crested Cormorant. Fall migrant.

Great Blue Heron. Occasional visitor spring through fall.

Green-backed Heron. Spring visitor.

Snow Goose. Observed flying over the area during seasonal migration periods.

Wood Duck. Summer resident.

Mallard. Migrant.

Blue-winged Teal. Migrant.

Turkey Vulture. Summer resident. Usually only a few seen but nine were observed on 3 June 1981.

Northern Harrier. Late winter visitor.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Spring resident in 1981 and winter resident.

Broad-winged Hawk. Spring migrant.

Red-tailed Hawk. One young raised in 1981 and 3 young raised in 1982.

American Kestrel. Resident but seldom seen.

Ring-necked Pheasant. Permanent breeding resident.

Wild Turkey. Three male and 12 female birds were released in the area in January and February of 1982.

Northern Bobwhite. Permanent resident.

Killdeer. Seasonal resident. Young seen in 1982.

Solitary Sandpiper. Migrant along the river.

Spotted Sandpiper. Resident along the river.

Upland Sandpiper. About five birds resident during the breeding season.

Franklin's Gull. Spring and fall migrant.

Mourning Dove. Resident. Fifteen nests found in 1981 and eight nests found in 1982 in all habitat types.

Black-billed Cuckoo. Spring migrant.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Summer resident with a nest found in 1981 and 1982 on the edge of a dense growth of elm saplings.

Great Horned Owl. Permanent resident with a nest found in 1982.

Barred Owl. Late winter visitor.

Long-eared Owl. Late winter resident.

Common Nighthawk. Late spring resident in 1982 but spring migrant in 1982.

Common Poorwill. Spring migrant.

Whip-poor-will. Spring migrant.

Chimney Swift. Summer resident. Unsuccessfully nested in 1981 and 1982 in the closet of an abandoned house.

Belted Kingfisher. A permanent resident along the river.

Red-headed Woodpecker. Resident from spring through fall. Fledged young seen in 1982.

Red-bellied Woodpecker. Resident. Adult seen feeding young in a tree cavity in 1982.

Downy Woodpecker. Resident at two locations in 1982.

Northern Flicker. Resident. Young heard in a tree cavity in 1981.

Eastern Wood-Pewee. Breeding season resident in 1982.

Eastern Phoebe. Resident in 1981 with a successful nest built on a girder of a small bridge. Spring migrant in 1982.

Great Crested Flycatcher. Breeding season resident. May nest as an adult was seen entering a tree cavity in 1982.

Eastern Kingbird. Summer breeding resident. Five nests found in 1981 and six nests found in 1982.

Horned Lark. Observed in late winter.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Breeding resident along the river. A nest was found in 1981.

Barn Swallow. Summer breeding resident. Twenty-two nests found in 1981 and 26 found in 1982. The nests were built on barn rafters and the door molding in abandoned houses.

Autumn Bird Visit
Snow Goose	31
Great Blue Heron	1
Northern Harrier	1
Red-tailed Hawk	2
American Kestrel	1
Eastern Screech-Owl	1
Great Horned Owl	2
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	1
Northern Flicker	4
Blue Jay	3
American Crow	5
Black-capped Chickadee	3
Eastern Bluebird	16
American Robin	65
Yellow-rumped Warbler	2
American Tree Sparrow	8
Harris's Sparrow	2
Dark-eyed Junco	20
Northern Cardinal	4
Red-winged Blackbird	25
Eastern Meadowlark	15
Common Grackle	11
American Goldfinch	2

Blue Jay. Permanent resident.

American Crow. Breeding resident. A nest was found in 1981.

Black-capped Chickadee. Breeding season resident.

Tufted Titmouse. Spring visitor.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Breeding season resident.

House Wren. Common breeding resident. Adults seen feeding young at three different locations in 1982.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Breeding season resident.

Eastern Bluebird. Breeding resident. Fledged young seen in 1981 and 1982. This species utilizes nest boxes placed on the ares.

Veery. Spring migrant.

Swainson's Thrush. Spring migrant.

Hermit Thrush. Spring migrant.

American Robin. Summer breeding resident. Adult seen carrying food in 1982.

Gray Catbird. Summer breeding resident. A nest was found in 1981 in a roadside ditch.

