avian surveys in four exploration areas in the greater ... surveys in four exploration areas in the...

Printed on recycled paper.

AVIAN SURVEYS IN FOUR EXPLORATION AREAS IN THE GREATER KUPARUK AREA, ALASKA, 2001

FINAL REPORT

Prepared for

PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc.

P.O. Box 100360

Anchorage, Alaska 99510

Prepared by

Alice A. Stickney

and

Charles B. Johnson

ABR, Inc.

P.O. Box 80410

Fairbanks, Alaska 99708

April 2002

ABR Final Report iii GKA Exploration Avian Surveys

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... iii

LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................................ iii

LIST OF APPENDICES............................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................ iv

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................ 1

SPECTACLED EIDER............................................................................................................................ 1STELLER’S EIDER................................................................................................................................. 3KING EIDER ........................................................................................................................................... 3TUNDRA SWAN..................................................................................................................................... 3

STUDY AREA .............................................................................................................................................. 4

METHODS .................................................................................................................................................... 4EIDERS....................................................................................................................................................... 5

PRE-NESTING AERIAL SURVEY........................................................................................................ 5TUNDRA SWANS ..................................................................................................................................... 5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................... 8EIDER PRE-NESTING SURVEYS........................................................................................................... 8

SPECTACLED EIDERS.......................................................................................................................... 8STELLER’S EIDERS ............................................................................................................................ 10KING EIDERS ....................................................................................................................................... 10

TUNDRA SWANS ................................................................................................................................... 10NESTING TUNDRA SWANS .............................................................................................................. 10TUNDRA SWAN BROODS ................................................................................................................. 13

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.......................................................................................................... 14

LITERATURE CITED................................................................................................................................ 14

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Survey boundaries around four proposed exploration areas in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska. ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Figure 2. Southern survey boundaries for eider pre-nesting aerial surveys in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1993, and 1995–2001......................................................................................... 6

Figure 3. Southern survey boundaries for Tundra Swan nesting and brood-rearing surveys in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1989–2001. ............................................................................ 7

Figure 4. Locations of Spectacled Eiders (top) and King Eiders (bottom) in four exploration areas in the Greater Kuparuk Exploration Area, Alaska during pre-nesting aerial surveys (June) in 1993, and 1995–2001................................................................................................................ 9

Figure 5. Locations of Tundra Swans with nests (top) and with broods (bottom) in four exploration areas in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska during aerial surveys in June and August, 1989–2001. ............................................................................................................................. 12

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Indicated totals and densities of eiders recorded during pre-nesting aerial surveys in the Andros, Antigua and Cayman areas, Alaska, 1993 and 1995–2001. ....................................... 8

GKA Exploration Avian Surveys iv ABR Final Report

Table 2. Numbers of Tundra Swans and nests observed during June on aerial surveys of the Andros, Antigua, Cayman and Cirque areas, Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1989–2001.... 11

Table 3. Numbers of Tundra Swans, young and broods observed during August on aerial surveys of the Andros, Antigua, Cayman and Cirque areas, Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1989–1993 and 1995–2001..................................................................................................... 13

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. The extent of coverage of the four proposed exploration areas in each year by the aerial surveys for Spectacled Eiders in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska. .................. 19

Appendix B. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service protocol for determining indicated total birds from aerial breeding-pair surveys............................................................................................ 20

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report is the summary of many years of eider and Tundra Swan surveys in the GreaterKuparuk Area. Many ABR employees have been involved with the aerial surveys over this time period.Most notably, Jim King, Bob Ritchie, and John Rose have provided longterm consistency of surveymethodology over the years and have helped trained others in the conduct of aerial surveys. Other ABRemployees who have assisted in these surveys include: Paul Banyas, Debbie Nigro, Larry Byrne, BrianLawhead, Ann Wildman, Julie Peterson, Pat Lovely, and Mike Knoche. Sandy Hamilton of Arctic AirAlaska has been a guiding influence in keeping our surveys on transect and on time throughout the years.Jay Martin helped him with these surveys in 2001. Caryn Rea, Environmental Studies Coordinator,PHILLIPS, Alaska, Inc. provided support, direction and funding for this report. We also thank AllisonZusi-Cobb, Will Lentz, Matt Macander, and Tai Graham for their GIS skills, and Jennifer Felkay for reportpreparation.

Introduction

ABR Final Report 1 GKA Exploration Avian Surveys

INTRODUCTION

In September 2001, ABR, Inc. was requestedto summarize use by important waterfowl speciesof four new areas in the Greater Kuparuk Area(GKA), where PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc. (PHILLIPS)proposes to conduct exploratory drilling duringwinter 2001–2002. These proposed areas includethe Andros, Antigua, Cayman, and Cirqueexploration areas. The first three areas are locatedsouth of the original Kuparuk River Unit and theCirque area is located between Tarn (Drill Sites[DS] 2L and 2N) and Meltwater (DS 2P) (Figure1).

