Birds of the Prudhoe Bay Region, Northern Alaska

Home , Colville River (Alaska), Point Barrow, Sagavanirktok River

WESTERN BIRDS

Volume 25, Number 2, 1994

BIRDS OF THE PRUDHOE BAY REGION, NORTHERN ALASKA

CRAIG J. HOHENBERGER, Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary, Coast Route, Monterey,California 93940 WAYNEC. HANSON, 1902 Yew StreetRd., Bellingham,Washington 98226 EDWARD E. BURROUGHS, 101132 Lee Street,Eagle River, Alaska 99577

This paper summarizesthe resultsof our studiesof birds of the arctic coastalplain of Alaskafrom 1971 to 1993 and numerouspublished and unpublishedreports. Our objectiveis to synthesizethe considerabledata accumulatedsince oil extractionbegan in the Prudhoe Bay area and to providea detailedaccount of all specieswithin three contiguousregions so that futurechanges in speciescomposition and statusmay be assessed. Our primarysources of informationwere ecological studies of impactsof petroleumresource development undertaken at PrudhoeBay from 1971 to 1973 as part of the AlaskanArctic Gas PipelineCompany's effort. From 1974 to 1981, additionalstudy sites were establishedon the coastalplain, near FranklinBluffs, and in the coastalfoothills under U.S. EnergyRe- searchand DevelopmentAdministration (now U.S. Departmentof Energy) sponsorship.Several biologists and an increasingnumber of birdershave continuedto communicateto us their observationsin the PrudhoeBay area.

REGIONAL SETTING

The area coveredby this paper extendsfrom the ArcticOcean on the northto thecrest of the BrooksRange on thesouth, from the Canningand Ivishak rivers on the east to the Itkillik and Colville rivers on the west. We have dividedthis sectorinto three north-southregions: Prudhoe Bay, FranklinBluffs, and Central Foothills(Figure 1). The Central Foothills regionextends from the BrooksRange north to the SagwonBluffs and White Hills.The FranklinBluffs Region includes the areabounded by the northern edge of Franklin Bluffs, which form the east bank of the SagavanirktokRiver in that area, and the Itkillik and Shaviovikrivers. The Western Birds 25:73-103, 1994 73 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

I 1510 ø I 148I ø I 148I ø

PRUDHOEBAY • REGION •]• Colville ' ß SimpsonLagoon River Delta Prudhoe HoweIsland. % FlaxmanIsland .7'• ---.

River

LLS

•AtigunPassP , ! , •l0 M• 0 50 K

Figure1. PrudhoeBay, Franklin Bluffs, and Central Foothills regions. The dashed linefrom north to southshows the pathof theDalton Highway and Trans-Alaska pipeline.A, ArianticRichfield Company's Prudhoe Bay operation center; B, British Petroleurn'smain operation center; C, PointStorkerson; D, Endicott Causeway; E, AftgunValley; F, OliktokPoint; G, Deadhorse;H, PointMcintyre; I, WestDock; J, PointBrower; K, GalbraithLake; L, ToolikLake; M, pumpstation 3; N, pump station 4.

74 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

PrudhoeBay Region extends south to the northernend of FranklinBluffs and east to the confluence of the Kavik and Shaviovik rivers. In the BeaufortSea. the regionextends offshore about 55 km to includepelagic. nearshore,and littoral habitatsof the continentalshelf: it is borderedon the westby the ColvilleRiver and on the eastby FlaxmanIsland. Central FoothillsRegion In this the most southern of the three regions, the Brooks Range dominatesthe landscape.Peaks range from 2134 to 2438 m in elevation, with ruggedridges extending east-west (Figure 2). The low, sparsealpine tundravegetation of these mountainsis composedof lichens,mat and cushionplants, and dwarf shrubs.The northernpart of this region is characterizedby numerouseast-west ridges rising to about360 m. inter- spersedwith rolling plains and braided streams (Sage 1974). The dominant habitatis tussock-heathtundra, characterized by cottongrass(Eriophorurn vaginaturn),mountain avens (Dryas integrifolia),dwarf birch (Betula nana), cranberriesand blueberries(Vaccinium spp.), Labradortea (Ledurn decurnbens),and other shrubs.Willow (Salix spp.)thickets along streams and riversand local patchesof tall brushprovide important habitat for passerines.Many areas away from the DaltonHighway, such as the White Hills, remainpoorly explored from an avifaunalstandpoint.

Figure 2. Spring break-upalong the Dalton Highway and Trans-Alaskapipeline, in the Central Foothillsregion, BrooksRange, Alaska. Photo by Craig Hohenberger

75 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

FranklinBluffs Region This region is a narrow transitionalarea betweenthe wet coastalplain and rollingplateaus and mountainsof the CentralFoothills. The dominant physiographicfeature is the FranklinBluffs, which rise to 293 m andextend 32 km from north to south (Figure3). Moderateslopes and relief have produceda mixture of well-drainedxeric and mesictundra and low, wet tundra. Drier areas are vegetatedby Dryas, Eriophorum tussocks,and shrubs.Poorly drained terrain is characterizedby wet sedge meadows coveredby pioneeringherbaceous plants. These mesic habitats are characterizedby polygonizedand frost-scartundra. Polygons are low-lyingridges, risingto heightsof 0.5 meters,formed from the cyclicarctic freezes and thaws. Frost scarsare roughlycircular, slightly convex, and composedof fine sandyloam that heavesunder certain moisture and freezingconditions. Dwarf willowsare commonon rises,and shallowponds rimmed with the sedges Carex aquatilis and Arctophila fulva are sparselydistributed throughoutthe region.From 1976 to 1981, thisregion's birds were studied by Hansonand Eberhardt(1977-1981), Brink (1978), Joneset al. (1980), Garrottet al. (1981), and McCafferyet al. (1982), at a 100-ha site located 69 km south of Deadhorse (69o41' N, 148o42 ' W), 0.5 km west of the SagavanirktokRiver, and 1.5 km west of the bluffs. PrudhoeBay Region With a relief of <10 m, the coastalplain in the PrudhoeBay Region is poorly drained, characterizedby wet meadows,lakes, and ponds 1-2 m deep (Britton1957). Walkeret al. (1980) thoroughlydescribed the area's landforms,soils, and vegetation.In general,water covers50-75% of the region (Blackand Barksdale1949), and the land surfaceis coveredby a mosaicof low-centeredpolygons and wet tundradotted with ponds1-2 rn deep. The plain's terrestrialvegetation is dominatedby sedgesmixed with Eriophorum, saxifrages,and louseworts(Pedicularis spp.) and underlaid by mosses.Several decumbent and dwarf willowsare common on higher groundbut are too low for nestingof many passerines.Well-drained sites with lichens,Dryas, and heather (Cassiopetetragona) are found along stream and river terraces,elevated lake shores,and on pingos(ice-cored hills).Salt marshes,dominated by Puccinellia phryganodesand Carex subspathacea,and grassy beaches are found intermittentlyalong the shoresof PrudhoeBay and the BeaufortSea (Figure4) (Jeffries1977, Broadet al. 1980, Taylor 1981). Bergmanet al. (1977) distinguishedeight types of wetlandsand docu- mentedtheir useby loonsand waterfowl.Derksen et al. (1981) expanded that data base and demonstratedthe applicabilityof the classification system across the National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska to the west. Connors et al. (1979), Myers and Pitelka (1980), Jones (1980), and Connors(1984) describedthese habitats' use by shorebirds.Lagoons and barrier islandsof sand, gravel, and tundra border the outer coast of the PrudhoeBay regiondiscontinuously. Barrier islandsoccasionally support highdensities of nestingmarine birds (Divoky 1978a,b) and provide impor- 76 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Figure3. Representativehabitat, characterized by Dryas and Eriophorum, along Franklin Bluffsand the SagavanirktokRiver. Photo by Craig Hohenberger

Figure4. An abandonednative dwelling in wet tundraof the coastalplain adjacentto the Beaufort Sea. Photo by Craig Hohenberger 77 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY tant habitatsfor molting,feeding, and staging birds (Schamel 1978, John- sonand Richardson1980, Divoky1984). The centralBeaufort Sea coast supportslower diversity and densities of breedingbirds than do coastsof other northernseas, such as the ChukchiSea, becauseit has few suitable nestingareas and the sea is relativelyshallow and unproductive(Divoky et al. 1974). The PrudhoeBay Regionis by far the mostthoroughly studied of the threeregions. We studieda PrudhoeBay sitefrom 1971 through1980 (Hansonand Eberhardt1976-1981) and a 100-ha site 20 km southof PrudhoeBay from 1979 to 1981 (Hohenbergeret al. 1980, 1981, 1982). Johnsonand Herter (1989) summarizedthe 249 bird speciesrecorded in the Alaskan and Canadian areas of the Beaufort Sea.

ANNOTATED LIST

One hundredseventy-four species of 28 familieshad beenrecorded from our studyarea as of 1993. The termswe use in describingthe statusof a speciesare thoseof Kesseland Gibson(1978): Resident--aspecies present throughoutthe year.Migrant--a seasonaltransient between wintering and breedingranges; in spring,includes species that haveovershot their normal breedingrange. Breeder--a species known to breed;prefixed by "possible" or "probable"if concretebreeding evidence is unavailable.Visitant--a nonbreedingspecies; also, in fall, a speciesnot directlyen routebetween its breedingand winteringranges. Abundant--species occurs repeatedly in proper habitats,with availablehabitat heavily utilized, and/or the region regularlyhosts great numbers of the species.Common--species occurs in all or nearlyall properhabitats, but some areas of presumedsuitable habitat are occupiedsparsely or not at all and/or the regionregularly hosts large numbersof the species.Fairly common--species occurs in onlysome of the proper habitat,and large areasof presumedsuitable habitat are occupied sparselyor not at all and/or the regionhosts substantial numbers of the species.Uncommon--species occurs regularly, but utilizeslittle of the suitablehabitat, and/or the region hostsrelatively small numbersof the species;not observedregularly even in proper habitats.Rare--species within its normal range, occurringregularly, but in very small numbers. "Very"rare is usedfor speciesthat occurless regularly, not everyyear, and usuallyin very smallnumbers. The regionsare abbreviatedas PB (Prudhoe Bay),FB (FranklinBluffs), and CF (CentralFoothills). Early and late observation datesare givenwhen significant, but are not availablefor everyspecies becauseof sparseobserver coverage in earlyspring and late fall. If a region is not listedin a speciesaccount, there are no recordsfor that speciesin that region. Initialsand namesof contributorsof originalobservations are as follows: M. Amaral (MA), L. G. Balch (LGB), J. Booker (JB), M. Brauer (MB), K. L. Brink (KLB),M. K. Buckley(MKB), R. M. Burgess(RMB), E. E. Burroughs (EEB), T. A. Carpenter (TAC), J. Carr (JC), R. C. Clearman (RCC), P. G. Connors(PGC), B. A. Cooper(BAC), J. Davis(JD), R. H. Day (RHD), G. J. Divoky(GJD), L. E. Eberhardt(LEE), G. Elliott(GE), H. Fine (HF), E. Fiscus 78 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

