Roughly half of the world’s population of 400,000 Pectoral Sandpipers (Brown et al. 2001) breeds in Siberia, and the remainder breeds throughout western and northern Alaska east to Central Canada (Holmes and Pitelka 1998). The majority of Pectoral Sandpipers begin their migration southward from their breeding areas in mid-summer (males: early to mid-July; females and young: late July to August); they travel east and then south through the Great Plains and across the Gulf of Mexico to South America, arriving beginning late August and early September. Most of the Siberian breeding birds are thought to migrate eastward through Alaska to join the common migration route used by the North American breeding birds. However, a small number of birds (possibly dispersing juveniles) migrate south from Siberia to areas throughout Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand. The reverse migration happens in spring in both the Western Hemisphere and Asia. In Alaska, birds are observed migrating through Cook Inlet/Anchorage and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) in mid-May, presumably on their way to Siberia. Pectoral Sandpipers that stop in Alaska to breed typically do so in mid-May to early June.

Breeding

The highest breeding densities occur along the arctic coastal plain of northern Alaska and east-central Siberia. Lower densities occur in more inland locations or peripheral parts of their breeding range (i.e., west coast of Alaska; Holmes and Pitelka 1998). The abundance of the species within any one breeding area fluctuates dramatically from year-to-year. In an 11 year period between 1955 and 1965, the number of territorial males ranged from 7 to 37/km2 in Barrow, Alaska (Holmes and Pitelka 1998). Similar changes in density have been recorded in recent years (B. Kempenaers and R. Lanctot, unpubl.). Breeding Pectoral Sandpipers are found in good numbers throughout the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A) and east to the Canadian border. Moderate densities of birds have been reported at Barrow, Teshekpuk Lake, and Prudhoe Bay (Troy and Wickliffe 1990, R. Lanctot, unpubl. data; J. Liebezeit, unpubl. data); nest densities in these areas average between 5.4 and 11.5 nests/km2. Additional areas within the NPR-A also have high densities based on surveys conducted in the late 1990s and early 2000s (J. Bart, unpubl.).

Pre-breeding

Thousands to tens of thousands migrate through the central YKD in mid-May. These birds are suspected of being migrants on their way to Siberia to breed.

Post-breeding

Male Pectoral Sandpipers depart their breeding areas quickly, with the majority moving south to subarctic wetlands in the northern prairie regions. Females and their offspring, in contrast, congregate in tundra habitats near the coast of the Arctic Ocean where they may stay for several weeks (Connors et al. 1979). Juveniles are present in western Alaska in small flocks from September to mid-October where they occur in coastal habitats, frequently with Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.

No. of samples: 400 (200 each from the North Slope and YKD).
Sampling locations: Breeding Pectoral Sandpipers will primarily be sampled on the North Slope at established camps at Barrow, Teshekpuk Lake, Prudhoe Bay, Canning River, and surrounding areas. Secondary sampling will be conducted during pre- and post-breeding periods on the north and central YKD and during post-breeding on the North Slope.
Sampling timeframe: Pre-breeding birds will be sampled during May on the central YKD, breeding birds will be sampled during June on the North Slope, and post-breeding birds will be sampled from July through early September on the North Slope and August-September on the north and central YKD.
Sample demographics: Adults will be sampled during pre-breeding and breeding, and adults and juveniles will be sampled during fall staging.
Methods of capture: Birds breeding on the North Slope will have fecal samples collected or will be live-trapped on nests using bow traps. Pre- and post-breeding birds on the central YKD will be live-trapped using bow traps, walk-in traps, mist nets, and/or rocket nets. Fecal sampling will occur at both pre- and post-breeding areas at high tide roosts or from areas where birds were observed feeding. Large numbers of birds could be collected at any of these sites if needed.
Ability to capture birds: Breeding locations: As part of an intensive study of Pectoral Sandpipers at Barrow, 96 and 187 adults were captured in 2004 and 2005, respectively (B. Kempenaers and R. Lanctot, unpubl.). We anticipate similar numbers of birds can be captured in the coming year at this site, and that comparable numbers can be captured at Teshekpuk Lake, Prudhoe Bay, and the Canning River. The ability to collect fecal samples should also increase our sample size as males traditionally defecate on hummocks that are used in territorial displays. Pre-breeding locations: No attempt has been made to capture Pectoral Sandpipers at this time of the year. Given their sheer numbers, it is suspected these birds could be captured with a variety of traps or, at a minimum, collected. Post-breeding locations: This species was captured inadvertently on the central YKD as biologists attempted to capture Sharp-tailed Sandpipers during the 2005 field season.
Other targeted species: At the proposed primary breeding sites it will be possible to sample small to moderate numbers of Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitchers, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers. On the pre-breeding locations on the YKD, it will be possibly to sample (Long-billed Dowitcher). At the proposed post-breeding location on the YKD, it will be possible to sample Dunlin and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Yukon Delta NWR

Arctic NWR

U.S. Geological Survey

Brown, S., C. Hickey, B. Harrington, and R. Gill, eds. 2001. The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, 2nd ed. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, MA.

Connors, P.G., J.P. Myers, and F.A. Pitelka. 1979. Seasonal habitat use by arctic Alaskan shorebirds. Studies in Avian Biology 1:307-315.

U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan. 2006. Final Draft: An early detection system for Asian H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild migratory birds.

Holmes, R.T., and F.A. Pitelka. 1998. Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). In The Birds of North America, No. 348 (A. Poole, and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Taylor, A.R., A.N. Powell and R.B. Lanctot. In press. Pre-migratory movements and physiology of shorebirds staging on Alaska’s North Slope. OCS Study MMS 2006-xxx, Annual Report No. 11, Federal Fiscal Year 2005, pages xxx-xxx.

Troy, D.M. and J.K. Wickliffe. 1990. Trends in bird use of the Pt. McIntyre Reference Area 1981-1989.Unpubl. report by Troy Ecological Research Associates for BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.