The decision to conduct exploratory drillingin these four areas was made after the 2001breeding season; therefore, surveys were notconducted specifically for these exploration sites.Instead, historical data were summarized whereavailable. The primary source of historical data onwaterfowl populations in the proposed explorationareas comes from long-term monitoring studiesconducted by ABR, in the Kuparuk area, primarilythe Kuparuk River Unit, but also includingadjacent new developments (Tarn, Cairn,Meltwater).

As part of long-term monitoring of avianspecies in the oilfields, ABR has been studying thedistribution, abundance, and productivity ofSpectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri), TundraSwans (Cygnus columbianus), and other waterfowlthat annually use the Arctic Coastal Plain duringsummer (see Murphy and Anderson 1993,Stickney et al. 1993, Anderson et al. 2001). As theoilfields have expanded westward into the ColvilleRiver Delta, these same species have beenmonitored to determine baseline populations priorto oil exploration activities and any subsequentoilfield development (Smith et al. 1994, Johnson etal. 2000). ABR has been conducting avian studiesin the Kuparuk Oilfield since 1985 and hasconducted aerial surveys for Tundra Swans since1989 and for eiders since 1993. Eiders and TundraSwans were selected as the focus of these surveys,because of their special status (i.e., threatenedstatus for Spectacled and Steller’s [Polystictastelleri] eiders) or interest expressed bymanagement agencies (Tundra Swans). The goalsof these aerial surveys were to monitor thedistribution, abundance of both eiders and Tundra

Swans, and the productivity of Tundra Swans in abroad area spanning the Kuparuk River Unit andadjacent areas. We had two specific objectives forthe aerial surveys:

• determine the abundance and distribution of eiders (primarily Spectacled Eider, but also any Steller’s and King [Somateria spectabilis] eiders present) during pre-nesting;

• locate and count Tundra Swan adults, nests, and broods and determine annual productivity.

BACKGROUND

Although the aerial surveys focused primarilyon Spectacled Eiders and Tundra Swans, othertundra-nesting species, such as King and Steller'seiders, also were recorded opportunistically duringfield activities. The following section provides anoverview of the agency concerns regarding thesespecies and aspects of their life history that arerelevant to development planning in the proposedexploration areas.

SPECTACLED EIDER

Spectacled Eiders have undergone severedeclines in abundance, particularly in theYukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska(Kertell 1991, Stehn et al. 1993). Based on thisdecline, the Spectacled Eider was listed by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as“threatened” under the Endangered Species Act on10 June 1993 (58 FR 27474-27480). This specialstatus mandates protection on their breedinggrounds in areas of development and in areas of oilexploration, such as within the GKA. Recentsurveys estimate the current population of thenorthern breeding population of Spectacled Eidersto be at least 6,000–7,000 birds (Larned et al.2001). These recent estimates also suggest that theArctic Coastal Plain now supports the mainbreeding population of Spectacled Eiders in Alaska(USFWS 1996).

Spectacled Eiders are uncommon nesters (i.e.,they occur regularly but are not found in allsuitable habitats) on Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain,and tend to concentrate on large river deltas(Johnson and Herter 1989). Their breeding rangeextends east to Bullen Point and Barter Island, near

Introduction

GK

A E

xploration Avian Surveys

2A

BR

Final R

eport

Figure 1. Survey boundaries around four proposed exploration areas in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska.

#

##

ð

ðð

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

AreaCirque 4

Cayman 1

DS 1JDS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

Cayman 1

Cirque 3 & 4

DS 2L

AntiguaExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CirqueExploration

AreaNPR�A

Beaufort Sea KuparukOilfield

Colville Rive

r

GKA ExploratorySurvey Areasð

ProposedExploratoryWell Sites

1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles

1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Kilometers

ABR file: 2001_GKA_Expl_01-108.apr26 March 2002

570

°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°30'

150°30'

150°15'

150°15'

150°00'

150°00'

149°45'

149°45'

149°30'

149°30'

Introduction


the western edge of the Arctic National WildlifeRefuge. Derksen et al. (1981) described them ascommon breeders in the NPR–A, but uncommoneast of there at Storkersen Point. Recent studieshave shown, however, that Spectacled Eiders alsoare relatively frequent breeders in the Prudhoe Bayand Kuparuk oilfields and on the Colville RiverDelta, although they do not use all the availablehabitat (TERA 1996, Johnson et al. 2000,Anderson et al. 2001).