(EF), R. Fraker (RF), D. A. Garrett (DAG), R. A. Garrett (RAG), A. Gavin (AG), D. D. Gibson(DDG), P.S. Gipson(PSG), G. E. Hall (GEH), W. C. Hanson(WCH), R. E. Harris (REH), J. Hawkings(JH), J. W. Helmericks (JWH), A. Hendrick (AH), D. R. Herter (DRH), K. Hirsch (KH), C. J. Hohenberger(CJH), M. Irinaga(MI), S. R. Johnson(SRJ), S. G. Jones (SGJ),K. T. Karlson(KTK), J. Kay (JK),G. E. Keiser(GEK), R. C. Kenyon (RCK),K. Kertell(KK), B. Kessel(BK), P. Koehl(PK), J. Leifester(JL), Todd Mabee (TM), B. J. McCaffery (BJM), S. O. MacDonald(SOM), D. B. McDonald(DBM), C. Markon (CM), P. D. Martin (PDM), R. H. Meehan (RHM), G. Milke (GM), W. D. Morgan (WDM), R. Mullen (RM), S. M. Murphy(SMM), J. P. Myers(JPM), K. Persons(KP), M. A. Pruett(MAP), R. Rodrigues(RR), K. D. Rose (KDR), D. Rosenberg(DR), D. G. Roseneau (DGR),T. C. Rothe(TCR), D. P. Rudholm(DPR), R. L. Scher(RLS), C. T. Schick(CTS), D. R. Schmidt(DRS), P. Scorup(PS), W. D. Shuford(WDS), D. Tillotson(DT), T. G. Tobish(TGT), D. M. Troy(DMT), N. Warnock(NW), D. Wetzel (DW), J. Wickliffe(JW), D. Wimpfheimer(DWi), C. M. White (CMW), J. Young(JY). Other abbreviations:University of AlaskaMuseum (UAM), UnitedStates Fishand Wildlife Service (USFWS), ARCo (ArianticRichfield Corporation), BP (British Petroleum), MOC (BP's Main Operation Center), PBOC (ARCo'sPrudhoe Bay Operations Center), PS-3 andPS-4 (pumpstations), andTAPS (Trans-AlaskaPipeline System).

Gayla stellata. Red-throated Loon. PB: Common breeder. Arrives first week of June; latest record 1 October 1989 (EEB). FB: Uncommon and local breeder.For example,one pair foundnesting opposite Franklin Bluffs in 1980 and 1981 (CJH). CF: Rare;two recordsof breeding,of nestsin AtigunValley in 1980 (GE, PK, JK) and betweenTAPS PS 4 and DaltonHighway in 1981 (DRS). Gavia pacifica. PacificLoon. PB: Commonbreeder. Earliest arrival 3 June 1991; latest record 2 October 1989 (EEB). Peak abundance3-9 June (Johnsonand Richardson1981). FB: Uncommon,probable breeder. Earliest arrival date 4 June 1981 (CJH).CF: Commonbreeder. Earliest arrival date late May 1981 (DRS). Gaviairamet. Common Loon. PB: Rare migrant, observed in smallnumbers along the coast (Bergman 1974, Pitelka 1974, Derksen et al. 1981, Johnsonand Richardson1981, Garner and Reynolds1986). Johnsonand Richardson(1981) reportedsmall numbers near SimpsonLagoon in spring,suggesting an eastward movement.CF: Uncommonand local breeder. For example,Sage (1974) reporteda pair seen in RibdonValley in the upper Sagavanirktokbasin 29 June 1970, DRS notedthe speciesbreeding at Toolik Lake 1977-79, Pamplin(1979) recordedit in AtigunValley, and GE, PK, and JK saw an individualthere on 26 July 1980. Gaviaadamsii. Yellow-billed Loon. PB: Uncommonbreeder and migrant onshore. commonmigrant offshore in springand fall (Bailey1948, Johnsonand Richardson 1981, Woodby and Divoky 1982, Divoky 1983). Earliestspring record 31 May 1982 and 1983 (Simpsonet al. 1982, Renken et al. 1983). Peak abundance3-9 June (Johnsonand Richardson1981). FB: Rare. Occasionalbreeder; for example. one pair nested16 km southof FranklinBluffs in 1969 (Sage 1974). CF: Rare and localbreeder; for example,a pair nestedin RibdonValley in the upperSagavanirktok basinin June1970 (Sage1971). Nonbreedersoccur in the Lupineand Sagavanirktok valleysand on lakesbetween Franklin Bluffs and White Hills (Sage1971. 1974). 79 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Podicepsauritus. Horned Grebe.PB: Three records,of singlebirds seen near EastDock in PrudhoeBay on 9 June 1980 (TCR), near PBOC 1-14 June 1987 (DRH et al.), and at FlaxmanIsland at the easternedge of the regionin July 1930 (Bailey1948). CF: Rarebreeder; for example,a nestwith two eggsfound between PS 3 and 4 on 7 and 8 July 1981 (JH). Podicepsgrisegena. Red-necked Grebe. PB: One record, of a birdnear Wellpad M nearMOC 23-25 May 1992 (EEB,KK). CF: Onerecord of a birdin LupineValley in the upperSagavanirktok basin 3 July1970 (Sage1974). Fulmarusglacialis. Northern Fulmar. PB: Uncommonmigrant offshore. Near shore,one birdnear OliktokPoint, Harrison Bay, 24 August1983 (TAC). Puffinustenuirostris. Short-tailed Shearwater. PB: Bodfish(1936) reported large concentrationsin the autumnnear shorenear FlaxmanIsland, yet we haveonly two recent records,of a bird seen in PrudhoeBay 11 August1983 (DRS) and a mummifiedcarcass (not preserved) found near Point Storkersen 5 July1984 (PDM, DRH, CJH, BAC). No fewerthan 10 millionShort-tailed and Sooty(P. griseus) move intothe BeringSea eachsummer (Sanger and Baird 1977). A verysmall proportion of the BeringSea populationof P. tenuirostrismigrates through the BeringStrait intothe BeaufortSea from late July through September, but the speciesis rarely seen east of Pitt Point (Divoky 1983). Cygnuscolumbianus. Tundra Swan. PB: Commonbreeder. Banding studies indicatethat the Prudhoe Bay birds winter in ChesapeakeBay (Sladen 1973). Earliest arrivaldate at PrudhoeBay 20 May (AG), althoughrecorded 15-17 May in the ColvilleRiver delta by Simpsonet al. (1982), Renkenet al. (1983), andNorth et al. (1984). Latestrecord 27 September1991 (EEB).FB: Uncommonbreeder. CF: Rare visitant.Observed along Dalton Highway when coastal plain is stillfrozen. In 1980 thespecies occurred occasionally from late June to earlyAugust in AtigunValley (GE, PK, JK). Cygnusbuccinator. Trumpeter Swan. PB: Two records,of two moltingadults seen 0.5 km offshorenear the eastside of West Dock on 22 July 1981 (DRS) and oneadult seen on a freshwaterpond 30 September-2October 1989 (EEB).The only other recordsfor Alaska'snorth slopecome from the SimpsonLagoon, Camden Bay, and CanningRiver regions, where the speciesis a rare breeder(Kessel and Gibson 1978). Anseralbifrons. Greater White-fronted Goose. PB: Commonbreeder, the most commonbreeding goose in the region.Earliest arrival date (20 birds)6 May 1991; latestrecord 1 October 1989 (EEB). FB: Common breeder.CF: Uncommon migrant in springand fall. Rare local breeder between Franklin Bluffs and White Hills (Sage 1974). Chen caerulescens.Snow Goose. PB: Locally common on islandsin the SagavanirktokRiver delta, especially Howe Island,where a substantialcolony regu- larlynests (SJH,RMB). In the springof 1993, 475 pairsattempted to neston Howe and Duck islands(SRJ); 408 of these nestssuccessfully fledged young. Approxi- mately1700 adultsand goslings were banded in theSagavanirktok River delta in late July 1993 (SRJ, CJH). Earliestarrival date (30 birds)20 May 1990 (EEB).FB: Commonmigrant; for example,on 27 May 1981, 100 birdswere seennear the bluffs(CJH et al.). CF: Common migrant (SRJ). Chen rossii.Ross' Goose. PB: One recordof a pair in the Howe IslandSnow Goosecolony in summer1983 andsingle adult male seen in the samelocation in late Julyof the sameyear. The pairnested, the firstconfirmed breeding by Ross'Goose in the U.S. (Johnsonand Troy 1987).