Northern Mockingbird. One or 2 singing birds were resident during the 1981 and 1982 breeding season.

Brown Thrasher. Summer breeding resident. Four nests were found in 1981 and five were found in 1981.

Cedar Waxwing. Early summer resident.

Loggerhead Shrike. Summer breeding resident. Fledged young seen in 1981 and 1982.

European Starling. Breeding season resident in the vicinity of the wildlife area.

Warbling Vireo. Spring migrant.

Philadelphia Vireo. Spring migrant.

Yellow Warbler. Spring migrant.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. Spring migrant.

Black-and-white Warbler. Spring migrant.

American Redstart. Spring migrant.

Common Yellowthroat. Limited occurrence as a breeding season resident.

Northern Cardinal. A breeding resident. A nest found in 1981 and 1982.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Breeding season resident.

Indigo Bunting. Breeding season resident.

Dickcissel. Breeding season resident.

Rufous-sided [Eastern] Towhee. Breeding season resident.

American Tree Sparrow. Migrant visitor.

Chipping Sparrow. Spring visitor.

Clay-colored Sparrow. Spring resident.

Field Sparrow. Summer breeding resident. One nest found in 1981 and 1982.

Lark Sparrow. Summer breeding resident. A nest was found in 1981.

Savannah Sparrow. Spring resident.

Grasshopper Sparrow. Summer breeding resident. One nest was found in 1982.

Song Sparrow. Summer breeding resident. A nest was found in 1981 in vegetation in the channel of the river.

Harris' Sparrow. Winter and spring resident.

Dark-eyed Junco. Winter resident.

Bobolink. Spring migrant.

Red-winged Blackbird. Summer breeding resident. Twenty-four nests were found in 1981 and 8 nests were found in 1982 in a roadside ditch at the northwest corner of the Duncan Tract. This bird also nests along the river.

Eastern Meadowlark. Common breeding resident. Fledglings seen in 1981.

Western Meadowlark. Uncommon breeding season resident on grazed pastureland.

Common Grackle. Summer breeding resident. A nest was found in 1981 and 1982.

Brown-headed Cowbird. Summer breeding resident. Young are raised in a variety of other species nests.

Orchard Oriole. Summer breeding resident. A nest was found in 1982.

Northern [Baltimore] Oriole. Summer breeding resident. Nesting activity watched in 1981.

Pine Siskin. Late winter visitor.

American Goldfinch. Breeding season resident.

House Sparrow. Breeding resident. Nests were usually located in abandoned barns on the area.

Research Site Revisited

A couple of decades or so after my original research, another visit was made to this place on 29 October 2003. There was a birdly meeting in the nearby region, so a parking spot at the area sufficed for the night's stop, with the front seat of a pickup the place for some sort of uncomfortable sleep. Getting up with the sun, a walk about was done before departing for the meeting, where other attendees spelt in paid for beds at the city lodge.

There were 24 species, each vibrant in their own distinctive manner during a crisp outing in the first light of the morning. The outing was prominent in its recollections of former times stepping around the wildlife area.

The results of the survey are shown in the accompanying table.

Had to leave the bird people meeting due to an unpaid registration fee because of paying for gas instead. This was the first rift in a chasm which is now a great divide!

At the end of this autumnal journey an errant driver turned when they should not have at a highway intersection, and there was a motor vehicle accident with unwanted results including the start of the demise of my multi-hued, individually painted, Chevrolet pickup.

Details derived from research associated with this study: James E. Ducey. August 1984. The Effects of Habitat Management on Nongame Birds. University of Nebraska at Omaha M.A. thesis, 50 pp. Appendix A. Pages 36-40.

Custer County Farm the Site for First-ever Big Sit in Nebraska

A farmstead in Custer County was the locale for the first Big Sit done in Nebraska.

