Pacific Herring
Salmon
Pollock
Zooplankton
Stellar Sea Lions
Shorebirds
Avian Influenza
Barrier Island Study
Radio Tracking Migrant Shorebirds
Shorebird Fidelity
Seabirds
GLOBEC - Gulf of Alaska
Pacific Halibut
Rockfish and Lingcod
Octopus
Orcas |
Sandpipers stopping over on the Copper River Delta mudflats in spring. - photo by A. Smyke |
Shorebirds
are some of the most interesting of the world’s birds. Their bills come in a variety of shapes and
sizes, and their plumage can show a complete change of appearance from summer
to winter. Of the world’s 203 species,
33 species regularly occur on Copper River Delta and Prince William Sound. In spring the Delta and Sound are abuzz with
shorebirds. Over 4 million shorebirds,
the largest spring concentration of shorebirds in the Western Hemisphere visit
the extensive mudflats of the Copper and Bering River Deltas between late April
and mid-May on their way to breeding grounds in western Alaska. Thousands of Sanderling stop on the beaches of
the Deltas’ barrier islands |
Running Flu strips in Egg Island tent laboratory. |
Shorebird
research at the Science Center has focused on the regional and global links
between the Copper River Delta and shorebird wintering, breeding, and stopover areas spanning from Mexico and Hawaii to western Alaska. In May 2008, we will
begin a 3-year study to determine if individual shorebirds exhibit site-faithfulness by stopping at the same location within the Copper River
Delta every spring. Shorebirds
are particularly susceptible to avian influenza, and the best opportunity for
viral transmission is likely stopover sites. The Science Center has focused on testing technologies for the field
identification and on-site confirmation of avian influenza outbreaks. Past studies have also investigated nesting
success and post-hatch movements by Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpiper
breeding on and immediately adjacent to barrier island outer beaches . |
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