Spectacled Eiders arrive on the coastal plainin late May and initiate nests by mid-June(Warnock and Troy 1992, Anderson and Cooper1994). Males do not participate in incubation orrearing of young and leave the area by late June.Eggs begin hatching in mid-July, and brood-rearingcontinues until late August or early September,when the young can fly. Spectacled Eider broodshave been seen in the Prudhoe Bay area until lateAugust (TERA 1996). No data are available ondeparture dates from the Arctic Coastal Plain, butmost birds probably leave by mid-September,when lakes and ponds begin to freeze. Pre-nestinghabitats used by Spectacled Eiders vary somewhatamong areas, but observations suggest that eidersprimarily use open water, including both floodedtundra and permanent waterbodies, as well assalt-affected habitats, particularly on the ColvilleDelta (Anderson et al. 2001, Johnson et al. 2000).Nesting Spectacled Eiders also use a variety ofhabitats including Aquatic Sedge Marsh, AquaticSedge with Deep Polygons, Wet Sedge–WillowMeadow, Salt-killed Tundra, Brackish Water,Basin Wetland Complexes, and Nonpatterned WetMeadow (Johnson et al. 2000, Anderson et al.2001).

STELLER’S EIDER

The Alaska breeding population of Steller’sEider was listed as threatened (62 FR 31748) in1997 because it had declined substantially in recentyears, particularly in western Alaska (Kertell1991), but also in arctic Alaska (Quakenbush andCochrane 1993). On the Arctic Coastal Plain,Steller's Eiders historically nested across most orall of the coastal plain (Kertell 1991, Quakenbushand Cochrane 1993), but currently, they nestprimarily around Barrow, although the totalbreeding range probably extends from Point Lay tonear the Colville River Delta (Day et al. 1995;

Quakenbush et al. 1995). The Steller’s Eider hasbeen recorded periodically in the Prudhoe Bay,Kuparuk, and Colville River Delta areas (USFWS1998, ABR unpubl. data).

In arctic Alaska, breeding Steller's Eiders nestand raise broods in areas dominated bylow-centered polygons and shallow ponds withemergent grasses and sedges, flooded tundra (i.e.,wet meadows), lakes, and drained lake basins;presence of emergent plants seems to be importantduring brood-rearing (Quakenbush and Cochrane1993). In the Barrow area, waterbodies withpendant grass (Arctophila fulva) receivedconsiderable use (greater than their availability)during the pre-nesting, nesting, and brood-rearingperiods (Quakenbush et al. 1995). Timing ofbreeding activities for Steller’s Eiders is similar tothat of other eiders.

KING EIDER

Although King Eiders are not listed asthreatened in Alaska, their breeding populationdoes appear to be declining at the eastern edges oftheir breeding range (primarily in western Canada)(Dickson et al. 1997). King Eiders nest in highdensities in the Prudhoe Bay area (Troy 1988) andat Storkersen Point (Bergman et al. 1977). In thelate 1970s, Derksen et al. (1981) suggested thatKing Eider densities appeared to decline west ofthe Colville River, but BLM (1998) reported thatsome of the highest densities of King Eiders on thecoastal plain occur in the NPR–A planning area.On the Colville Delta, they are common visitorsbut uncommon or rare nesters (Simpson et al.1982, North et al. 1984, Johnson 1995). Nestingphenology is similar to that of the SpectacledEider, but King Eiders tend to nest in drier tundrahabitats farther from waterbodies (Anderson et al.2001).

TUNDRA SWAN

Tundra Swans are common breeders acrossthe Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, and becausethey are sensitive to human disturbance, they havebeen used as indicators of the general ecosystemhealth within the region (Anderson et al. 2001).Breeding pairs of Tundra Swans mate for life anddefend a nesting territory to which they returnannually. Because of their fidelity to nestingterritories, changes in the distribution and

Study Area

GKA Exploration Avian Surveys 4 ABR Final Report

abundance of swans can be used as a measure ofthe effects of development projects on waterbirdpopulations (King 1973, Ritchie et al. 1990).

Swans begin arriving on the Arctic CoastalPlain while the ground is mostly snow-covered(late-May), and as snow melt progresses, breedingpairs move to territories and begin nesting by earlyJune. After eggs hatch in early July, the familygroups remain together during brood-rearing,although they may range widely to find suitableforaging habitat (Johnson and Herter 1989). Whilethe young are flightless, adults molt their flightfeathers and become flightless for about 3 weeks.This flightless period is the time when swans aremost vulnerable to predators and when broods aresensitive to disturbance. Although brood-rearingswans remain in single family flocks untildeparture in fall, nonbreeding swans may formlarge staging flocks of up to several hundred birdsduring September (Rothe et al. 1983, Smith et al.1994, Johnson et al. 1998). The young are ready tofledge by mid-to-late September, and fall migrationpeaks along the Beaufort Sea coast in lateSeptember and early October (Johnson and Herter1989).