Common Name	10/8-9	10/10	10/11
American Crow	24	28	3
American Goldfinch	-	-	1
American Pipit	-	5	5
American Robin	-	-	2
Barn Swallow	-	1	-
Blue Jay	-	-	2
Brewer's Blackbird	-	7	7
Chipping Sparrow	7	0	1
Clay-colored Sparrow	4	0	-
Common Grackle	3	-	-
Dark-eyed Junco	1	-	-
Dickcissel	-	2	-
Eastern Bluebird	1	-	-
European Starling	-	-	65
Field Sparrow	15	0	-
Fox Sparrow	-	-	1
Grasshopper Sparrow	3	0	-
Great Blue Heron	-	1	-
Great Horned Owl	-	-	2
Greater Prairie-Chicken	-	25	0
Harris's Sparrow	1	0	1
House Sparrow	-	-	1
House Wren	1	1	-
Killdeer	-	-	1
Le Conte's Sparrow	-	2	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	8	0	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	5
Northern Bobwhite	-	-	1
Northern Flicker	-	1	1
Northern Harrier	-	-	1
Orange-crowned Warbler	10	-	1
Prairie Falcon	-	-	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	55	-	-
Ring-necked Pheasant	-	-	10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	-	-
Sandhill Crane	0	200	0
Savannah Sparrow	6	0	5
Sharp-tailed Grouse	-	1	-
Song Sparrow	4	0	2
Spotted Towhee	1	-	1
Vesper Sparrow	6	0	3
Western Meadowlark	-	-	50
White-crowned Sparrow	24	0	12
White-throated Sparrow	2	1	1
Yellow-rumped Warbler	20	-	8

Tim Hajda contributed the results for Team Merlin, based on observations made from a circle in the yard of the family farm a few miles southeast of Broken Bow, on October 11th.

Though "bad weather made it downright miserable for most of the time," Hajda noted, 30 different species were seen from his vantage point.

It was windy and cloudy on the Sunday, with temperatures in the 30s.

Each species seen was appreciated, he said.

"The weather caused me to have some doubts that birds would be active and present in their normal numbers. It did turn out that there was a marked difference in bird activity, so I especially appreciated seeing the birds that were out and about, despite the weather."

Hajda did not keep watch during the entire day, but spent many hours outside scanning the nearby rural landscape — "mostly half-melted snow blanketing cane and corn fields across the rolling hills" — to see what species were visible.

"In true 'big day' fashion, what seemed to be the easiest species to find suddenly disappeared," Hajda noted in a contributed posting to the NEBirds forum. "There were no Horned Larks, Field, Lincoln's or Clay-colored sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-tailed Hawks, etc. It was made up by some pretty neat birds, though."

A particular highlight on Sunday was a "beautiful 'red'" Fox Sparrow, especially appreciated. The most prevalent native species were the Western Meadowlark, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Greater Prairie-Chicken, and migratory Yellow-rumped Warblers.

In anticipation of the Big Sit, an international birding event held on the second Sunday of October, Hajda had been closely watching bird activity in the area to determine what species were present. His observations for the two previous days were submitted for other Nebraska birders to read, and obviously indicated that he was spending time afield each day of a three-day weekend.

The passage of a cold weather front on Friday and Saturday "really stirred the birds up," he noted. There was a fresh "7 inches of snow" on the flatlands of central Custer County. Among the 23 species seen during a Saturday hike within two miles on his house, were 2 adult Le Conte's Sparrows, as well as a possible juvenile.

"I was sorting through sparrows in a weedy ditch down the road when I came across them," Hajda said. "I got incredible looks from just a few yards away." This is the first record he has of the species in Custer County, as he has for several months been working to compile a list of known species. Pictures of these sparrows were posted online.

Le Conte's Sparrow noted during the weekend of the Big Sit in Custer County. Image courtesy of Tim Hajda.

There were a dozen sparrows noted in the vicinity during his foray. Other species were noted on Friday, but not during any other time of the weekend.

An overall tally of 47 species during the weekend readily indicates the different avifauna tht can be seen on a particular day ... during a short hike or noted from the limited perspective that is the primary criteria of any Big Sit, wherever it may occur.

"Birding becomes habitual, so I always feel a desire to get out and see what birds are around. On top of that, area bird activity was high and unusual stuff was showing up, possibly due to the fluctuating weather conditions. It was nice out and there were a lot of birds — good enough reasons for me to spend time outdoors!"

The Big Sit has taken place for more than a decade, but the closest point of participation was at DeSoto NWR — along the Missouri River — in an event sponsored by the refuge, and with multiple observers present during the day.

Team Merlin was comprised solely of Hajda, with support provided by his family.