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Chen canagica.Emperor Goose. PB: One record,of a bird in a flockof Brant in the ColvilleRiver delta 26 July 1988 (Johnsonand Herter 1989). Branta bernicla. Brant. PB: Common breeder.Earliest spring record 22 May 1989; latestrecord 9 October1989 (EEB).FB: Uncommonmigrant (spring). CF: We have no records,though Irving (1960) listedit as uncommonmigrant. Branta canadensis.Canada Goose. PB: Fairly common, local breeder.Earliest arrivaldate 7 May 1972 (AG); latestrecord 18 September1989 (EEB).FB and CF: Uncommonmigrant (spring and fall). Earliestarrival in CF 13 May 1976 (WCH, KLB). Arias crecca.Green-winged Teal. PB: Uncommonas a visitant;rare and'local as a breeder.For example,one nest(7 eggs)in moisttundra at PrudhoeBay on 20 June 1980 (WCH). Earliestarrival date 21 May 1991; latestrecord one femalenear West Dock 16 September 1991 (EEB). FB and CF: Uncommon and local breeder.Seen as earlyas 17 May 1980 at TAPS PS 4 (TCR). Three nestsfound between PS 3 and 4 on 7 and 8 July 1980 (JH); severalyoung on lakesthroughout CF in 1970 (Sage 1974). A nestwith eggsand adultswith youngwere discoveredin AtigunValley in 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). Arias formosa.Baikal Teal. PB: One record. One male found 14 June 1993 near Milne Pointnear the KuparukRiver mouth and stayedinto mid-July(TM et al.; photo UAM). The only otherrecord for Alaska'snorth slopeis of one birdat Cape Sabine 28 May 1959 (Maher 1960). Ariasplatyrhynchos. Mallard. PB: Uncommonbreeder. Earliest arrival date 7 May 1991 (EEB);latest record 16 September1991 (EEB).'FB: Uncommonmigrant (springand fall). CF: Uncommonvisitant; for example,pairs were seen on the SagavanirktokRiver near its junctionwith the Lupine River 6 June 1970 and on GalbraithLake 20 May and 23 June1970 (Sage1974). Recordedregularly late May to late Augustin AtigunValley (GE, PK, JK, et al.). Arias acuta. Northern Pintail. PB: Abundant breeder, one of the most abundant duckson Alaska'snorth slope. Influxesof nonbreeders,especially males, occur duringdroughts farther south (Derksen and Eldridge1980). Bergmanet al. (1977) reportedthat 80% of the Pintailsat Point Storkersenwere males,apparently nonbreeders.Earliest arrival date 8 May 1981; latestrecord 1 October1989 (EEB). FB: Common. Probablebreeder. CF: Fairly common. Probablebreeder. Earliest arrivaldate 11 May 1970 (Sage 1974). Arias discors.Blue-winged Teal. PB: Rare visitant;for example,a pair was at Deadhorse24-26 June 1981 (DPR, CJH) and a male was near PBOC 3-6 July 1993 (RF,NW, et al.). FB: Rare;for example,a pair 17-25 July 1979 (CJH, SGJ, MAP, AH). CF: Rare;for example,a pair at GalbraithLake 7 July1980 (JH)and one bird in Atigun Valley5 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). Arias clypeata. Northern Shoveler.PB: Uncommonvisitant and rare breeder;for example,adults with brood reported7 August1971 (AG). Earliestarrival date 16 May 1990; latestrecord 17 September1989 (EEB).FB: Uncommon spring migrant. During 1981 numberswere exceptionallyhigh in the region(BJM, RMB), wherethe specieshad previouslybeen rare. CF: Rare visitor.Earliest observation of 21 birds betweenTAPS PS 3 and 4 on 17 May 1980 (TCR). Reportedfrom samearea on 7 July1980 (JH)and near TAPS PS 3 in 1981. Regularlyseen in AtigunValley during June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). Arias strepera. Gadwall. PB: Rare visitant. A carcasswas found 8 June 1971 (Childs1972), a male was seen near West Dock 2 June 1984 (DMT, DRH, et al.), threebirds were seenin the samelocation 11 June 1984 (DDG, DW), two pairswere

81 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY in Deadhorse2-3 June 1987, a pair was seenthere 1-2 June 1990 (KK, DR, NW), and a male was observednear PBOC 8 June 1991 (RR, NW). CF: One record, of a bird betweenTAPS PS 3 and 4 in July 1980 (JH). Arias penelope. EurasianWigeon. PB: Two records,of a pair on a smallpond near KuparukBase Camp near MOC 22 May 1981 (AG) and a male seen near Deadhorse 14 June 1989 (RR). Arias americana. AmericanWigeon. PB: Uncommonvisitant and rare breeder. Two breedingrecords from the ColvilleRiver delta (Westand White 1966, AG). Earliestarrival date 22 May 1973 (AG);latest record 28 September1989 (EEB).FB: Uncommonmigrant. CF: Uncommonmigrant, rare and localbreeder; for example, two youngwere seenbetween TAPS PS 3 and 4 on 7 July 1980 (JH). Aythya valisineria. Canvasback.PB: Six records,of one male seen near East Dock 6 June 1981, a pair near West Dock 7 June 1981 (AG), a pair near the West BeachState drill site near the SagavanirktokRiver delta 7 June 1981 (AG), an adult male near the KuparukRiver 26 June 1989 (CTS, JW), two malesnear MOC 7-12 June 1990 (RR, KK, et al.), anda pair near Deadhorse1 June 1992 (EEBet al.). CF: One record,of a femaleseen between TAPS PS 3 and 4 on 7 July 1980 (JH). Aythyaamericana. Redhead. CF: One recordof a malebetween TAPS PS 3 and 4 on 7 July 1980 (JH). There are two other publishedrecords for Alaska'snorth slope,both from Umiat on the ColvilleRiver, of a pair 13 June 1953 (Kesseland Cade 1958) and a singlemale 6 June 1964 (Westand White 1966). Aythya collaris. Ring-neckedDuck. CF: Two records,of one male and one probablefemale at the junctionof the Lupineand Sagavanirktok rivers 24 May 1976 (Kesseland Gibson1978) anda malenear TAPS PS 3 on 31 May 1980 (DPR, CJH). Aythya marila. Greater Scaup. PB: Uncommon, breedingrarely and locally. Earliestarrival date 22 May 1991 (EEB);latest record of one bird 3 October1993 (EEB). FB: Uncommon. Probable breeder.CF: Common breeder, one of the most commonbreeding ducks in thisregion (Sage 1974). Aythyaaffinis. Lesser Scaup. PB: Rarevisitant. One recordedduring four years of study(1981-1984) at ColvilleRiver delta (Simpson et al. 1982, Johnsonand Herter 1989). A pair at PrudhoeBay 4 June 1988 (RHD, SMM) and a femaleat the same location1 October1989 (EEB).Up to three malesand two femalesseen near PBOC 27 June-7 July 1993 (RF, NW). Latest record, five birdsat West Dock 3 October 1993 (EEB).FB: Rarevisitant; for example,a pair on a tundrapond 17 June 1972 (B. Bartelset al.).CF: Rarevisitant. Nine separatesightings in AtigunValley 30 May- 2 July 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). Somateria mollissima. Common Eider. PB: Common breeder on offshore islands and outercoast. Eastward spring migration occurs mostly offshore (Schamel 1974). Flock (1973) recordeda substantialeastward migration at sea in late May 1972. Westwardpostbreeding migration begins passing offshore islands in early July (Schamel1978). Aerialsurveys and shipboardobservations between Barrow and the SagavanirktokRiver delta revealedthe greatestconcentrations of eiders13-16 km offshore(Bartels 1973). Earliestonshore arrival date 22 May 1973 (AG), latest record 28 October 1991 (EEB). Somateria spectabilis.King Eider.PB: Commonbreeder along coast between the Colville and Shaviovikrivers, especiallynear Oliktok Point (Hall 1975). Farthest inlandnesting recorded 14 km south-southwestof Deadhorseduring summer 1981 (DPR, CJH). Earliestarrival date 10 May 1990 (deadadult male); latest record 15 October1989 (EEB).FB: Threerecords of singlebirds on 8 and 18 Juneand 16 July 1981 (RMB, BJM).

82 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

$omateria fischeri. SpectacledEider. PB: Uncommonbreeder, restricted prima- rilyto the outercoast. Nesting populations throughout Alaska have fallen 96% since 1971 (USFWS). In June of 1993, the U.S. Fishand WildlifeService listed the species as threatened.Earliest arrival date 31 May 1972 and 1973 (AG). Polystictastelleri. Steller'sEider. PB: Rare. Seen sporadicallyalong the outer coast;for example,near West Dock, one birdon 21 June 1976 (TCR),three pairs on 10 June 1984 (CJH), one pair 23 June 1990 (CJH), andthree males and one female 12-14 June 1993 (RF et al.). Probablebreeder but no confirmedbreeding records. Histrionicushistrionicus. Harlequin Duck. PB: Three records,of one maleand a pair on the SagavanirktokRiver near PrudhoeBay summer 1969 (AG), a male observedoff WestDock 5 July 1991 (NW), and two malesand one femaleseen there again28 June 1992 (RM). CF: Rare;for example,one male nearthe mouthof the RibdonRiver in the upper Sagavanirktokbasin 5 June 1970, and anotheron a lake in samevalley 27 June 1970 (Sage 1974). Severalreports from AtigunValley in June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, DRS). Probablya regularlocal breeder. Clangula hyemalis.Oldsquaw. PB: Abundantbreeder, alternating with the North- ern Pintail as the most common duck of the region. By mid- to late July, up to 50,000 moltingbirds, mostly males, gather on the leewardsides of offshoreislands. Femalesgather to molt in early August,and by late Septemberover 100,000 birds may be stagingon SimpsonLagoon (Johnson and Richardson1980). Earliestspring record20 May 1991; latestfall record 26 October1991 (EEB),both at PrudhoeBay. FB and CF: Common breeder. fi4elanittanigra. BlackScoter. PB: Rare migrant;for example,four flockstotaling 127 birdsmigrating west off Point Mcintyre 30 June 1976 (TCR), and a female found dead at Oliktok Point 14 June 1971 (Hall 1975). CF: One record,of one in AtigunValley 11 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, DRS). fi4elan'ittaperspicillata. Surf Scoter.PB: Uncommonmigrant, occuring primarily offshoreand on outercoast. Most onshoresightings are from the Point Storkersen area.Schamel (1978) sawa groupof 200-300 in HarrisonBay near Oliktok Point in August1971. Earliestarrival date 7 June 1971 (Bergmanet al. 1977). CF: Rare migrant;for example, reportedfrom a singlelake duringlate July and early August 1969 (Sage 1974), and one was seenin AtigunValley 13 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). fi4elanittafusca. White-wingedScoter. PB: Uncommon,breeding rarely on offshoreislands. Earliest record 1 June 1984 at ColvilleRiver delta (North et al. 1984). FB: Rare migrantand possiblebreeder. CF: Rare breeder;for example,female with eight young near Sagwonin mid-August1974 (JC, UAM) and femalewith four young14 km southof TAPS PS 3 on 9 August1977 (WDS, JPM). Bucephala clangula. Common Goldeneye.PB: Three records,of one bird at PrudhoeBay drillsite 2 June 1980 (AG), a femalenear MOC 29 September1989 (EEB), and a female near PBOC 11 June 1991 (JL et al.). CF: One record, of a female betweenTAPS PS 3 and 4 in July 1980 (JH). The only other recordsfor Alaska'snorth slopeare from the ColvilleRiver, where Kessel and Cade(1958) listed the speciesas accidental. Bucephalaislandica. Barrow's Goldeneye. PB: One record,of a femaleobserved near PrudhoeBay on 10 July 1991 (RF, NW). Bucephalaalbeola. Buffiehead.PB: Two records,of one bird near Deadhorse16 July 1989 (CTS) and a femalenear PBOC 30 June 1992 (JL). CF.-Two records,of a female observedbetween TAPS PS 3 and 4 in July 1980 (JH) and another individualin AtigunValley 8 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, DRS).