STUDY AREA

The four exploration areas in the GKAencompassed five proposed exploration sites (i.e.,drilling locations) scheduled for drilling in winter2001–2002: Andros and Antiqua each include anunspecified drilling location, Cayman includes theCayman 1 drilling location, and Cirque includesthe Cirque 3 and 4 drilling locations (Figure 1).The Cirque 4 location shown in this report is theoriginal location as permitted by the resourceagencies. Subsequently, a relocation of Cirque 4 tothe same ice pad as Cirque 3 was permitted by theAlaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission,when PHILLIPS obtained their permits to drill.We delineated the four exploration areas so thatgenerally they contained a minimum 1.6-km bufferaround each proposed exploratory site. Thecombined survey areas contain 134 km² (Figure 1).Antigua is ~8.5 km south of DS 1J, Cayman is ~6.5km south of DS 2G, Andros is ~7 km east of DS 2Land DS 2N (Tarn), and Cirque is located midwaybetween DS 2N and DS 2P (Meltwater).

Landforms, vegetation, and wildlife habitatsin the GKA are similar to those of the westernKuparuk Oilfield, the Alpine TransportationCorridor, and Meltwater Development Area(Jorgenson et al. 1997, Johnson et al. 1998,Burgess et al. 2000). Landforms are influenced bythe predominately northeastern winds duringsummer, which produce oriented thaw lakes on thecoastal plain (Walker et al 1980, Jorgenson et al.1997). Habitats within the Alpine TransportationCorridor have been analyzed from aerialphotographs at a 1:18,000 scale and in theMeltwater Development Area from 2×enlargements of 1:63,000 aerial photographs.Habitats included Open Water (Deep and Shallowlakes), River or Stream, Aquatic Marshes (Sedge[Carex] and Grass[Arctophila]), wet meadowtundra (Nonpatterned and Wet Sedge-Willow),moist meadow tundra (Moist Sedge-Shrub andMoist Tussock Tundra) and Basin-Wetlandcomplexes (Johnson et al. 1997).

The climate of the GKA is typical of othercoastal areas in the Arctic. Winters are cold andsummers are cool; the thaw period lasts only about90 days during summer (1 June–31 August) andthe average summer air temperature is 5° C (43° F;Kuparuk Oilfield records: National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration, unpubl. data). Meansummer precipitation is under 7.5 cm (3 in), mostof which falls as rain in August. The soils are coldand underlain by permafrost, and temperature ofthe active layer of thawed soil above permafrostranges from 0–10° C (32–50° F) during thegrowing season.

METHODS

Historical data for the waterfowl speciesdiscussed in this report were compiled from aerialsurveys flown for avian studies in the KuparukOilfield and River Unit (Ritchie et al. 1989, 1990,1991; Stickney et al. 1992, 1993, 1994; Andersonet al. 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998a, 1999, 2000, 2001)and for various environmental studies conductedfor the Tarn, Cairn, and Meltwater exploration anddevelopment projects (Anderson et al. 1998b,Anderson 2000, Burgess et al. 2000). Because nosurveys were flown specifically for the fourexploration areas in the GKA, survey coverage ofthe areas was sometimes not complete.

Methods


EIDERS

PRE-NESTING AERIAL SURVEY

Aerial surveys were conducted for breedingpairs of eiders in the GKA, typically between 11and 16 June, every year since 1993, excluding1994, (Anderson and Cooper 1994, Anderson et al.2001). Survey boundaries generally followed theKuparuk River Unit boundaries, with extensions toinclude the Tarn, Cairn, and Meltwater areas in1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001 (Figure 2).

During the surveys, the pilot navigated aCessna 185 aircraft along east–west transect linesusing a global positioning system (GPS) receiverand topographic maps. An observer on each sideof the aircraft counted eiders in fixed-width strips(200 m on each side of the aircraft) along transectlines that were spaced either 800 m (~0.5 mi) apartfor 50% coverage or 1,600 m (~1 mi) apart for 25%coverage (Appendix A). Marks on the airplane’sstruts and windows were used to visually delimitthe outer edges of the transect strip (Pennycuickand Western 1972). Flight altitude for each surveywas 30–50 m above ground level (agl) and flightspeed was approximately 145 km/h. For eachobservation, the species of eider, number of eachsex, number of identifiable pairs, transect number,and whether the birds were flying or on the groundwere noted on a tape recorder. Each observer alsomarked their eider locations on 1:63,360 USGSmaps of the study area. Unadjusted densities (i.e.,without a sightability correction factor) for eiderswere calculated based on the total area coveredduring the survey. Total indicated birds werecalculated following the procedures of the USFWSsurvey protocol (Appendix B). All observationswere digitized and added to a geographicalinformation system (GIS) database that containseider observations from aerial surveys since 1992.Observations from all years were summarized forthe GKA exploration areas using GIS techniques toidentify eider locations in the areas of interest.