"My family was very supportive. My Dad brought out some hot soup mid-morning and got the latest report on what I had seen. Even my 'non-birding' siblings were very interested in what I was doing and what birds I saw."

"The Big Sit! puts a fun spin on encouraging birders to get out and look for birds at a less-popular time of year. As was proved during my Sit, unusual birds can and do show up at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Going out and doing an intensive count like The Big Sit! opens up a wider opportunity for these birds to be detected, documented and reported, which ultimately increases our overall knowledge of the Nebraska avifauna. The Big Sit! is also a tool in ornithological public education, drawing people in with the social atmosphere and then increasing their awareness of the birds. Now that I have experienced The Big Sit! myself, I hope to further popularize it throughout the area and throughout the state."

Hajda had first first read about The Big Sit! two years ago and thought that it would be a fun excuse to get out and do some birding. He wasn't able to take part in the last two Sits because of other planned activities, but made it a priority to participate this year.

Greater Prairie-Chicken on a center pivot. Image courtesy of Tim Hajda, who has taken additional pictures of birds at the Hajda farm and elsewhere in Nebraska.

Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary an Important Locale For Long-term Waterfowl Research

Snow Geese at Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary. Images courtesy of Dr. Ray T. Alisauskas.

The largest bird reserve in the world is the site for long-term research on the life history of several species of waterfowl.

The focus of the current research at Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary are Ross's Geese, Snow Geese, White-fronted Geese, King Eiders, and Long-tailed Ducks, said Dr. Ray T. Alisauskas, research scientist and adjunct professor based at the Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre of Environment Canada, on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon.

"The research started with a focus on understanding what role spring nutrition and arctic climate play in driving population biology of arctic-nesting geese," he said. "Also, we were interested in understanding how annual survival of geese changed and whether there were any longer-term trends in survival. With each additional year, it became obvious that we were in a unique position to address other unknowns about species for which there were conservation concerns such as King Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks. So, we exploited our presence in the area, to expand our focus on more than the species we were originally interested in."

This season's efforts will include "studies of body condition and nutrient analysis of harvested geese, sampling of nest density, species composition, habitat selection, breeding effort and success" of the nesting geese and sea ducks, according to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry. Researchers will also monitor, on an incidental basis, nests of gulls, loons, terns and other waterfowl.

The number of people involved varies with the number of objectives each year, Alisauskas said. "This summer there should be about 12 people involved at one time or another during the summer," not including pilots for the fixed and rotary wing aircraft used for access to and from the sanctuary, and to reach remote study sites.

A base camp at the Karrak Lake Research Station will be occupied for all or part of the period from 1 May to 31 August.

During part of this year's field season, a British Broadcasting Company film crew will accompany some of the staff "during their daily activities, in an attempt to film arctic wildlife for a documentary on polar regions," according to the environmental assessment.

"One of the most important benefits of the research is that it helps us to understand not only what the natural ecological factors are that influence populations, but also what role humans might play in this," Alisauskas said. Once we know this, we can make recommendations about how to manage human behavior that affects a population either positively or negatively.

"By marking birds, we can estimate annual survival rates, and also population size in some cases, depending on the source of the information about when marked birds are re-encountered. So, we can start to understand how much of changes in population growth/decline is due to changes in survival or production and recruitment of new young. Once you know which of these two components of population growth is more important to changes in population growth, you focus on the priority and start to investigate the main ecological factors that are influencing either survival or recruitment. It is hoped that once there is knowledge about the ecological problem (climate change, predation, toxic chemicals), then it may be possible to offer prescriptions for conservation."

Research camp.

Researchers prepare for an aerial survey of waterfowl.

Research that spans many years is essential to help understand the dynamics of the breeding geese and ducks.

"Long-term research is not only valuable, but necessary, since it is difficult to know if annual changes in population size or survival between two years are just random or part of a longer-term trend," Alisauskas said. "If part of a trend, then it requires more years to detect this. Another reason is that, depending on the species, they don't mature and begin to breed until they are at least three years old, and some individuals may not be detected as first-time breeders until they are 7-8 years old. So, a study has to continue longer than this to be able to detect and estimated such things.