83 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Mergus serratot. Red-breastedMerganser. PB: Rare migrant. Earliestrecord of one pair on the KuparukRiver 31 May 1973 (AG);latest record of two birdsat PrudhoeBay 30 September1991 (EEB).FB: Rare breeder.Sage (1974) reported broodsjust north of the bluffs.CF: Rarebreeder; for example,Sage (1974) reported broodsin Atigun Valley and near GalbraithLake. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.Bald Eagle. PB: One record, of one immature seen near PrudhoeBay 10 June 1993 (KTK). CF: One record,of an adultreported at the eastend of AtigunValley 8 May 1970 (Sage 1974). Circus cyaneus.Northern Harrier. PB: Rare migrant. FB: Uncommonmigrant. CF: Uncommonmigrant, probable breeder. Territorial pairs seen at the confluenceof the Sagavanirktokand Lupinerivers 31 July 1975 and 22 July 1977 (Kesseland Gibson1978). Severalsightings of adultsand juvenilesin AtigunValley during June and July, 1977-1981 (DRS, GE, PK, JK). Accipiter striatus. Sharp-shinnedHawk. PB: One record,of a first-yearfemale (UAM 3831) foundat PrudhoeBay 21 May 1980 (MA). CF: One record,of a bird sightedin AtigunValley 17 August1980 (GE, PK, JK). Buteo lagopus.Rough-legged Hawk. PB: Uncommonvisitant. Postbreeding birds wanderto the coastduring summerand early fall. FB: Uncommonbreeder; for example,a recentlyabandoned nest on tundraalong the SagavanirktokRiver 60 km southof the Arctic Ocean 17 August1985 (Ritchie1991). CF: Uncommonbreeder; for example,nest and two fledglingsat Happy Valley,30 July 1981 (Ritchie1991). Earliestarrival date 15 May 1976 (WCH, KLB). Aquila chrysaetos.Golden Eagle. PB: Rare summerand early fall visitant.FB: Uncommon visitant.CF. Uncommon but widespreadbreeder. Several sightingsin AtigunValley during June and July, 1977-1981 (DRS). Falco sparverius.American Kestrel. PB: Three records. Several sightingsof presumablyone bird in PrudhoeBay environsJuly-September 1981 (DRS), one male seen near the KuparukRiver 11 June 1992 (CJH, MB, et al.), and a female seennear West Dock on 15 June 1992 (JD).CF: One record,of a birdseen in Atigun Valleyon 13 and 15 August1980 (GE, PK, JK). Falco colurnbarius.Merlin. PB: Six records,of one bird in the PrudhoeBay area 28 May 1973, one seennear the KuparukRiver 6 June 1991 (DR),another there 14 June 1992 (CJH, KC, JL), a femaleseen there 29 June 1991 (RF), one at Endicott 27 May 1993 (SRJ),and anothernear PrudhoeBay 24 August1993 (RF).FB: One record,of a birdnear FranklinBluffs in July 1978. CF: Two records,of birdssighted in foothillsnear ToolikLake 16 June and 2-3 August1980. Falco peregrinus. PeregrineFalcon. PB: Uncommonmigrant and visitant.Most recordsare during springand fall along outer coast, probablyof migrantsand postbreedingwanderers. Earliest arrival date 12 May 1991 (EEB). FB and CF: Uncommon breeder. Falco rusticolus.Gyrfalcon. PB: Uncommonvisitant. Occasional postbreeding wanderersnoted in summerand fall along coast.FB: Uncommonvisitant from nearbynesting sites. CF: Uncommonbreeder; for example,nest with three nearly fledgedyoung in above-groundportion of the trans-Alaskapipeline 150 km southof PrudhoeBay 15 July 1988 (Ritchie1991). Lagopuslagopus. Willow Ptarmigan.PB: Fairlycommon breeder. Less common in coastalareas than inland. Earliestrecord 2 March 1989 (EEB),but, accordingto oil-fieldpersonnel, some birds remain throughoutthe winter (Sage 1974). FB and CF: Commonbreeder. Large flocksin spring(150 birds)and fall (400 birds)(Sage 1974). BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Lagopus mutus. Rock Ptarmigan. PB: Common breeder.More common along coast than inland (Irving 1960, Sage 1974, DMT). FB and CF: Fairly common breeder. Fulica americana. American Coot. PB: One record, of a carcassfound in the Colville River delta 10 June 1970 (Kesseland Gibson 1978). (3rus canadensis.Sandhill Crane. PB: Uncommon migrant and visitant. One breedingrecord, for the springof 1971, 30 milesnorth of Umiat on the eastside of the ColvilleRiver (AG). Earliestarrival date 10 May 1971 (AG). Examplesof other records:one pair at PrudhoeBay studysite 26 June 1973 (WCH), one adultat Point Storkersen26 July1977, a singlejuvenile at the samelocation 2 June 1980 (TCR), andsingle adults seen on EndicottCauseway 24 May 1991 and 23 May 1992 (EEB). FB and CF: Rare visitant;for example,a singleadult seen at SagwonBluffs 2 May 1973 (TCR). Pluuialissquatarola. Black-bellied Plover. PB: Uncommonbreeder. Earliest arrival date 15 May 1990 (EEB); latest record 2 October 1989 (EEB). FB: Uncommon breeder.CF: Uncommonprobable breeder (Sage 1974). Pluuialis dominica. American Golden-Plover. PB: Common breeder. Earliest arrivaldate 20 May 1991 (EEB).Nesting densities are loweralong coast than farther inland(McCaffery et al. 1982). Duringfall migration(mid-July to August),it is not uncommonto see flocksranging from 10 to 50 birdsflying east alongthe coast (CJH, DPR). On 18 August 1978, 132 birdswere seen flying east from Point Storkersen(DBM, UAM). Latestrecord 11 September1989 (EEB).FB: Common breeder.Earliest arrival date 16 May 1976 (WCH). CF: Common breeder. Charadrius semipalmatus.Semipalmated Plover. PB: Uncommonbreeder, nesting along severalrivers. Earliestarrival date 20 May 1972 (AG). FB and CF: Uncommonbreeder. Sage (1974) foundSemipalmated Plovers to be rare in the CF, observingthem on onlytwo occasionsin 1970, but DRS sawthem oftennear Toolik Lake. Confirmedbreeding records for the regioncome from AtigunValley, where Rothe(1979) foundfive nestson floodplaingravel on the upper river 26-28 June 1979. Flightlessyoung and adultswere seenat samelocation during summer 1980 (GE, PK, JK). Charadrius uociferus.Killdeer. PB: Four records,of one bird reported from Colville River delta 19 June 1975 (Kesseland Gibson 1978), one seen at Oliktok Point 12 June 1977 (Johnsonand Richardson1980), one at PrudhoeBay 9 June 1984 (DMT), and one near West Dock 10-11 June 1993 (KTK). Charadrius morinellus. Eurasian Dotterel. PB: Two records, both for near Point Storkersen,of pairs 10 June 1983 (BAC, DMT) and 10 June 1992 (RF). Tringa fiauipes. LesserYellowlegs. PB: Rare visitant;for example,single birds notedat PointStorkersen 6 June1973 (Bergman1974) andat PrudhoeBay 27 July 1979 and 8 June 1980 (TCR). FB: Rare visitant.CF: Uncommonvisitant. Sage (1974) reportedthe LesserYellowlegs once, about 48 km southof FranklinBluffs on 26 July 1969. DPR and CJH recordedseven between TAPS PS 3 and 4 on 7 July 1980, whileGE, PK, JK, and DRS sawthe speciesfrequently in AtigunValley from late May to earlyAugust 1980. Heteroscelusincanus. Wandering Tattler. PB: One record,of a singlebird in the Colville River delta on 6 June 1975 (Kessel and Gibson 1978). CF: Uncommon probablebreeder; for example,single birds seen near the endof AtigunValley 2 July 1970 (Sage 1974) and in upper Atigun Valley 30 May 1981 (DPR, CJH, DRS). Tattlerswere observedregularly in AtigunValley 26-28 June 1979 (Rothe 1979) and from 10 June to late July 1980 (GE, PK, JK, DRS).