TUNDRA SWANS

In each year since 1989, aerial surveys forTundra Swans in the GKA (Ritchie et al. 1989,1990, 1991; Stickney et al. 1992, 1993, 1994;Anderson et al. 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998a, 1999,2000, 2001) have followed the USFWS TundraSwan Survey Protocol (USFWS 1987b, 1991).

During the aerial surveys, a Cessna 185aircraft was flew along fixed-width, east–westtransects. Transects were oriented along townshipand section lines, and all observations weremapped on 1:63,360 USGS maps. The survey areafor swans (hereafter, Kuparuk swan survey area)was bounded by the Kuparuk River to the east, theColville River to the west, and the Beaufort Seacoastline to the north. Swan surveys generallyencompassed the southern boundary of the GKA,except the most southerly sections of the CPF 1and 2 Units were excluded where lakes and,therefore, swan habitats, were extremely limited(Figure 3). During the surveys, the aircraft wasflown at a speed of 145 km/h and an altitude of150 m agl. Transects were spaced at 1.6-km (1-mi)intervals and each of the two observers scanned astrip 800 m wide on his/her side of the aircraft toachieve 100% coverage, while the pilot navigatedand scanned ahead of the aircraft. The age (adultor young) and number (single, pair, flock [flocksize]) of swans seen and whether the adults wereattending a nest or with a brood were recorded onthe USGS maps. When observers located a nest,the aircraft left the transect line and circled the nestso that they could plot an accurate location andtake photographs with a 35-mm camera of the nestsite. During the brood-rearing survey, an identicalprocedure was used for recording data, but theplane did not circle or photograph broods.

In the region south of our Kuparuk swansurvey boundary (which encompassed the Cirquesurvey area), our aerial surveys for swans between1989 and 1993 followed a lake–to–lake routerather than standard transects because lakes thatwould attract swans are scarce there. As a result ofthis methodology, only one lake in the northeasterncorner of the Cirque area was surveyed duringthese early years. In 1998, 2000, and 2001, weincreased the survey area because of interest in theproposed Cairn (1998) and Meltwater (2000–2001)exploration areas; thus, the resulting area providedtotal coverage of the Cirque area with standardtransects.

The nesting surveys typically were flownbetween 17 and 26 June and the brood-rearingsurveys between 16 and 24 August in each year.After each survey, we entered all location data intodigital maps (developed from 1:63,360 USGSmaps by AeroMap, U.S., Inc.) in a GIS system.

Methods

GK

A E

xploration Avian Surveys

6A

BR

Final R

eport

Figure 2. Southern survey boundaries for eider pre-nesting aerial surveys in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1993, and 1995–2001.

#

##

ð

ðð

AntiguaExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CirqueExplorationArea

CirqueExplorationArea

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

Area

DS 1JDS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

Cayman 1

Cirque 3 & 4

DS 2L

ðProposedExploratoryWell Sites

1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles



5

70°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°30'

150°30'

150°15'

150°15'

150°00'

150°00'

149°45'

149°45'

149°30'

149°30'

19931995�19961997199819992000�2001

Annual SurveyBoundaries

Methods

AB

R F

inal Report

7G

KA

Exploration A

vian Surveys

Figure 3. Southern survey boundaries for Tundra Swan nesting and brood-rearing surveys in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1989–2001.

#

##

ð

ðð

Tundra SwanSurvey Boundary(1989�2001)

AntiguaExploration

Area

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area CaymanExplorationArea

AntiguaExploration

Area

DS 1JDS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

Cayman 1

Cirque 3 & 4

DS 2L

Tundra SwanSurvey Boundary(1989�2001)1989�1993

Lake to LakeRoute

¶

¶

¶¶

¶

¶

¶


1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles



570

°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°30'

150°30'

150°15'

150°15'

150°00'

150°00'

149°45'

149°45'

149°30'

149°30'

2001

19982000

Annual SurveyBoundaries

Results and Discussion


Summary statistics for nesting surveys followedthe format established for the Kuparuk Oilfield in1988 and modified in 1990 (Ritchie et al. 1989,1991), which categorized adults as either withnests or broods or without nests or broods. Thelatter two categories include nonbreedingsubadults, as well as failed or nonbreeding adults.These individuals will be referred to collectively as“nonbreeders.”