With the bird sanctuary recognized as having the largest variety of nesting waterfowl in North America, a variety of topics have been investigated during recent decades. Surveys of nesting waterfowl were started in 1949, and determined the distribution of nesting Ross's geese and the lesser Snow Goose. Additional aerial surveys have been done in 1976 and during several years in the 1980s.

There have been several reports published that describe results of the research. Recent examples, published by Alisauskas and a number of other investigators, including university students earning advanced degrees, include:

• Previously unrecorded colonies of Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese in the Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary; in 1994, which showed an expansion of nesting range for both species, due to increasing populations
• Diet and growth of Glaucous Gulls at a large Arctic goose colony; in 1999
• Nest-site selection, interspecific associations, and nest success of King Eiders; at Karrak Lake, in 2003
• Comparative reproductive strategies between Long-tailed Ducks and King Eiders at Karruk Lake: use of energy reserves during the nesting season; in 2005

The Queen Maud Gulf area is the "largest bird sanctuary not only in Canada, but in the world apparently," Alisauskas said. "It has been relatively isolated, and because of its size, difficult to get around in without using aircraft. There are also logistical challenges because fixed-winged aircraft cannot land in many areas, and we have to rely on helicopters. So the isolation and size of the sanctuary can make it overwhelming to work in."

Alisauskas, however, finds "the landscape itself is beautiful to my eye. My main motivation for working in the Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary is that it supports a diverse array of arctic waterfowl, some of which are extremely abundant. However, the fact that there are few modern developments in the sanctuary is an added bonus. The solitude and isolation are enjoyable."

The Queen Maud Gulf Bird Sanctuary, designated as a Ramsar site on 24 May 1982, sprawls across more than 63,000 square kilometers, extending from just south of the arctic circle and north to the gulf, and from the Kaleet River south of the Adelaide Peninsula, west to the Tingmeak River basin. Most of the land is federal Crown Land, with small portions owned by the Inuit of Nunavut.

A management plan for the area is currently being evaluated, and is expected to be released this summer.

Report on mapping of the land cover with illustrations of the waterfowl habitat

Research to Help Understand Bird Conservation in the Arctic

Joe Liebezeit (right) and Ruby Hammond watching a shorebird reveal its nest location. Images courtesy of Steve Zack, Wildlife Conservation Society.

A research initiative sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society is developing information essential to understanding the values of coastal Alaska for a variety of wild birds.

Research is underway at the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area in the northeast corner of the National Petroleum Reserve, and in the nearby Beaufort Sea region.

Funding is provided from a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grant provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, foundations (Liz Claibourne / Art Ortenberg Foundation, Disney Conservation Fund, the Duke Foundation) and private donors, according to Joe Liebezeit, an associate conservation biologist, with the Society.

Research is being conducted on several bird-related topics, and Liebezeit provided further details in an email interview:

What is the research mission and its methods?

"Our mission is to conserve wildlife and wild places in Arctic Alaska. Our research is centered on understanding the main threats to wildlife in the Arctic: climate change and energy development; and to identify key areas for protection. For this latter issue, our focus has been Teshekpuk.

"This season, we are finishing up a 4-year study examining the breeding success, or how successful birds are at raising young to the point where they can leave the nest. Currently, there is little information on the importance of this region as a bird 'nursery' since no other studies have examined nest survivorship of the full suite of birds that utilize this region. This study is important because the Teshekpuk region of the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska is recognized for its importance to wildlife yet it is currently threatened with oil development. The Bureau of Land Management is currently selling oil exploration bids to oil companies in this region. At the same time we are working with other non-governmental organizations to help protect key areas in this important region.

"We will investigate post-breeding shorebird abundance, species composition, and fitness in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area since so little is known. In addition to the threat of oil development, the coastline in this region is rapidly eroding. As the polar ice cap shrinks due to climate change, wave action in the Arctic Ocean has intensified, particularly in the fall during storms. Because of this, coastal erosion rates have accelerated and salt water has intruded into freshwater habitats utilized by the feeding post-breeding shorebirds. In Alaska, this intensified coastal erosion is most dramatic on the Beaufort Sea coastline north of Teshekpuk Lake with over 1 km of erosion over the past 50 years. For this reason, we will investigate how climate-mediated coastal erosion may be impacting shorebird habitat use in this region.