85 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Actiris macularia. SpottedSandpiper. CF: Uncommonbreeder; for example,a pair seendisplaying in AtigunValley 23 June 1970 (Sage1974), one bird observed betweenTAPS PS 3 and 4 on 10 July1980 (JH),and adultswith flightless young observedin AtigunValley during spring 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). Kesseland Cade(1958) reportedthis species to be fairlycommon in the ColvilleRiver valley. Bartramia Iongicauda.Upland Sandpiper.PB: One record,of a bird seen near West Dock 4 June 1978 (CJH, PGC). CF: Two records,of one heardcalling near TAPS PS 4 on 7 July1980 (JH)and one seenin AtigunValley on 2 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK). Reportedbreeding on upperCanning River (Kesseland Gibson1978). Numeniusphaeopus. Whimbrel. PB: Uncommonvisitant and migrant.Sporadic sightingsthroughout summer, apparently of postbreedingbirds arriving from inland nestingsites, are the norm. FB: Uncommonbreeder. Earliest arrival date 25 May 1979 (CJH). CF- Uncommonbreeder. Earliest arrival date 26 May 1976 (WCH). Limosa limosa.Black-tailed Godwit. PB: One record,of one birdseen along lake shorenear PBOC on 24 July 1993 (RF). This is the first recordfor Alaska'snorth slope,though the speciesis casualin westernAlaska. Limosa haemastica.HudsonJan Godwit. PB: Six records,four for PrudhoeBay, of one on 6 August1977 (WDS, JPM), one on 6 and 8 June 1978 (CJH), one on 31 May 1979 (CJH), and two on 8 August1979 (CJH, AG). In 1986 nearthe Colville River,three birds were reported6 and 18 August(Garner and Reynolds1986). One juvenilewas seen near West Dock 4 August1993 (RF). Limosa lapponica. Bar-tailedGodwit. PB: Rare visitant,primarily in springand fall; for example,one bird was at the PrudhoeBay studysite 9 June 1972 (WCH), one was at Point Storkersen16 June 1977 (TCR), and another was at PBOC on 2 September1990 (EEB).We have no evidenceof breedingalthough in spring1981 two pairs displayedand defendedterritories 13 km south of PrudhoeBay (CJH, DPR). FB: Uncommon breeder. Earliest arrival date 26 May 1979 (CJH). CF: Uncommonprobable breeder; for example,single birds seen at GalbraithLake 20 May 1970 (Sage1974) and in AtigunValley 31 May 1980 (GE, PK, JK). Arenaria interpres.Ruddy Turnstone. PB: Fairlycommon breeder and migrant, restrictedprimarily to the outercoast, including offshore islands. For example,a pair hada nestwith two eggs at thePrudhoe Bay study site on 7 June1975 (WCH,KL•. Earliestarrival date 19 May 1979 (AG); latestdate 16 September1991 (EEB•. FB and CF: Rarespring migrant; for example,a pair wasat ToolikLake during late May 1978 (DRS)and a singlebird was in AtigunValley 30 May and 3 June 1980 (DPR, WCH, CJH, GE, PK, JK). Arenaria melanocephala.Black Turnstone.PB: Three records,of singlebirds seenin the ColvilleRiver delta 29-31 May 1979 (JWH), at the mouthof the Kuparuk River3 June 1980 (RHM, GEK), and at PointGordon just west of the CanningRiver delta 9 June 1980 (SRJ).FB: One record of a bird near Franklin Bluffs9 June 1980 (DGR).This speciesis veryrare northof the BrooksRange. Aphriza virgata. Surfbird.PB: One record,the first for Alaska'snorth slope,of a bird seenon the MOC gravelpad on 20 August1981 (EEB). Calidris canutus. Red Knot. PB: Rare visitantand migrant; for example, two juvenileswere seenon the beacheast of Point Storkersen16 August1977 (WDS, JPM), one bird was seen at Point Storkersen21 June 1978 (DBM, UAM), and one was seen near West Dock duringmid-June 1982 (DPR). The Red Knot is a rare migranton the ChukchiSea coastand was unknowneast of Barrowuntil recently (Pitelka1974). It is a rare breederon Cooper Islandand at Barrow (Bailey1948, Pitelka 1974). BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Calidris alba. Sanderling.PB: Uncommonmigrant. Two summerrecords, of a pair activelydisplaying at the studysite 13 km southof PrudhoeBay 1-8 June 1981 (CJH, DPR), and one bird observednear Oliktok Point 8 July 1993 (PDM, JB, USFWS). Latest record 16 September 1991 (EEB). FB: One record, of one bird alongthe SagavanirktokRiver 28 July 1969 (Sage1974). The Sanderling'snearest breedingsites (irregular) are at Barrow to the west (Pitelka 1974) and in the Arctic NationalWildlife Refuge to the east(Garner and Reynolds1986). Calidris pusilla. SemipalmatedSandpiper. PB: Abundant breeder, the most numerousshorebird in the region.Earliest arrival date 10 May (AG);latest record 25 August1991 (EEB).Peak migration of juvenilesalong coast is about29-30 Julyeach year (Connorsand Risebrough1978)• FB: Fairlycommon breeder. CF: Uncommon breeder.Not recordedby Sage(1974) but observedregularly along Dalton Highway (CJH, DPR, WCH• RMB, BJM) and at Toolik Lake in May and June 1981 (DRS). Calidris mauri. Western Sandpiper.PB: Uncommon migrant; one record of breeding.A nest found 21 June 1992 on the outer coast near Point Storkerson constitutesthe firstbreeding record east of the Meade River (NW). FB: Rare migrant. CF: One record,of a pair in AtigunValley 20 June 1970 (Sage 1974). Calidris ruficollis. Rufous-neckedStint. PB: Ten records.This speciesis now beingrecorded nearly annually. One bird on 9 June 1969, a pair on 12 June 1975 (JWH), and a pair on 2 June 1977 (Johnsonand Richardson1980) were all in the ColvilleRiver delta. A singlebird was near PointStorkersen 28 June 1990 (RF,JL, et al.). On the west side of PrudhoeBay, one was seen 20 June 1991 (NW, RF), a secondwas seen20 July 1991 (RF),and in 1992 therewere four separatesightings of up to three individualsfrom 6 to 22 June (RF, JL, et al.). One birdwas foundnear West Dock 14 June 1993 (KK, DPR). The species'nearest breeding locality is Barrow (Pitelka 1974). Calidris minuta. Little Stint. PB: One record,the third for Alaska'snorth slope,of a bird on the westside of PrudhoeBay 19 June 1991 (RF, NW, DMT, et al.). Calidris minutilla. Least Sandpiper. PB: Rare migrant and visitant. FB: Rare visitant;for example,two juvenilesseen at studysite 8 August 1979 (CJH, SGJ, MAP, AH). CF: Uncommonbreeder. Sage (1974) reportedat leastnine pairsfrom a censusof 10 km2 in the RibdonValley in the upperSagavanirktok basin, with one nestwith eggson 29 June 1970. Rothe(1979) reportedone birdin AtigunValley on 27 June 1979. GE, JK, PK, CM, and DRS discovereda nest with eggsin Atigun Valley during spring 1980. BJM and RMB found severalnests at Sagwon Bluffs duringspring 1981 and subsequentlyconfirmed regular nesting of smallnumbers at that location. Calidrisfuscicollis. White-rumped Sandpiper. PB: Rare, breedingirregularly and at variable densities(SGJ, DMT). The Prudhoe Bay region appears to be at the western end of the White-rumped Sandpiper'snormal breeding range, though the specieshas nestedas far west as Barrow. Calidris bairdii. Baird'sSandpiper. PB: Fairlycommon breeder, mainly along the outercoast and in the SagavanirktokRiver delta (DMT, Johnsonand Herter 1989). In 1980, Baird'sSandpiper was one of the commonestbreeding shorebirds at Point Storkersen(DRS). Earliestarrival date 28 May 1982 at ColvilleRiver delta (Simpson et al. 1982). FB and CF: Uncommon breeder. Calidris melanotos. PectoralSandpiper. PB: Common to abundantbreeder. One of the mostwidespread and conspicuousbirds of the region. Earliestarrival date 21 May 1991 (EEB).Most adultmales depart the regionby the firstweek of July;latest record 13 September1991 (EEB). FB: Fairly common breeder.CF: Uncommon migrant.Pairs have been observedbut we have no nestingrecords. 87 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Calidrisacurninata. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. PB: Two records,of one immaturein the ColvilleRiver delta 7 August1982 (Simpsonet al. 1982) and anotherimmature photographednear MOC on 11 September1991 (EEB;photo UAM). Calidris alpina. Dunlin.PB: Commonbreeder. Found primarily along the coast, althoughthe speciesnests at least13 km inlandsouth of PrudhoeBay. Earliestarrival date 24 May 1979 (TCR);latest record 23 September1993 (EEB).FB: One record, of a bird seennear studysite 12 July 1981 (BJM, RMB). Calidrisferruginea. Curlew Sandpiper. PB: Three records,of threejuveniles seen near OliktokPoint 8-9 August1972 (Kesseland Gibson1978), one at Deadhorse5 June 1984 (KDR), and one adult at Endicott 3 June 1993 (SRJ). The Curlew Sandpiperis a very rare breederat Barrow (Pitelka1974, Kesseland Gibson1978). Calidris hirnantopus.Stilt Sandpiper.PB: Fairly commonand very conspicuous breeder.Earliest arrival date 24 May 1991 (EEB).FB: Fairlycommon breeder. About 100 juvenilesin one groupon 29 July 1979 (CJH). CF: Rare visitantin springand fall. Tryngites subruficollis.Buff-breasted Sandpiper. PB: Fairly common breeder. Nestingdensities vary widelyfrom year to year; in 1978 Buff-breastedSandpipers were commonand widespread,but subsequenfiytheir numbershave varied greafiy. Earliestarrival date 23 May 1985 (EEB).Males emigrate about the firstweek of July; flocksof fallmigrants have been noted in the CanningRiver delta during early August (Martin and Moitoret 1981). FB: Fairly common breeder.CF: Rare migrant and visitant; for example, Sage (1974) saw one bird near the confluenceof the Sagavanirktokand Lupine riverson 9 June 1970. Pamplin (1979) recordedthis speciesin AtigunValley in spring1979. Philornachuspugnax. Ruff. PB: Eleven records.This speciesis now being recordedalmost annually. A male near PrudhoeBay studysite 18-28 June 1978 waspresumably the sameseen there again 20-21 June1979. A differentmale at the same location 14-21 June 1980 chasedfemale Pectoral Sandpipersand was repeatedlychased by other shorebirds(WCH, CJH, DPR, SGJ, TCR; photo UAM). One male in breedingplumage was seennear KuparukRiver 5 July 1982 (DMT), a singlemale was near the PrudhoeBay studysite 11 June 1984 (WDM), a juvenile malewas near Sagavanirktok River delta 13-15 August1989 (CTS, KK, RF),a male was near Endicott 29 June 1991 (JY), a male was near Point Storkerson 12 June 1992 (JL, RF), and two males were near PBOC 24 June 1992 (NW et al.). To the west of the region,one bird was seen in the ColvilleRiver delta 17 August1978 (JWH). Lirnnodrornus scolopaceus.Long-billed Dowitcher. PB: Uncommon breeder. Earliestarrival date 25 May 1979 (CJH); latestrecord 3 September1989 (EEB). Large numbersof juvenilesappear in earlyAugust and reachpeak numbersby the third week of August,as they move east (Connorsand Risebrough1979, Johnson and Herter 1989, DMT). FB and CF: Uncommon breeder. Gallinago gallinago. Common Snipe. PB: Uncommon migrant (probable breeder);for example,single birds were noted30 May 1979, 13 June 1980 (TCR), and 17 June 1991 (EEB).Each spring, snipes display in the region,but no nestshave been found.FB and CF: Uncommonmigrant (probable breeder). Phalaropus 1obatus.Red-necked Phalarope. PB: Common breeder(Figure 5). Earliestarrival date 20 May 1991 (EEB);latest record 3 October1993 (EEB).Large flocksof femalescongregate on tundraponds and alongthe coastin late June. By late July and earlyAugust, males begin migration staging, and juvenilesreach peak numbersin mid-Augustalong the outer coast.FB: Common breeder.CF: Fairly common breeder. BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Figure5. Male Red-neckedPhalarope (Phalaropus Iobatus) brooding young at a nest on the wet coastalplain. Photo by Craig Hohenberger

