Polar Voyages Denote Birdlife of the Northern Alaska Seas

When the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy departed from on the 2010 International Continental Shelf Survey, bird watcher Bill Schmoker was onboard and keeping a close eye on any birds, ready to note which species were observed during the voyage across the Arctic sea.

A teacher from Centennial Middle School in Boulder, Colorado, Schmoker has an extensive background in watching birds, which was helpful in knowing how to recognize and identify birds during the PolarTREC survey. He has monitored breeding bird transects for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, been an instructor for the American Birding Association's Youth Birding Program, and photographed more than 600 species in North America.

Courtesy image.

Bird-watching at sea for weeks, was, however, a completely new experience. The voyage traveled over 5000 nautical miles.

"I was thrilled and excited with the prospect of seeing birds in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas and pleasantly surprised at finding bird life well into the pack ice in the Canada Basin," Schmoker said.

The first bird list - of the 26 eventually submitted to ebird, the online record repository - was for July 31st from Dutch Harbor, on Unalaska Island, a prominent place on the Aleutian Islands. The final list from the voyage was for September 6, at Barrow, Alaska, based upon observations at the end of Ogrook Street.

During the survey, Schmoker reported his observations in an online weblog, presented daily as uploaded from the ship. Topics in the more than 50 reports covered a wide variety of topics related to the scientific efforts of the ship crew, and the events and life at sea.

Schmoker's details of the birds observed, and times aboard the ship, convey a unique perspective of avifauna which had not been previously reported for the PolarTREC voyage.

Birds of the Northern Seas

During the nearly forty day voyage, 58 different species were noted according to the ebird survey reports submitted. There were various waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, and a lesser number of land birds. The following is a list of the species noted, with the value given a sum of the species noted for the designated localities.

Bird Common Name	Dutch Harbor - Unalaska Island	Bering Sea	Bering Strait	Chukchi Sea	Beaufort Sea	North of Barrow	Northwind Ridge	Canada Basin	Barrow - End of Ogrook Street
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60
Mallard	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Spectacled Eider	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7
King Eider	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	-	-
Common Eider	-	-	-	6	2	4	-	-	-
Red-breasted Merganser	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rock Ptarmigan	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pacific Loon	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	2
Northern Fulmar	-	9	8	6	-	-	-	-	-
Mottled Petrel	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Short-tailed Shearwater	-	1900	35	-	-	1	-	-	-
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel	-	60	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-faced Cormorant	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pelagic Cormorant	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
Bald Eagle	75	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gyrfalcon	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Black Oystercatcher	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wandering Tattler	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Turnstone	30	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	20	-	-	-
Least Sandpiper	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rock Sandpiper	45	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-necked Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Red Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Black-legged Kittiwake	-	12	80	2	2	11	1	27	-
Ivory Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Sabine's Gull	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Mew Gull	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Herring Gull	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Glaucous-winged Gull	50	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Glaucous Gull	-	-	12	-	5	7	-	2	30
Aleutian Tern	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-
Arctic Tern	-	-	-	-	6	7	-	-	-
Pomarine Jaeger	-	-	6	2	-	-	-	-	-
Parasitic Jaeger	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Murre	-	x	x	1	-	-	-	-	-
Thick-billed Murre	-	45	x	12	-	-	-	-	-
Pigeon Guillemot	25	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marbled Murrelet	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Kittlitz's Murrelet	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Parakeet Auklet	-	2	2	3	-	-	-	-	-
Least Auklet	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Crested Auklet	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Horned Puffin	50	10	20	3	-	-	-	-	-
Tufted Puffin	-	21	25	5	-	-	-	-	-
Snowy Owl	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Belted Kingfisher	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Raven	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bank Swallow	25	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Pipit	12	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-
Savannah Sparrow	30	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Song Sparrow	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lapland Longspur	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Smith's Longspur	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Snow Bunting	1	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	30
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	75	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Redpoll	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10
Pine Siskin	35	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

The Black-legged Kittiwake and Glaucous Gull were two of the species noted more often. A highlight in latter August was seeing an Ivory Gull in the Canada Basin, which was the first time this species had been observed by Schmoker. "It was over 500 miles from the nearest land."

"In addition to the amazing birds I'd consider the 8 Polar Bears I saw to be an incredible bonus. Minke and Humpback Whales along with Ringed and Hooded Seals added to the mammal list, as did Sea Otters in Dutch Harbor."