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

EIDER PRE-NESTING SURVEYS

SPECTACLED EIDERS

During the eight years in which aerial surveyshave been conducted for pre-nesting eiders in theGKA exploration study area, Spectacled Eiders(indicated total of 2 birds) have been recorded onlyin 2000 and only within the Andros area (Table 1;

Figure 4). Additional Spectacled Eiders were seenoutside the Antigua area in 1997 (1 pair) and 1998(1 male). Spectacled Eiders occur in scatteredlocations throughout the Kuparuk Oilfield, butgenerally, few eiders occur in the most southerlysection of the GKA survey area, whichencompasses the four explorations areas (Andersonet al. 2001).

The calculated density of Spectacled Eidersduring 2000 in the Andros area (0.12 birds/km²)was higher than that recorded in the KuparukOilfield as a whole in 2000 (0.08 birds/km²;Anderson et al. 2001) and in the northeasternNPR–A (≤0.05 birds/km²; BLM 1998; Andersonand Johnson 1999; Murphy and Stickney 2000;Johnson and Stickney 2001), but lower than in theCD North study area on the Colville River Delta in2000 (0.17 birds/km²; Johnson et al. 2000), andacross the Arctic Coastal Plain in 2000 (0.19birds/km²; Larned et al. 2001). However, for all

Table 1. Indicated totals and densities of eiders recorded during pre-nesting aerial surveys in the Andros, Antigua and Cayman areas, Alaska, 1993 and 1995–2001. The Cirque area was covered by surveys in 1998, 2000, and 2001, but no eiders were seen. The years and extent of survey coverage for each area is presented in Appendix B.

Indicated Totalsa Density (birds/km²)b

Species/Year Andros Antigua Cayman Andros Antigua Cayman

Spectacled Eider1993 0 – 0 0 – 01995 0 0 0 0 0 01996 0 0 0 0 0 01997 0 0 0 0 0 01998 0 0 0 0 0 01999 0 – 0 0 – 02000 2 – 0 0.12 – 02001 0 – 0 0 – 0

King Eider1993 0 – 0 0 – 01995 4 0 0 0.35 0 01996 2 4 0 0.17 1.04 01997 0 2 2 0 0.52 0.211998 2 0 0 0.12 0 01999 2 – 0 0.12 – 02000 4 – 2 0.22 – 0.522001 4 – 2 0.22 – 0.52

a Total Indicated = (number of males not in groups × 2) + number of birds in groups. Groups are mixed sexflocks ≥3 birds and flocks of ≥4 males (see USFWS 1987a).

b Area for Andros = 36 km²; Antigua = 16 km²; Cayman = 31 km². Densities adjusted for the amountof survey coverage (see Appendix B).



Figure 4. Locations of Spectacled Eiders (top) and King Eiders (bottom) in four exploration areas in the Greater Kuparuk Exploration Area, Alaska during pre-nesting aerial surveys (June) in 1993, and 1995–2001.

%U

%U%U %U

%U

$T$T

$T

#S

#S

#S

#S

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

#

##

ð

ðð

AntiguaExploration

Area

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

Cayman 1

Cirque 3

Cirque 4

DS 1J

DS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

DS 2L

Cirque 3 & 4

Cayman 1

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

Area

%U%U

%U

%U

%U

%U %U

%U%U

%U %U

%U

%U

%U

%U

%U

$T$T$T$T $T$T

$T$T$T $T

$T$T$T

$T$T

$T

$T

$T$T

$T$T

r r r rrrr

r r

rrr r

rr rrr rr

r

r

rr

r

rr

Ñ Ñ Ñ

ÑÑÑÑ

ÑÑ

ÑÑ ÑÑ

Ñ Ñ Ñ Ñ

ÙÙÙ&V

&V

&V&V &V &V &V &V&V &V

&V

&V&V&V

&V

&V

&V&V

&V

&V

#S#S

#S#S

#S#S

#S

#S

#S #S #S#S#S #S

#S#S#S#S #S

#S#S #S

#S

#S#S#S

#S

ÊÚ ÊÚ ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ ÊÚ ÊÚ

ÊÚ ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ ÊÚ ÊÚÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ ÊÚ ÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ ÊÚ ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

#

##

ð

ðð

AntiguaExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

Area

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

Cirque 4

Cirque 3

Cayman 1

DS 1J

DS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

Cayman 1

Cirque 3 & 4

DS 2L

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles

2 0 2 4 6 Kilometers5ABR file: 2001_GKA_Expl_01-108.apr, 26 March 2002

70°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°15' 150°00' 149°45' 149°30'70