Figure6. MaleRed Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria) brooding young at a neston the wet coastalplain. Photo by Craig Hohenberger 89 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Phalaropus fulicaria. Red Phalarope. PB: Common breeder (Figure6). Status similarto that of P. Iobatusexcept during fall, when migratingflocks of P. Iobatus greatly outnumber?. fulicaria along the outer coast. The Red Phalaropeis rare, mainlya visitant,inland. Earliest arrival date 29 May 1982 in the ColvilleRiver delta (Simpsonet al. 1982); latestrecord 9 October1991 at WestDock (EEB). FB andCF: Rare visitant. $tercorarius pomarinus. Pomarine Jaeger. PB: Common spring migrant (onshore);common fall migrant (offshore) during August, decreasing by earlySeptember (Divoky1983). Earliestrecord 20 May 1991 (EEB).The PomafineJaeger's distribution variesunpredictably from year to year becauseof the species'dependence on smallmammals for prey (Pitelkaet al. 1955a,b, Maher 1974, Johnsonand Herter 1989). It is rare onshoreafter the third week of Junethough recorded as late as 17 Augustin 1991 (RF).FB: Commonspring migrant. CF: Uncommonspring migrant. Stercorariusparasiticus. Parasitic Jaeger. PB- Common breeder.Earliest spring record24 May 1974 (WCH); latestfall sighting27 September1991 (EEB).FB and CF- Common breeder. Stercorarius longicaudus.Long-tailed Jaeger. PB: Fairly commonbut scattered; probablybreeds at southernedge of coastalplain. No confirmednesting records from this region. Earliestarrival date 25 May 1979 (CJH). Long-tailedJaegers constituted10% of all birdsseen offshore from 3 to 15 August1969 (Frame1973). FB and CF: Fairly commonbreeder. Larus philadelphia. Bonaparte'sGull. PB: Four records,of adultsin breeding plumagenear PrudhoeBay on 6 June 1970 (SOM, UAM), 9 June 1976 (AG), 31 May 1991 (NW), and 1-3 June 1992 (NW). CF: One record, of a bird sightedin AtigunValley 5 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, DRS). Larus canus. Mew Gull. PB: Rare migrantand visitant;for example,one bird at PrudhoeBay studysite 13 June 1975 (KLB), two individualsnear OliktokPoint 13 July 1977 (Johnsonand Richardson1980), one adultnear MOC on 11 May 1990 (EEB), and an adult near PBOC 11 June 1992 (CJH, DR, JL, RF). CF: Uncommon breeder.Sage (1974) found it scarcein his studyarea, but DRS found several, includingnests, from May to Augustin 1977, 1978, and 1979. JH founda few nests and sawmany birds between TAPS PS 3 and 4 during1980, whileGE, PK, JK, and DRS confirmednesting in AtigunValley the sameyear. Larus californicus.California Gull. PB- One record,of an adultcarefully studied near Deadhorseafter strongsouthern storm on 7 July 1981 (DPR, BJM, RMB, CJH). Larus argentatus. HerringGull. PB: Uncommonmigrant and visitant, being fairly commonin Septemberduring some years (LGL). The nearestbreeding record is from the ColvilleRiver in 1964 (Westand White 1966). Latestfall record27 September 1990 (EEB). Divoky (1983) reportedlarge gullswith dark wing-tipson 3% of all pelagicsurveys. FB: Rare visitant. Larus thayeri. Thayer's Gull. PB: Uncommon to rare pelagic and nearshore migrant(Divoky 1983, Johnsonand Herter 1989). Johnsonand Richardson(1980) reported flocks of L. thayeri and/or argentatus in Prudhoe Bay and Simpson Lagoon. Latestrecord 23 September1993 (EEB). Larus schistisagus.Slaty~backed Gull. PB: Rare visitant;for example,subadults were in PrudhoeBay 31 July 1977 (WDS, JPM) and 26-27 June 1990 (KK, NW), and anotherwas 13 km southof there 15 June 1981 (CJH, DPR). One third-year bird was near West Dock 13-16 June 1993 (RF), and an adult was there 17 June 1993 (RF, KTK). One was recordedin the ColvilleRiver deltaAugust 1977 (Kessel

9O BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY and Gibson 1978). At West Dock, an individualwas seen from 8 July to 18 August 1991 (DWi, NW, RF) and two birdswere observedon 11 June 1992 (JL, RF). FB: One record,of a birdflying north along Dalton Highway 20 June 1981 (DPR, CJH). Larusglaucescens. Glaucous-winged Gull. PB: One record,of a birdat Deadhorse 28-30 July 1977 (WDS, JPM). FB: One record,of a bird at the studysite 20 June 1981 (BJM, RMB). Larus hyperboreus.Glaucous Gull. PB: Commonbreeder. One of the most abundantseabirds in pelagicand nearshore areas of BeaufortSea in summer(Divoky 1983, 1984). Breedscommonly on offshoreislands and on islandsin tundralakes and ponds.Earliest arrival date 30 April 1992 (EB);noted in late November1975 (GM, UAM). FB and CF: Uncommonbreeder. Rissa tridactyla. Black-leggedKittiwake. PB: Common visitantoffshore, rare onshore.Most kittiwakes recorded during pelagic surveys of the BeaufortSea (Frame 1973, Watsonand Divoky 1974a,b, Divoky 1983, Johnsonand Herter 1989) were subadultor nonbreeding,although Divoky (1983) reportedthat about half were adults.The speciesis more commonin the westernBeaufort Sea thanfarther east. Small numberswere in the Beaufort Sea of centralAlaska (SimpsonLagoon to Barter Island)18 September-7October 1985 (LGL). Rhodostethiarosea. Ross' Gull. PB: Rare visitantin our studyarea but a common fallmigrant in the far westernBeaufort Sea betweenCape Halkett and Point Barrow (GJD). One immaturefemale was at the PrudhoeBay studysite 9 August 1975 (KLB),and anotherbird was near the samearea 25 August1975 (AG). Two birds were in the ColvilleRiver delta 21-22 June 1978 and again 8 May 1981 (JWH); one bird was there 15 June 1982 (LGL). A group of 21 adultsand 8 immatureswas at WestDock 29 and 30 September1990 (EEB).An immaturewas in PrudhoeBay 25 July 1991 (RF),and a breeding-plumagedbird was near the KuparukRiver 15 June 1992 (CJH, KTK). Xerna sabini. Sabine'sGull. PB: Uncommonbreeder on barrierislands and locally alongthe coastbut makes little use of nearshoreor pelagiczones of the BeaufortSea duringthe nestingseason (Divoky 1983, Johnsonand Herter 1989). Sabine'sGulls moveto the open sea in Augustand are mostcommon in the BeaufortSea eastof Barrow. Frame (1973) reportedthe speciesto be the secondmost commonmigrant offshore.Its westwardmigration is most pronouncedduring late Augustand early September.Latest date 28 October1991 (DT). FB: Two records,of one bird at the north end of the bluffs31 July 1969 and a flockof seventhere 9 June 1970 (Sage 1974). Pagophilaeburnea. Ivory Gull. PB: Uncommonmigrant offshore. Frame (1973) encounteredtwo birdsabout 86 km northeastof OliktokPoint 14 August1969. Watsonand Divoky (1972) and Divoky (1976) consideredthe Ivory Gull an uncommon pelagic migrant in the Beaufort Sea and an uncommonsummer visitant associatedwith leadsin pack ice in the Chukchiand Beaufortseas. There is little evidenceof concentratedmigration by this speciesin Beaufort Sea area (GJD. Johnsonand Herter 1989). One recordfrom ColvilleRiver delta (Anderson1913). $terna paradisaea.Arctic Tern. PB: Fairlycommon breeder. Earliest arrival date 31 May 1982 in the Colville River delta (Simpsonet al. 1982). FB: Uncommon (probable breeder). CF: Uncommon breeder. Widely distributedalong the SagavanirktokRiver and its tributaries,where it nestson gravelbars (Sage 1974). Nestingpairs recorded in AtigunValley in spring1980 (GE, PK, JK, DRS). Uria lornvia.Thick-billed Murre. PB: Fourrecords of singlebirds. three near Point Storkersen,20 July 1971 (Bergmanet al. 1977), 18 July 1976 (TCR), and 20 May-

91 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

12 August1972 (Schamel1978), and one from Milne Point nearthe KuparukRiver mouth,17 August1978 (Johnsonand Richardson1980). Cepphusgrylle. BlackGuillemot. PB: Uncommonmigrant and breeder.Observed offshore(Egg Island) 20 May-earlyAugust 1972 (Schamel1978). Since1978 Black Guillemotshave nested annually on bargesin PrudhoeBay, with up to 50 on barges alongWest and Eastdocks (AG, DRS, et al.). At the easternedge of the region,two birdswere at FlaxmanIsland 6 August1972 (Divokyet al. 1974). The speciesis an uncommon local breeder in burrowsand beach flotsam along the Chukchi and BeaufortSea coastsfrom the SeahorseIslands and Barrow east to Igalik Island (MacLeanand Verbeek1968, Divokyet al. 1974, Kesseland Gibson1978, Divoky 1984). Aethia pusilia. LeastAuklet. PB: Three records,of one bird near AtigaruPoint justwest of the ColvilleRiver delta in summer1988 (RR),a pair near Point Brower 9 September1988 (Johnsonand Herter 1989), and two birdsnear PointBrower 7-14 September1989 (RR). Fratercula cirrhata. Tufted Puffin. PB: Two records, of one bird at Point Storkersen12 August1972 (Bergmanet al. 1977) and one birdnear West Dock 12 August1981 (KP). The speciesis accidentalalong the Chukchiand BeaufortSea coasts(Pitelka 1974, Johnson and Herter 1989). Fratercula corniculata. Horned Puffin. PB: Two recordsfrom bargesoffshore PrudhoeBay, of a pair on 15 August1981 (DRS)and one birdon 22 August1981 (DMT). West of the region, Divoky (1982) found a few pairs occupyingBlack Guillemotnests and incubatingtheir eggson Cooper Island(east of Barrow).From 1986 to 1988 severalpairs attemptedto nest in boxesinstalled there for Black Guillemots,and one pair fledgedone youngin 1986 (Johnsonand Herter 1989). Nycteascandiaca. Snowy Owl. PB: Highlycyclic breeder, closely correlated with lemmingpopulations; fairly common in someyears. Nested in regionin 1969 (AG), 1972 (WCH), 1988, 1989, and 1992 (Figure7). Earliestarrival date 5 May 1971 (AG). Seen annuallybut only a few birdspresent some years. FB: Uncommon occasionalbreeder; for example, four birds south of bluffs17 September1969 (Sage 1974). CF: Uncommonoccasional breeder (Sage 1974). Surnia ulula. NorthernHawk-Owl. PB: Two records,of one bird in the Colville Riverdelta 8 May 1981 (JWH)and another photographed at EndicottIsland on 21 August1991 (DT; photo UAM). Strix nebulosa.Great Gray Owl. PB: One record,of a birdat PrudhoeBay 29 May 1989 (PS,EF). This species is very rare north of the BrooksRange. Asioflammeus. Short-eared Owl. PB: Rarevisitant. Earliest arrival date 5 May 1989 (EEB);latest record of a looseflock of sevenbirds 11 September1990 (EEB). FB and CF: Uncommonvisitant (probable breeder). Chordeilesminor. Common Nighthawk. PB: Two records, of onefemale hawking insectsnear PointStorkersen 4 and 6 July1984 (CJH, DPR, REH, PM, BAC)and one birdat PrudhoeBay 17-21 June 1990 (JW,KK). Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher.FB: Only recordis of feathersfound in a PeregrineFalcon eyrie on the bluffsduring early July 1974 (CMW,Sage 1974). CF: One record,of a birdobserved in AtigunValley 23 August1980 (GE,PK, JK). Colapresauratus. NorthernFlicker. PB: One record,of a carcassfound at a fox den1 June1979 (HF,PSG). CF- One record, of a birdat theeastern end of Atigun Valley21 May 1970 (Sage1974). Kesseland Cade(1958) recordedthis species along the ColvilleRiver in 1937.