Although bird surveys were not done each and every day - as there were other items of interest during the voyage, a summary of birds noted on the particular days when surveys were done, is available from the 26 ebird reports submitted.

Bird Common Name	July 31	8/ 2	8/ 3	8/ 4	8/ 5	8/ 6	8/ 8	8/ 9	8/ 10	8/ 16	8/ 19	8/ 20	8/ 21	8/ 22	8/ 23	8/ 24	8/ 25	9/ 1	9/ 5	9/ 6
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60
Mallard	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Unidentified waterfowl	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Spectacled Eider	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7
King Eider	-	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Eider	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Red-breasted Merganser	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rock Ptarmigan	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pacific Loon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Loon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Northern Fulmar	-	3	6	8	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mottled Petrel	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Short-tailed Shearwater	-	150	1750	35	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel	-	60	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-faced Cormorant	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pelagic Cormorant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Bald Eagle	75	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gyrfalcon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black Oystercatcher	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wandering Tattler	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Turnstone	30	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Least Sandpiper	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rock Sandpiper	45	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-necked Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Black-legged Kittiwake	-	-	12	80	2	-	-	-	2	1	1	3	-	13	1	1	1	7	1	10
Ivory Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sabine's Gull	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mew Gull	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Herring Gull	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Glaucous-winged Gull	50	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Glaucous Gull	-	-	-	12	-	-	1	4	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	36
Aleutian Tern	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Arctic Tern	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pomarine Jaeger	-	-	-	6	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jaeger	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Parasitic Jaeger	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Murre	-	-	x	x	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Murre	-	-	-	-	40	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8
Thick-billed Murre	-	-	45	x	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pigeon Guillemot	25	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marbled Murrelet	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Kittlitz's Murrelet	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Parakeet Auklet	-	-	2	2	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Least Auklet	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Crested Auklet	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Horned Puffin	50	-	10	20	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tufted Puffin	-	1	20	25	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Snowy Owl	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Belted Kingfisher	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Raven	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bank Swallow	25	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Pipit	12	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Savannah Sparrow	30	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Song Sparrow	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lapland Longspur	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Smith's Longspur	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Snow Bunting	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	34
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	75	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Redpoll	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10
Pine Siskin	35	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

More species, and a greater number of birds were reported from the surveys done at land-based sites. While sailing along, Schmoker often reported survey results with only a few species, but which noted birds of particular interest or significance.

During the voyage, Schmoker observed 14 species he had not seen before, according to the final edition of his weblog. The final addition was a small flock of Spectacled Eiders seen at Barrow, while waiting to catch a plane for his return to Colorado.

Pacific Loon at Barrow. Image courtesy of Bill Schmoker

"The International Continental Shelf Survey is a multi-year project undertaken by the U.S. and Canada to retrieve seafloor and sub-seafloor data in anticipation of future extended continental shelf exclusive economic zone claims under the United Nations Law of the Sea," Schmoker said. "Bird surveys rarely are undertaken in the remote Arctic Ocean region north of both countries and so data provided to eBird from this cruise will add significant coverage to their global database of bird distribution and status."

PolarTREC 2009 Species

During the Healy 2009 cruise, foggy weather meant a lesser number of birds were observed.

Due to persistent foggy conditions, the species noted by Chris Hedge - sponsored by the NOAA Teacher at Sea program - and another observer on board, were Spectacled Eider, Pacific Loon, Northern Fulmar, Pelagic Cormorant, Red Phalarope, Black-legged Kittiwake, Ross's Gull, Glaucous Gull, Arctic Tern, Parasitic Jaeger, and Long-tailed Jaeger.

Two unusual sighting occurred on the ship. On September 5, 2009 while at the Beaufort Sea, a dead Yellow-rumped Warbler was found dead on deck. There was also a Yellow Wagtail aboard ship.

Carcass of the Yellow-rumped Warbler found on board the ship. Both images courtesy of Chris Hedge.

The visiting Yellow Wagtail.

Hedge is a 7th grade science instructor at Carmel Middle School at Carmel, Indiana.

PolarTREC

PolarTREC has been underway since 2007.

"PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which K-12 teachers spend 2-6 weeks participating in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. The goal of PolarTREC is to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing K-12 educators and polar researchers together."

Financing for the program is provided by the National Science Foundation, and is managed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, with its headquarters in Fairbanks, Alaska.