Response to Development and Effects on Other Wildlife  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

Birds of the North Slope  

Among waterfowl and other water birds, Greater White-fronted Geese, Northern Pintails, Long-tailed Ducks, and eiders are the most abundant. Loons are also common, though in smaller numbers. Female ducks and geese are well-camouflaged when they incubate and often crouch low to wait for a predator to pass. Swans are much more conspicuous, but can effectively defend their nest from most predators.

Tundra Swan with cygnets

Pacific Loon

female Greater White-fronted Goose on nest

 


female Buff-breasted Sandpiper		 Shorebirds may look like "little brown peeps" in the winter, but in the summer they exhibit a diverse array of behaviors. In some species, such as Stilt Sandpipers, both sexes participate in territory defense, incubation, and chick-rearing. In others, such as Buff-breasted Sandpipers, the males perform courtship displays to attract the females for mating, who then leave to incubate without any help from the males. In phalaropes, on the other hand, females are more brightly-colored than males, and (after laying the eggs) leave the males to incubate and raise the chicks alone.

Stilt Sandpiper on nest

Dunlin (sandpiper) nest

female Red-necked Phalarope

 

Shorebird chicks leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching and never return; they feed themselves with no help from their parents. One or both parents protect the chicks until they are able to fly; then the young birds group together in flocks while they feed in preparation for their own migrations. These flocks typically occur along the coast, so in places like Barrow we can see concentrations of young shorebirds.

juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher

Red-necked Phalarope hatchlings

juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper

 

Very few passerines (songbirds) breed on the North Slope; these include Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings, redpolls, Yellow Wagtails, and Common Ravens. Some of these birds nest in cavities, and others nest on the ground. Ravens nest only on cliffs (where they are available) and buildings, and were not able to breed on the Slope before there were buildings there.

Lapland Longspur nestlings

male Lapland Longspur

 


male Willow Ptarmigan in courtship display

 Other tundra-dwelling birds include Willow and Rock ptarmigan. These birds remain here year-round and turn white in the winter to blend in with the snow.

Willow Ptarmigan chick

 

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All photos copyright Emily Weiser. Please request permission for anything other than personal use.