°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°15'

150°15'

150°00'

150°00'

149°45'

149°45'

149°30'

149°30'

Locations ofPre-nesting

Spectacled EidersÊÚ 2001#S 2000%U 1998$T 1997

Locations ofPre-nestingKing Eiders

$T 1997r 1996Ñ 1995Ù 1993%U

&V#S

1998199920002001ÊÚ




years other than 2000 in which surveys wereconducted, the density of Spectacled Eiders wasessentially zero. These comparisons indicate thatthe proposed GKA exploration areas support fewbreeding pairs of Spectacled Eiders, probably dueto a lack of suitable habitats and, perhaps, due tothe large distance from the coast (Johnson et al.1998).

STELLER’S EIDERS

No Steller’s Eiders have ever been recordedduring the aerial surveys in the GKA, includingwithin the four proposed exploration areas. Onepair was seen by an observer on the ground southof DS 2T in early June 2000; however, these birdsflew towards the coast shortly after they were firstobserved. A second pair was observed near DS 1Lin June 2001. Generally, observations of Steller’sEiders are rare east of the Colville River anduncommon east of their primary nesting areaaround Barrow.

KING EIDERS

King Eiders were recorded in all years inwhich aerial surveys were conducted except in1993, and in all of the proposed exploration areas, except Cirque (Table 1; Figure 4). KingEiders (2–4 indicated total birds;density = 0.12–0.35 birds/km²) occurred in theAndros area in 6 of the 8 years surveyed. KingEiders (2–4 birds, 0.52–1.04 birds/km²) wererecorded in the Antigua area only in 1996 and1997. The Cayman area had two birds (0.21–0.52birds/km² due to different survey coverage; seeAppendix A) in each of three years (1997, 2000,and 2001).

King Eiders are more numerous thanSpectacled Eiders in the GKA and are distributedthroughout most of that survey area. They aremore likely to be encountered than SpectacledEiders in the most southerly section of the GKA,but are unlikely in areas, such as Cirque, wherelakes and associated wetlands are scarce. Only twosightings of King Eiders have been recorded southof the GKA: a flying bird just south of DS 2N in1998, and one pair on the ground south of theCirque area in 2000 (Figure 4).

Densities of King Eiders calculated for theexploration areas ranged between 0 and1.04 birds/km² (based on total indicated birds).

These densities were generally lower than densitiesin the entire Kuparuk Oilfield in 2000 (0.35birds/km²; Anderson et al. 2001) and the AlpineTransportation Corridor in 1997 (0.47 birds/km²;Johnson et al. 1998), but higher than the density inthe CD North area on the Colville Delta in 2000(0.09 birds/km²; Johnson et al. 2000).

TUNDRA SWANS

NESTING TUNDRA SWANS

In the 13 years in which ABR has beenconducting aerial surveys in the GKA, swans havebeen recorded in at least one of the four explorationareas each year (Table 2, Figure 5). Numbersobserved in each of the four exploration areasranged from 1–2 swans observed in the Cirque areain 5 years; 1–4 swans observed in the Antigua areain 11 years, 2–8 swans observed in the Caymanarea in 6 years, and 1–9 swans observed in theAndros area in 9 years.

More nonbreeding swans than breeding swanswere observed in the four exploration areas, exceptin Antigua (Table 2). Densities of total swansranged from 0.02 to 0.26 swans/km² among thefour exploration areas; this range spanned that seenin the entire Kuparuk swan survey area (0.11–0.25swans/km²; Anderson et al., in prep.). Highvariability in densities is indicative of small surveyareas (16–52 km² in the case of the fourexploration areas); a change in only a few birdsmakes a large difference in densities, whereas thesame few birds affect the density of larger areas(e.g., Kuparuk swan survey area is 2,247 km²) onlyminimally.

Numbers of nests recorded within the fourexploration areas have varied among years. A nestwas observed in the Antigua area in 10 of 12 years(Table 2, Figure 5). In contrast, only one nest hasever been recorded in the Cayman area, despite 6years of observations of adult swans there, and onenest was recorded in the Cirque area during 2years. One to two swan nests were recorded inonly 5 of 12 years in the Andros area.

Nest densities among the four explorationareas varied from 0 to 0.06 nests/km² and spannedthe 12-year range of nest densities recorded in theKuparuk swan survey area (0.01–0.05 nests/km²;1989–2000; Anderson et al. 2001) and densities onthe eastern Arctic Coastal Plain (0.04–0.06



Table 2. Numbers of Tundra Swans and nests observed during June on aerial surveys of the Andros, Antigua, Cayman and Cirque areas, Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1989–2001. Only years in which swans were recorded are presented for each area.