Joe Liebezeit flushes a Semipalmated Sandpiper (lower left) from its tundra nest.

Joe Liebezeit “rope-dragging” to aid finding shorebird nests.

"In addition to our breeding bird project, we will be initiating a new study on the Beaufort Sea coast north of Teshekpuk Lake examining the use of this area by post-breeding shorebirds. Other researchers have found that after the breeding season, vast numbers of shorebirds congregate in coastal habitats along the Arctic Ocean coastline to fatten up on energy reserves before they begin their long southward migration.

What particular species are focused upon, and why?

"For our breeding bird study, we monitor nests of all birds in ourstudy plots including about 12 shorebirds species. The most common are: Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope and Dunlin; over five waterfowl species, including the King Eider, Greater White-fronted Goose; and other birds such as the Lapland Longspur and Willow Ptarmigan. We focus most of our investigation on the shorebirds and Lapland Longspurs since they provide the largest samples sizes.

"For the post-breeding work, the main species we will focus on will be shorebirds, in particular the Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Pectoral Sandpiper. We are focusing on this group of birds because they are the most numerous migratory birds in this region and some of them are of special conservation concern because their population numbers are low. Many of these species are of international importance because of their long migrations that take them to all parts of the globe.

Ruby Hammond and Joe Liebezeit “rope-dragging” to locate nests.

Joe Liebezeit measuring the angle and amount of shell floating to aid age determination in a shorebird egg.

"Methods during the breeding season (nest success study): we attempt to find all bird nests on 16 10-hectare plots. After nests are discovered we monitor them every few days until we determine whether the eggs hatched and the chicks successfully left the nest or they failed (e.g. failed due to predation, weather, etc.). From this information we can estimate "nest success" for the individual species and we will examine this with respect to other key variables that we measure (including predator numbers, habitat type, nest density) to learn which factors impact nest success the most.

"Methods during the post-breeding season: we will conduct line-transect surveys of shorebirds in key habitat types to estimate species composition, abundance, and timing of migration. We will also capture birds and individually mark them with color bands and take blood samples. The color-bands will enable us to re-sight the birds during surveys and thus estimate the 'tenure time' or how long birds stay in this area before moving on. The blood samples will be analyzed for triglyceride levels which is a measure of rate of fat gain. Birds that have a higher rate of fat gain are finding more food and thus this measure allows us an indirect measure of habitat quality."

How many years have these surveys been conducted? And what is the importance of long-term monitoring?

"We have been conducting surveys for breeding birds for four years at Teshekpuk and for six years at another site in the Prudhoe Bay region. Annual variation in the arctic is high so if we are to detect changes in populations it is important that we monitor over many years to help overcome the 'noise' of high annual variation to tease out the underlying trends."

Please comment on the importance of your survey efforts.

"The Arctic is an important region to study impacts of human disturbance (in our case via oil development) since these disturbances can be compared to nearby remote areas. Even more importantly, climate change is occurring most dramatically in the arctic (compared to the rest of the world) and so it is the most important place to investigate climate change impacts right now."

Are there any changes at your study locales which are affecting local birds?

"Climate change is impacting bird species. We have evidence that some bird species are initiating their nests up to seven days earlier than 20 years ago - a likely response to a warming climate. There is concern that this change in timing may be decoupled from insect emergence or other components of their life cycle. We have not investigated the details of this issue as of yet. Right now our main focus with climate change is investigating how climate-mediated erosion may be impacting post-breeding shorebirds."

What is the importance of the region being studied for birds,locally and globally?

"The Teshekpuk Lake Region is one of the most important areas for wildlife on the Alaskan Arctic coastal plain. Internationally important populations of shorebirds, numbering in the hundreds of thousands nest and stage here, up to 20% of the Pacific flyway brant goose population molts here every summer. The 45,000 head Teshekpuk Lake caribou herd give birth to and rear their young here every year. At the same time, oil development pressure and climate change impacts are important threats in this region. "Globally, this region supports an international assemblage of migratory birds that winter and stopover in all other parts of the planet."

In addition to society reports and published findings, research results are contributed to the Arctic Birds website where findings can be readily accessed. "We post our results on the website so that our data can be shared with other collaborators and scientists," Liebezeit said. This allows different researchers to "begin to detect trends in breeding birds across large geographic regions."