92 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Contopus sordidulus. Western Wood-Pewee. PB: One record, of an individual callingnear OliktokPoint on 1 July 1993 (PDM, JB, USFWS).This constitutesonly the fourthrecord for Alaska'snorth slope. $ayornissaya. Say's Phoebe. PB: One record,of a deadbird found in a buildingat Point Storkersen19 July 1978 (DBM). CF- Uncommonlocal breeder. Sage (1974) foundSay's Phoebes nesting in AtigunCanyon on 23 June 1970. Kesseland Gibson (1978) reportedevidence of its nestingat SagwonBluffs. Cade and White (1973) found it nestingas far north as 69o05' N on the Lupine River in the upper Sagavanirktokbasin during summer 1970. Tyrannus tyrannus. Eastern Kingbird. PB: Three records, of one bird near Deadhorse31 July-3 August1970 (AG), one birdat the mouthof the ColvilleRiver 1 July-3 August1975, and one at samelocation 27-28 June 1978 (JWH). FB: One record,of a birdat the bluffs22 July 1976 (Kesseland Gibson1978). Erernophila alpestris. Horned Lark. PB: Rare breeder;for example, nest and fledglingsin 1989 in the SagavanirktokRiver delta (RMB). Single birds were seen at PointStorkersen 6 June 1973 (Bergmanet al. 1977) and 25 July 1977 (TCR), at West Dock 20 June 1978 (CJH), and near MOC 2 July 1991 (EEB). FB: Rare visitant;for example,single birds were at the studysite 24 Juneand 30 June 1981 (BJM,RMB). CF: Uncommonbut widespread: probably breeds (Sage 1974. GE. PK, JK, CM. DRS). Prognesubis. Purple Martin. PB: The singlerecord, of a femalenear Deadhorse 12 June 1986 (DMT), is the only recordfor Alaska'snorth slope.

Figure7. FemaleSnowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)at a nestin tundraof the wet coastal plain. Photo by Craig Hohenberger

93 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Tachycineta bicolor. Tree Swallow. PB: Three records, of two birds at Point Storkersen21 June 1976 (TCR), one bird near Deadhorse7 June 1984 (DMT), and one at PrudhoeBay 20 June 1991 (KK).FB: Two records,of a juvenileat studysite M12 on 7 August1979 (CJH, SGJ, MAP, AH) and an adultat the samelocation on 10 June 1981 (BJM, RMB). CF. One record,of severalbirds seen perchedon antennaat ToolikLake camp in late May and June 1979 (DRS). Riparia riparia. Bank Swallow.PB: Seven records,of one along the Canning River duringspring 1970 (AG), one near the KuparukRiver 30 May 1971 (AG), singlebirds at Point Storkersen9 June 1972 and 5 June 1975 (Bergmanet al. 1977), one 13 km southof PrudhoeBay 6 June 1981 (DPR, CJH), one at Prudhoe Bay 21 June 1990 (KK), and one near PrudhoeBay 2 June 1993 (KTK et al.). FB.. One record,of a birdat the studysite 29 June 1981 (BJM,RMB). CF: One breeding record,the onlyone for Alaska'snorth slope. A colonyof 8-10 birdswas discovered on 4 July 1989 nestingnear SagwonBluffs along the SagavanirktokRiver (CTS, TAC), where none had nestedfrom 1986 to 1988. Hirundo pyrrhonota.Cliff Swallow.PB: Sevenrecords, of singlebirds at Point Storkersen7 June 1971 and 7 June 1975 (Bergmanet al. 1977), nearDeadhorse in earlyJune 1978 (SGJ),near West Dock 12 June 1984 (DPR, DMT, PDM, REH), 8 mileseast of PrudhoeBay 9 June 1993 (MI), and in the ColvilleRiver delta 27 May 1964 and 4 May 1975 (JWH; photosUAM). CF: Rare breeder,known from two sites.Irving (1960) reportedthat duringthe winter of 1908 or 1909 Simon Paneak of AnaktuvukPass found frozen young birds in over 100 nestsbuilt against cliffs near the end of the westfork of the KuparukRiver at 68035' N, 149020' W. Sage(1973, 1974) locateda colonyof 7-10 pairson a tributaryof the AtigunRiver on 24 June 1970. Hirundo rustica. Barn Swallow.PB: Ten records.Single birds were reportedat Oliktok Point 15 June 1971 (Hall 1975), at Point Storkersen14 and 20 June 1978 (DBM; photosUAM), nearWest Dock 12 and 24 June 1984 (PDM, DPR, BAC) and 10 June 1992 (RF, JL, et al.), near the PBOC 7 July 1992 (KTK, CJH), and at PrudhoeBay 21 June 1990 (KK), 19 June 1991 (RF),and 16 July 1991 (JL). Delichon urbica. Common House Martin. One record, of one bird observedat Spy Islandjust east of the ColvilleRiver delta on 11 June 1983 (SRJ).This is the first recordfor Alaska'snorth slope and one of fourtotal for the state(D. D. Gibsonpers. comm.). ?erisoreuscanadensis. Gray Jay. CF: One record,of a bird seen near TAPS Happy Valleycamp 25 May 1976 (WCH). West and White (1966) reported,"It is reasonableto believethis speciesis not rare alongthe ColvilleRiver, and probably breeds there." Pica pica. Black-billedMagpie. PB: One record, of three birdsseen at Oliktok Point27 May 1977 (Johnsonand Richardson1980). CF: One record,of a birdseen near the mouthof AccomplishmentCreek in the SagavanirktokRiver valley 29 July 1970 (Sage1974). Corvus corax. Common Raven. PB: Fairly common resident,nesting uncom- monlyon buildingsand other man-madestructures throughout the oil field.FB and CF: Fairlykommon breeder; for example,a pair nestedon the trans-Alaskapipeline near TAPS PS 3 duringsummer 1980 (CJH). Phylloscopusborealis. Arctic Warbler. CF: Rareand local breeder; for example,a pair wasfeeding four young in a neston the eastbank of the SagavanirktokRiver 24 July 1970, and anotherwas nesting3 km from that site5 July 1971 (Sage1974). The SagavanirktokRiver is probablyat the easternedge of the species'breeding range. 94 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Luscinia svecia. Bluethroat.PB: One record, of a female 13 km southof Prudhoe Bay9 June1980 (CJH).FB.. Rare and local breeder; for example,one female with a juvenilewas near the Toolik Riverjust west of FranklinBluffs 16 July 1981 (BJM). CF: Rareand local breeder. A breedingcolony of eightto ten pairsdiscovered at Mile 368 alongthe DaltonHighway, near Happy Valley,during the mid-1980shas been monitoredannually since. The Bluethroat'sbreeding locations become progressively rarer east of the SagavanirktokRiver (Gabrielsonand Lincoln 1959, Johnsonand Herter 1989). Oenanthe oenanthe. Northern Wheatear. PB: Five records,of singlebirds at Point Storkersen8 June 1972 and 1 July 1975 (Bergmanet ai. 1977), at Prudhoe Bay 23 August1981 (DMT), andin the ColvilleRiver delta 7 June 1975 and 28 May 1976 (Kesseland Gibson1978). FB: Rare visitant;for example,one birdat the study site in late July 1980 (WCH, RAG, DAG). CF: Uncommon local breeder; for example,Sage (1974) reporteda pair above900 m elevationnear SectionCreek, a tributary of the upper SagavanirktokRiver, on 29 July 1969 and two pairs at differentlocations in Atigun Valley 20 June 1970. DRS reportedseveral sightings and nestsin the Toolik Lake area and numeroussightings at the headwatersof the AtigunRiver from May to Augustin 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1981. WDS and JPM reportedWheatears to be common in Atigun Valley on alpine tundra, 9 August 1977. Catharus rninirnus.Gray-cheeked Thrush. PB: Rare visitant;for example,single birdswere seen13 km southof PrudhoeBay 7 June 1972 (WCH) and31 May 1976 (WCH, KLB); anotherwas in an oil-companycamp early in June 1980 (SGJ).FB: Rare localbreeder; for example,one adultwith a juvenilenear the ToolikRiver 16 July 1981 (BJM). CF: Rare (probablebreeder). Breeds regularly in willowsalong many streamsdraining Aiaska's north slope(Kessel and Gibson 1978). Catharus ustulatus. Swainson's Thrush. PB: Two records. One bird first seen at an oil-companycamp 3 June 1978 was founddead 7 June (SGJ);another was at PrudhoeBay 31 May 1990 (KK et ai.). Turdus rnigratorius.American Robin. PB: Rare vistor,observed primarily in spring.For example, a pair was at an oil-companycamp 2 June 1972 (WCH), one bird was at Point Storkersenprior to and on 30 May 1973 (Bergmanet al. 1977), apparentlyone bird was seen repeatedlyat an oil-companycamp 31 May-4 June 1978 (SGJ),and one was observedat Oliktok Point from 9 June to 16 July 1993 (PDM, JB, USFWS). CF: Uncommonbreeder (Sage 1974, DPR, CJH). lxoreus naeuius.Varied Thrush. PB: Rare visitant;for example,one bird wasseen at Point Storkersen22 July 1978 (RCK, DBM, UAM) and anotherwas at Simpson Lagoon 7 September1977 (Johnsonand Richardson1980). Motacilla fiaua. Yellow Wagtail. PB: Uncommon visitant (occasionalbreeder). Pairswere found nestingon the banksof the KuparukRiver in June 1986 (DMT, CJH et al.) and on 13 July 1992 (CJH). Earliestspring arrival date 31 May, in 1983 in the ColvilleRiver delta (Renkenet ai. 1983) and in 1975 on the Sagavanirktok River(Kessel and Gibson1978). FB: Fairlycommon breeder, nesting regularly along the SagavanirktokRiver. CF: Fairlycommon breeder (Sage 1974, DRS, TCR). Antbus ceruinus.Red-throated Pipit. PB: Two records,of one female seennear Point Storkerson15 June 1992 (JL) and a male observedat Heald Point 10-15 June 1993 (KTK et al.). The Red-throatedPipit is very rare on Aiaska'snorth slope, breedinguncommonly only in westernAlaska (Kessei and Gibson 1978). Antbus rubescens. American Pipit. PB: Rare visitant. Late records for the CanningRiver delta 25 August 1979 and 28 August1980 (Martin and Moitoret

