Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan Version III April 2019 Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan Version III Suggested Citation: Alaska Shorebird Group. 2019. Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan. Version III. Alaska Shorebird Group, Anchorage, AK. The Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan and updates can be viewed and downloaded at: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/migratory-birds/shorebirds Cover: Male Red Knot on breeding territory, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Photo by Lucas DeCicco. i Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan Contents DEDICATION v BCR 1: Aleutian/Bering Sea Islands 35 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vi Priority Species 36 Important Shorebird Areas 37 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Primary Conservation Objectives 37 PART I: ALASKA SHOREBIRD 6 Priority Conservation Issues and Actions 38 CONSERVATION PLAN Emerging Conservation Issues 39 Introduction 6 Evaluation of Conservation Progress 40 Vision of the Alaska Shorebird Group 7 BCR 2: Western Alaska 41 Shorebirds in Alaska 7 Priority Species 42 Conservation Issues Facing Shorebirds 14 Important Shorebird Areas 43 Climate Change 14 Primary Conservation Objectives 44 Energy Production and Mining 16 Priority Conservation Issues and Actions 45 Pollution 16 Emerging Conservation Issues 48 Residential and Commercial Development 17 Evaluation of Conservation Progress 48 Agriculture and Aquaculture 17 BCR 3: Arctic Plains and Mountains 50 Transportation and Service Corridors 17 Priority Species 51 Biological Resource Use 18 Important Shorebird Areas 52 Human Intrusions and Disturbance 18 Primary Conservation Objectives 54 Invasive and Problematic Species, Pathogens, 18 and Genes Priority Conservation Issues and Actions 54 Summary of Conservation Threats Across 19 Emerging Conservation Issues 59 Alaska Evaluation of Conservation Progress 60 Conservation Strategy for Alaska 21 BCR 4: Northwestern Interior Forest 62 Research 21 Priority Species 63 Population Inventory and Monitoring 24 Important Shorebird Areas 63 Habitat Management and Protection 26 Primary Conservation Objectives 64 Environmental Education and Public Outreach 26 Priority Conservation Issues and Actions 65 International Collaborations 27 Emerging Conservation Issues 68 Implementation, Coordination, and Evaluation 27 Evaluation of Conservation Progress 68 of the Plan BCR 5: North Pacific Rainforest 70 Shorebird Species Conservation Priorities in 28 Alaska Priority Species 71 Prioritization Process 28 Important Shorebird Areas 72 PART II: ALASKA’S BIRD CONSERVATION 31 Primary Conservation Objectives 72 REGIONS Priority Conservation Issues and Actions 73 The Alaska Environment 31 Emerging Conservation Issues 75 Alaska’s Bird Conservation Regions 34 Evaluation of Conservation Progress 77 LITERATURE CITED 78 ii Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan APPENDICES Alaska Stewardship Species 134 Appendix 1. Common name, scientific name, 103 Black-bellied Plover 134 and status of shorebirds in Alaska Ruddy Turnstone 134 Appendix 2. Primary wintering areas and 105 Surfbird 135 primary migratory flyways of shorebird species commonly occurring in Alaska Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 136 Appendix 3. Important shorebird migration 108 Western Sandpiper 136 and nonbreeding sites within each Bird Long-billed Dowitcher 137 Conservation Region of Alaska Solitary Sandpiper 137 Appendix 4. Key groups or initiatives 113 Wandering Tattler concerned with shorebird research, 138 monitoring, and conservation efforts that Red-necked Phalarope 138 include populations of shorebirds in Alaska FIGURES Appendix 5. Breeding shorebird surveys within 115 each Bird Conservation Region of Alaska Figure 1. Overview of Alaska, detailing some of 9 the state’s important shorebird sites Appendix 6. Ecoregions of Alaska relative to 122 boundaries of Bird Conservation Regions Figure 2. Distribution of land governed by 32 the major state, federal, and Alaska Native Appendix 7. Habitat preferences of shorebirds 123 organizations within Bird Conservation Regions in Alaska during breeding, migration, and of Alaska winter seasons Figure 3. Bird Conservation Regions in Alaska 33 Appendix 8. Species accounts for priority 125 species in Alaska Figure 4. Aleutian/Bering Sea Islands Bird 35 Greatest Conservation Concern 125 Conservation Region 1 Figure 5. Western Alaska Bird Conservation Bristle-thighed Curlew 125 41 Region 2 Bar-tailed Godwit 125 Figure 6. Arctic Plains and Mountains Bird 50 Red Knot 126 Conservation Region 3 High Conservation Concern 126 Figure 7. Northwestern Interior Forest Bird 61 Black Oystercatcher 126 Conservation Region 4 Figure 8. Northern Pacific Rainforest Bird American Golden-Plover 127 69 Conservation Region 5 Pacific Golden-Plover 127 TABLES Whimbrel 128 Table 1. Estimated population