Additional details indicate the importance of the Teshekpuk Lake region for birds.

"The Teshekpuk Lake area is part of a vast network of coastal lagoons, deep water lakes, wet sedge grass meadows, beaded streams & river deltas that cover almost one third of the 23.5 million acre Reserve. Thousands of freshwater lakes cover more than half of the coastal plain," according to information presented on the Northern Alaska Environmental Center website.

"The Teshekpuk Lake area sustains the largest goose molting concentration in the Arctic - with up to 60,000 geese (including the lesser Snow Goose, Canada and White-fronted Goose and up to 20% of the entire Pacific Black Brant population) congregating at once. The coastal plain of the Reserve, including the Teshekpuk Lake area, is the primary arctic habitat for threatened Spectacled Eiders and also supports the entire breeding population of Stellar's Eider."

The Teshekpuk Lake region - sprawling across 1.7 million acres - was designated in 1977 by the Department of the Interior as a "Special Area"with significant natural values that required "maximum protection," in recognition of the habitat utilized by vast numbers of nesting and molting waterfowl, and other birds that gather prior to their annual southerly migration.

"The Wildlife Conservation Society is working with diverse stakeholders including other NGOs, government agencies, and industry," Liebezeit said, "to balance protection of the most important places for wildlife in this region along with responsible development."

---

Administration Relents on Drilling Near Teshekpuk Lake

"Washington, DC, May 16, 2008 - The Secretary of Interior announced today that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would defer additional oil and gas leasing around Teshekpuk Lake in the Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) for at least 10 years. The decision came with the release of a final revised environmental statement and activity plan for Northeast NPRA, after a lawsuit blocked a controversial September 2006 lease sale in that area."

This news is from a press release issued by the National Audubon Society.

Research Essential to Understanding Avifauna at Arctic Refuge

Ongoing research into the habits of notable birds is helping biologists better understand the value of diverse habitats of the Arctic coastal plain.

In Alaska, biologists with the Fish and Wildlife Service are cooperating with a variety of partners to conduct several important projects at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which covers an expanse of 20 million acres. The area is similar in size to South Carolina, with five ecosystem types occurring within this vast land on the shore, and inland from the Beaufort Sea.

Two particular projects of importance during the past couple of years have investigated the biology of the Smith's Longspur and post-breeding activity for a variety of shorebirds, said Steve Kendall, a biologist and refuge ornithologist.

The Arctic NWR is the only federal refuge with significant breeding populations of Smith’s Longspurs, a species of conservation concern, he said. "Little is known about their abundance, distribution and habitat requirements." Two breeding seasons have been spent gathering baseline data, and better understanding their biology.

Smith's Longspur's at Atigun Gorge. Photographs courtesy of the Arctic NWR, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

These birds have quite an "unusual breeding biology," Kendall said. "They have a polyandrous breeding system, where males mate with several females and vice versa and clutches may have a mixed paternity. The males and females form loose 'neighborhood' groups, with the male longspurs cooperating in rearing the broods."

A graduate student will continue the research this season, trying to "build models to predict abundance and distribution in northern Alaska, while continuing to investigate Smith’s Longspurs’ natural history."

Manomet Center of Conservation Sciences and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks have partnered with the Arctic Refuge to investigate how shorebirds use the coastal areas following the breeding season.

Breeding season Dunlin at Arctic NWR.

Breeding season Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

"Post-breeding shorebird studies thus far have shown considerable inter-annual and within-season variability in use of these habitats," Kendall said. "The mechanisms for this variability are unknown, but may include weather, wind, and water conditions, all of which likely affect food availability."

This habitat is an important place for shorebirds to gather and acquire fat reserves necessary for southward migration, Kendall explained. "Reduced habitat quality at preferred staging areas, through human-caused or natural events, or disturbance causing displacement of staging shorebirds, could impact populations. We have particular concern for the coastal resources of the refuge because these areas are vulnerable to effects of climate change and offshore oil exploration and development of the east Beaufort Sea."

Capturing post-breeding shorebirds on mudflats of Beaufort Sea.

Post-breeding shorebirds at Jago Delta.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope and Dunlin are more abundant and thus received more focus during this research. The Semipalmated Sandpipers especially have been noted to move from other regions of the coastal plain into the refuge area during the post-breeding period, Kendall said.

