Shorebirds of High Conservation Value

In March, 2000, the Alaska Shorebird Working Group produced a report entitled: A Conservation Plan for Alaska Shorebirds (Andres and Gill, 2000). This plan was developed over two years and forms part of the United States Shorebird Conservation Plan. As part of this analysis, criteria were develop in order to identify shorebird species of high conservation concern. Such species and subspecies were identified both on the national level and the regional (Alaskan) level (see web page: http://www.manomet.org/USSCP). Andres and Gill (2000) describe in detail the criteria used and the results of the analysis, a summary of which is offered here. One pattern that emerged is that all shorebird species classified as being of high conservation concern tended to exhibit small global population sizes and/or limited breeding distributions.

This analysis carried out by the Alaska Shorebird Working Group can be applied to Vuntut National Park. Andres and Gill (2000) identified 14 species or subspecies of high conservation concern in Alaska. On a national level, these species were identified to be of high or moderate conservation concern. In addition, Andres and Gill (2000) identify 5 shorebird species to be of high conservation concern on a national level but of moderate conservation concern in Alaska. Of these 19 shorebird species, 5 of them are known to occur or probably occur within Vuntut National Park (see Appendix III).

These species are: whimbrel, wandering tattler, surfbird, American golden-plover and solitary sandpiper. Based on shorebird population surveys in both the United States and Canada (Howe et al. 1989, Morrison et al. 1994), the whimbrel is believed to be undergoing a significant population decline; the surfbird and American golden-plover are believed to be undergoing apparent population declines, and the wandering tattler and solitary sandpiper have apparently stable populations or their status is unknown (Andres and Gill 2000). In a recent conversation with Robert Gill, he stated that the densities of American golden plovers and whimbrels in Vuntut National Park as described to him by David Henry "sound as good as any area in Alaska." He stated that the breeding populations of these two shorebirds should be viewed as important wildlife populations within Vuntut National Park.

Concerning certain of these species, Andres and Gill (2000: 12-13) offer the following observations:

Wandering Tattler. Little is known about this species but it is of particular concern to the region because Alaska is the principal breeding area and the species' population is small, probably under 10,000 individuals, thus making it one of the least populous shorebird species in North America.

Whimbrel. The whimbrel is of primary importance in the region because the majority of a subspecies (Numenius phaeopus rufiventris) breeds in Alaska (Gibson and Kessel 1997, Engelmoer and Roselaar 1998). The species' population is estimated at about 60,000 birds, of which as many as 40,000 occur in Alaska. Numenius phaeopus rufiventris is the subspecies of whimbrel that is believed to occur and breed within Vuntut National Park (Gill pers. comm. 2000).

Surfbird. The Surfbird is of primary importance in the region because of its relatively small population (50,000-100,000 birds), more than 75% of which occurred in Alaska (Senner and McCaffery 1997). More importantly, most Alaska breeding birds concentrate for a few weeks each spring on traditional areas of Prince William Sound (PWS). Several of the areas used by Surfbirds in PWS were affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. There remains a high probability that other such events will occur in PWS and the Gulf of Alaska as long as the production and transportation of petroleum products continue at current levels.

Andres and Gill (2000) report on the goals and objectives developed by the Alaska Shorebird Working Group. They state that the overall conservation goal should be to keep these shorebird species and their habitats well distributed across not only these northern landscapes but also across regions used by these same populations during other phases of their annual cycle (e.g., staging, migration and wintering). The Alaska Shorebird Working Group is in the process of developing subgoals and actions focusing on population stability, habitat conservation, research as well as education and outreach. National and several regional shorebird conservation plans are being developed in Canada and should be considered as they become available. Future cooperation between Parks Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service and the Alaska Shorebird Working Group in order to achieve these conservation goals should be explored.