size, population 10 Hudsonian Godwit 128 trend, conservation status, and percent Marbled Godwit 129 occurrence of shorebirds that regularly occur Black Turnstone 129 in Alaska Table 2. Seasonal importance of Bird 12 Dunlin 130 Conservation Regions to Alaska’s regularly Rock Sandpiper 131 occurring shorebird species Buff-breasted Sandpiper 131 Table 3. Identification and characterization 20 Pectoral Sandpiper 132 of primary, secondary, and emerging conservation issues affecting shorebirds Semipalmated Sandpiper 132 among Alaska BCRs Short-billed Dowitcher 133 Table 4. Conservation status of shorebird 30 Lesser Yellowlegs 133 species of conservation concern that regularly occur in Alaska iii Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan TABLES (continued) Table 5. Area of land managed within each 32 Bird Conservation Region by seven primary groups or agencies Table 6. Priority shorebird species that 36 commonly breed, stage during migration, or winter in the Aleutian/Bering Sea Islands Bird Conservation Region 1 Table 7. Priority shorebird species that 42 commonly breed, stage during migration, or winter in Western Alaska Bird Conservation Region 2 Table 8. Priority shorebird species that 51 commonly breed or stage during migration in Arctic Plains and Mountains Bird Conservation Region 3 Table 9. Priority shorebird species that 63 commonly breed, stage during migration, or winter in Northwestern Interior Forest Bird Conservation Region 4 Table 10. Priority shorebird species that 70 commonly breed, stage during migration, or winter in Northern Pacific Rainforest Bird Conservation Region 5 Red Knots Lucas DeCicco Semipalmated Sandpiper Lucas DeCicco iv Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan Dedication Photo credit: Alaska Department of Fish and Game. students’ work on the ecology of Black Oystercatch- ers. He published two key reports, “Black Oyster- catcher Conservation Action Plan” for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and “A Global Assessment of the Conservation Status of the Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani” for the International Wader Study Group. He also co-authored several peer-re- viewed journal articles, presented his findings at professional conferences, and wrote many agency Photo credit: Marian Snively reports on his oystercatcher work. David would often This third version of the Alaska Shorebird Conser- say, “My knowledge is a mile wide and an inch deep,” vation Plan is dedicated to the memory of David but this modesty belied the tremendous scope and Fair Tessler in appreciation for his contributions depth of Dave’s interests, especially those related to shorebird science and conservation in Alaska. to biology or ecology. He was easy to talk to, cu- David approached his shorebird research like he rious about people and what they had to say, and did everything else in life—with deep passion, com- was a good listener, traits that earned David many mitment, and an undeniable joy. He embraced his friends. David was a mentor to many and shared oystercatcher research with fearless enthusiasm, his knowledge and insight with easy enthusiasm. careful design, and his uncanny ability to have fun, no Dave lived large, loved to travel, and was an outdoor matter the weather or work conditions. His positive, enthusiast. He was an accomplished skier, climber, can-do, and upbeat personality, as well as his quick and avid surfer. He was a devoted father and hus- wit and sense of humor are legendary. David often band, and was especially fond of camping in Prince reduced people to tears of laughter with his antics; William Sound with his wife, Tracey, and their two people loved to work and be around him. He was children, River and Sierra. David loved his family also highly intelligent and hardworking, as demon- dearly, and was most happy when sharing the natu- strated by his many professional accomplishments. ral world together. In 2015, Dave and his family left As non-game Wildlife Biologist and Coordinator of Alaska to pursue new adventures in Hawaii, where the Wildlife Diversity Program at Alaska Department he took a position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife of Fish and Game, David’s contributions advanced Service as the Deputy Field Supervisor for Geo- Black Oystercatcher research and conservation in graphic Operations. He and his family loved their Alaska. For example, David was instrumental in the new island life and spent time camping and island formation of the Black Oystercatcher Working Group. hopping. However, he remarked that part of his heart He also mentored and supported several graduate always remained in Alaska. Dave’s humor, charm, enthusiasm, and love of life are greatly missed. v Alaska Shorebird Conservation Plan Tom Rothe, Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture Acknowledgments Sarah T. Saalfeld, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SPECIES ACCOUNT AUTHORS EDITORS