95 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

1981). FB: Rarevisitant (possible breeder on bluffs).Five birds seen in lateJuly 1979 (CJH, SGJ, MAP, AH) butno evidenceof breeding.CF: Uncommonvisitant (possible breeder).Locally common along Dalton Highway from AtigunPass to 20 km north of Toolik Lake 9 August1977 (WDS, JPM). Lanius excubitor. Northern Shfike. CF: Uncommonbreeder. Sage (1974) re- portedfour juveniles on the SagavanirktokRiver near the mouthof the IvishakRiver on 24 July 1969 and singleadults near confluence of the Lupineand Sagavanirktok riverson 19 September1969, in IvishakValley on 5 June1970, in AtigunValley on 20 June1970, andat the eastend of AtigunValley on 23 June1970. DRS sawone attackinga passefinenear Happy Valleyin September1980. TCR saw a singlebird in samearea 9 May 1983. BJM saw one betweenTAPS PS 3 and 4 on 24 June 1981. GE, PK, JK, CM, and DRS foundan abandonednest with eggsand another nestwith an adultattending young in AtigunValley in spfing1980. $turnus vulgaris.European Starling. PB: One record,of a birdthat summeredin the ColvilleRiver delta in 1979 (JWH). Vermivora celata. Orange-crownedWarbler. PB: One record, of a bird in the ColvilleRiver delta dufing mid-September 1975 (Kesseland Gibson 1978). CF: One record,of a birdat Happy Valley27-28 May 1976 (Kesseland Gibson1978). Dendroica petechia. YellowWarbler. PB: Two records,of two birdsin the Colville Riverdelta 6 June1974 (Kesseland Gibson1978) and one birdat SimpsonLagoon 5 September 1977 (Johnsonand Richardson1980). CF: One record,of a male at Mile 68 of the Trans-Alaskapipeline 23 June 1981 (LGB, TGT, UAM). Dendroicacoronata. Yellow-rumped Warbler. PB: Three records,of one birdnear Deadhorse 7-13 June 1975 (WCH, KLB), one female at Oliktok Point 17 June 1971 (Hall 1975), and one MyrtleWarbler at OliktokPoint 9 June 1993 (PDM, JB, USFWS). Dendroicapalmarum. Palm Warbler.PB: Two records,of one birdat WestDock 24-25 September1991 (Gibsonand Kessel1992) and one bird on the outer coast near Point Storkerson3 June 1992 (MB, JY). Dendroica striata. BlackpollWarbler. PB: Three records,of one bird in the SagavanirktokRiver delta 10 September1981 (RLS), one adult male near West Dock 11 and 15 June 1984 (DMT, CJH, DPR), and anothermale at OliktokPoint 6 July 1993 (PDM, JB, USFWS). Nlniotilta varia. Black-and-whiteWarbler. PB: One record, of an immature bird seen in the Colville River delta 10-12 October 1977 and found dead a week later (Kesseland Gibson 1978). $etophaga ruticilla. AmericanRedstart. PB: One record,of one in the Colville Riverdelta 21 September1979 (SRJ,JWH). $eiurus aurocapillus. Ovenbird. PB: Two records. One Ovenbird seen in SagavanirktokRiver delta 10 September1981 was the firstfor Alaska(Gibson and Kessel1992). Anotherwas reportednear Prudhoe Bay 29 June 1992 (RM). $eiurus noveboracensis.Northern Waterthrush.PB: Two records,of one bird in the ColvilleRiver delta 19-26 May 1974 (Kesseland Gibson 1978) andanother near West Dock 30 May 1984 (DMT, PDM). Wilsonia pusilla. Wilson's Warbler. PB: Two records, of one bird at Point Storkersen1 September1973 (Bergmanet al. 1977) and a femalenear Prudhoe Bay 11 August1993 (RF).Probably breeds in tall shrubsalong the ColvilleRiver (Kesseland Gibson1978).

96 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY

Wilsoniacanadensis. Canada Warbler. PB: One record,of a birdin the oil field 24 September1981 (RCC). $pizella arborea.American Tree Sparrow.PB: Rare visitant;for example,single birds13 km southof PrudhoeBay 3-6 June 1975 (WCH, KLB)and 3-4 June1976 (WCH), and at West Dock 23 September1991 (EEB)and 16 June 1993 (RF). Anderson(1913) reporteda nest in the ColvilleRiver delta in the early 1900s. FB and CF: Uncommon breeder. Passerculussandwichensis. Savannah Sparrow. PB: Uncommonbreeder. Earli- est arrivaldate 29 May 1982 in the ColvilleRiver delta (Simpson et al. 1982). FB: Fairlycommon breeder. Earliest arrival date 25 May 1979 (CJH, SGJ). CF: Fairly commonbreeder. Earliest arrival date 24 May 1976 (WCH). Passerellailiaca. Fox Sparrow. PB: Three records,of single birds at Point Storkersen9 June 1972 (Bergmanet al. 1977), at the oil-companycamp 31 May 1978 (SGJ),and at PrudhoeBay 30 September1989 (EEB).Hall (1975) reported the Fox Sparrowto be commonin densebrush between Umiat and OceanPoint on the Colville River from 23 to 27 June 1971. Mlelospizalincolnii. Lincoln'sSparrow. PB: Three records,of one bird in the ColvilleRiver delta 21 July 1982 (Simpsonet al. 1982), one at WestDock 25 and 29 September1991 (EEB),and another near West Dock 12 June 1992 (RF). Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throatedSparrow. PB: Two records,of an adult photographedin the ColvilleRiver delta 5 July 1973 (Kesseland Gibson1978) and anotherobserved at BrownlowPoint at the easternedge of the region17-28 August 1980 (PDM). Zonotrichia atricapilla. Golden-crownedSparrow. PB: Two records,of one bird in the ColvilleRiver delta 6 June 1976 (Kesseland Gibson1978) and one seennear PointStorkerson 12 June 1992 (RF,JL). CF: Two records,of one bird in Atigun Valley 17 July and possiblyanother individualin the same generalarea 17-18 August1980 (GE, PK, JK). Zonotrichia leucophrys.White-crowned Sparrow. PB: Uncommonvisitant. Sev- eral records,mostly during spring and fall. FB and CF: Uncommonbreeder. Zonotrichiaquerula. Harris'Sparrow. PB: Two records,of a femalein the Colville Riverdelta 19-25 June1958 (Kesseland Gibson 1978) anda birdobserved on Spy Islandjust east of the ColvilleRiver delta 4 and 6 June 1983 (SRJ). Junco byemalls.Dark-eyed Junco. PB: Rare springand fall migrantand visitant. Mostrecords are for spring,with earliestdate 24 May 1981 (EEB). Calcariuslapponicus. Lapland Longspur. PB: Abundantbreeder. Typically the mostcommon nesting passerine on Alaska'snorth slope (Pitelka 1974, Derksenet al. 1981, Hanson and Eberhardt1981, Johnsonand Herter 1989). Earliestarrival date 15 May 1984 iin the ColvilleRiver delta (North et al. 1984); latestrecords 2 September1989 and 1990 (EEB).FB: Abundantbreeder. Nesting densities lower than along coastbut the speciesstill outnumbersother nestingpasserines. CF: Abundant breeder. Calcariuspictus. Smith'sLongspur. CF: Uncommonbreeder. Scattered nesting pairsfound in the Atigun,Sagavanirktok, and Ribdonriver valleysin June 1970 (Sage1974). Severalsightings in AtigunValley in late May 1979 and 1980 (CJH, DPR, SGJ). Smith'sLongspurs nested as far north as SagwonBluffs during July 1978 (SGJ, KH). Plectrophenaxnivalis. Snow Bunting.PB: Abundantto commonbreeder. Espe- cially abundant in constructioncamps, which offer numerousnest sites. Earliest 97 BIRDS OF PRUDHOE BAY arrivaldate 25 April 1992; latestrecord 11 October 1991 (EEB).CF: Uncommon breeder.Found at higherelevations, usually above 900 m (Sage1974). Agelaius phoeniceus. Red-wingedBlackbird. CF: One record, of a female reportedat the confluenceof the Sagavanirktokand Ivishakrivers 4 June 1976 (Kessel and Gibson 1978). Euphaguscatolinus. Rusty Blackbird. PB: Eightrecords. A pair was reportedat PBOC 20-30 May 1973 (Kesseland Gibson1978). Singlebirds were in the Colville River delta 10 June 1969, 17 May 1971, 25 May 1976, 18 and 21 September 1976, and October1976 (Kesseland Gibson1978). One birdwas at PrudhoeBay 2 June 1990 (KK). A pair was seenat West Dock on 24 September1991, and the maleremained until 27 September1991 (EEB;photo UAM). CF: One record,of one bird in Atigun Valley 3 and 8 June 1980 (GE, PK, JK, CM, DRS). klolothrus ater. Brown-headedCowbird. PB: One record,of an adultmale in the oil field 26 June 1980 (PGC). Leucostictetephrocotis. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. CF: Uncommonbreeder; for example,several were seenin the upperAtigun Valley during the summersof 1979, 1980, and 1981 (CJH et al.). Carduelis flammea and hornemanni. Redpoll. PB: Uncommon breeder.The unsettledstatus of redpoll taxonomy(Troy 1985, Knox 1988) and inconsistent separationof the two speciessuggested lumping of reports.Single males were 13 km southof PrudhoeBay 21 June 1973 (WCH) and 15 June 1976 (WCH). FB and CF: Fairly commonbreeder.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

These recordswere compiledthrough funds providedby U.S. Department of EnergyContract DE-AC06-76RLO-1830, throughBattelle Pacific Northwest Labo- ratory,the Bureauof LandManagement, and the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administrationas part of the Outer ContinentalShelf EnvironmentalAssessment Program. We extendspecial thanks to the severalpeople who contributedfield notesand observationsand to Brina Kesseland Daniel D. Gibsonfor accessto Universityof AlaskaMuseum records. Peter Stettenheim, George Divoky, Stephen R. Johnson, Daniel D. Gibson,and Philip Unitt made many constructivecomments on earlier draftsof thispaper.

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Accepted 24 December 1993

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