Results of additional research on the distribution of breeding shorebirds on the coastal plain of the refuge was published in 2007 in Condor, a prominent journal of ornithology.

Red-necked Phalarope. Photograph courtesy of Brad Winn.

Post breeding season Red-necked Phalarope.

Other bird study projects have been done in cooperation with non-governmental groups and corporate partners.

The Wildlife Conservation Society, British Petroleum, Conoco/Phillips and Manomet are partners in the study to evaluate "nest survival" in the vicinity of human infrastructure associated with oil development and villages. Kendall explained that predators can be attracted to land fills and food from people, which may result in differences in predation levels.

Results are currently being evaluated with plans to publish a research paper by the end of the year. The Canning River Delta was the study site on the refuge.

Habitat conditions are an integral part of the research efforts, with changes in sea conditions and land habitat two areas of particular interest.

A captured Pectoral Sandpiper.

Mist-netting post-breeding phalaropes.

Kendall noted that 2007 was an exceptional season on the arctic coast. There was an early ice-out date, with the ice pack far offshore early in the season. Without ice, there was a greater potential for flooding and erosion to change habitats, he said. The local barrier islands were also more prone to the effects of erosion since there was less of the ice cover that would typically limit the erosive impact of waves.

Weather conditions also were a big factor in conditions for local birds last season, Kendall said. Without the ice pack, wind had a greater influence on causing lower water levels. An unusual plankton bloom and an upwelling of aquatic food were readily utilized by foraging birds because of the predominant wind pattern.

Kendall has been the staff ornithologist at the refuge since 2002, when his position was created. He had previously studied birds since 1981 with state or federal positions at the Aleutian Islands, the Yukon River delta and in association with evaluating birds after the Exxon-Valdez oil spill.

He recalls an interesting story regarding the conditions and working with outside partners:

Steve Kendall boating to Demarcation Bay.

"During the 2006 season two partners from Manomet and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources flew up to work with me on surveying all of the major deltas on the Refuge. This required traveling the entire length of the Refuge’s Beaufort Sea coast in a 16 foot inflatable Achilles boat. The east coast of the U.S. was experiencing a heat wave of 100+ degrees when they left. In early August we left Kaktovik for Demarcation Bay, 60 miles to the east on the Alaska/Canada border. It was an exceptional day, with glassy calm seas. Minutes into the trip we started chuckling as a few snow flakes started falling. By the time we reached Demarcation Bay, the chuckles were over as we were traveling in complete white-out conditions in several inches of heavy wet snow. When we arrived at Demarcation, I asked my traveling partners; ‘So how should we begin?’ They looked at me as if I was crazy and said; ‘By heading to shore, building a fire and thinking about camping.’"

Another interesting occurrence happened while working on the Smith’s Longspur project:

"One of the methods we use to survey Smith’s Longspurs is to conduct point counts, where you stand at a randomly selected point and identify species by listening to their calls. At Sunset Pass in 2006, we had several Bluethroats at the study site. This mostly Old World species extends its breeding range into Alaska. They also are accomplished mimics. This ability made surveying a challenge as we could never quite be sure what species we heard singing. Was that a Smith’s Longspur or a Bluethroat mimicking a Smith’s Longspur? At one point we sat and watched a very hyperactive male Bluethroat display. During these aerial displays, we counted him singing the calls of at least 12 species we recognized, plus multiple others we didn’t recognize. At one point he even did a parasitic jaegar call. Jaegers prey on songbirds, by cooperatively hunting them in the air and there were several jaegers in the area. When they heard the bluethroat/jaeger call they came over to investigate. The Bluethroat had to do a quick dive in to the bushes to save himself. We never heard him mimic a jaegar again for the rest of the season."

Kendall's experience with bird studies is an important facet to his knowledge of northland habitats for wild birds, helping his understanding of the role of the Arctic for a variety of birdlife.

"The Arctic Refuge in an incredible place important for a great diversity of species," Kendall said, "and is valuable for many species." The variety of bird research is important in helping to understand and "conserve this wonderful area."

Useful links

Summary of 2007 Activities at Arctic NWR

Smith’s Longspur journal entry

Manomet Bird Observatory