Numbers Density (/km²)

Area/YearAdults

with Nests Nests

AdultswithoutNests

TotalSwans Swans Nests

Andros1991 1 1 0 1 0.03 0.031992 0 0 4 4 0.11 01993 2 1 3 5 0.14 0.031994 1 1 1 2 0.06 0.031996 4 2 1 5 0.14 0.061998 0 0 6 6 0.17 01999 0 0 1 1 0.03 02000 2 1 7 9 0.25 0.032001 0 0 5 5 0.14 0

Antigua1989 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.061990 1 1 0 1 0.06 0.061992 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.061993 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.061994 0 0 2 2 0.13 01995 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.061996 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.061997 1 1 0 1 0.06 0.061998 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.062000 2 1 2 4 0.26 0.062001 2 1 0 2 0.13 0.06

Cayman1990 0 0 2 2 0.07 01992 0 0 4 4 0.13 01993 0 0 3 3 0.10 01999 0 0 2 2 0.07 02000 0 0 8 8 0.26 02001 2 1 0 2 0.07 0.03

Cirque1990a 0 0 2 2 0.04 01992a 0 0 1 1 0.02 01998 2 1 0 2 0.04 0.022000 2 1 0 2 0.04 0.022001 0 0 2 2 0.04 0

a Only lake in northeastern corner of survey area covered by aerial survey.



Figure 5. Locations of Tundra Swans with nests (top) and with broods (bottom) in four exploration areas in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska during aerial surveys in June and August, 1989–2001. No brood-rearing survey was conducted in 1994.

#

##

ð

ðð

%[é

é

é

é

é#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y

#Y#Y

#Y

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

Ù Ù

ÙÙ

Ù

Ù

Ù

Ù#³

#³

#³

#³

#³

#³

ÑÑ

Ñ ÑÑ

Ñ

Ñ

ÑÑ

Ñ ÑÑ

rr

rr

rr

rr

r

r

r

rr

r

$T$T

$T

$T

$T

$T

%U%U

%U

%U%U

%U

%U%U

%U%U

%U

%U

&V&V

&V

&V

#S#S

#S

#S#S#S

#S

#S#S

#S

#S

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

Cayman 1

Cirque 4

AntiguaExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

AreaCayman

ExplorationArea

CaymanExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CirqueExploration

Area

CirqueExploration

Area

DS 1J

DS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

DS 2L

Cirque 3 & 4

Cayman 1

#

##

ð

ðð

%[

%[

é

éé

é

#Y

#Y

#Y#Y

#Y

#Y#Y

#YÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ Ù

ÙÙÙ

Ù

ÙÙÙ

Ù Ñ

Ñ

Ñ Ñ

Ñ

ÑÑ

Ñ

Ñ

r

rr

r

rr

r

r$T

$T

$T

$T

$T

$T

%U%U

%U

%U

%U

%U%U%U

%U %U

%U

%U

%U

&V &V

&V &V

&V

&V

&V

#S

#S#S#S

#S

#S#S

#S #S

#S

#S

ÊÚ ÊÚÊÚÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ

ÊÚ ÊÚ

ÊÚ

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

Area

Cayman 1

Cirque 3

Cirque 4

DS 1J

DS 2G

DS 2K

DS 2P

DS 2N

DS 2L

Cirque 3 & 4

Cayman 1

CirqueExploration

Area

AndrosExploration

Area

CaymanExploration

Area

AntiguaExploration

Area

1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles

2 0 2 4 6 Kilometers5ABR file: 2001_GKA_Expl_01-108.apr, 26 March 2002

70°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°15' 150°00' 149°45' 149°30'70

°5' 70°5'

70°10' 70°10'

70°15' 70°15'

150°15'

150°15'

150°00'

150°00'

149°45'

149°45'

149°30'

149°30'

Tundra Swan NestsÊÚ 2001#S 2000&V 1999%U 1998$T 1997r 1996Ñ 1995

#³ 1994Ù 1993ÊÚ 1992#Y 1991é 1990%[ 1989ð

ProposedExploratoryWell Sites

Tundra Swan BroodsÊÚ 2001#S 2000&V 1999%U 1998$T 1997r 1996

Ñ 1995Ù 1993ÊÚ 1992#Y 1991é 1990%[ 1989



nests/km²; Platte and Brackney 1987), but wereslightly lower than the 7-year range of nestdensities recorded on the Colville Delta (range =0.03–0.08 nests/km²; 1992–1993, 1995–1998, and2000; Johnson et al. 2000). The same cautionabout density comparisons between small and largeareas noted above applies here. Three of theexploration areas (Andros, Antigua, and Cayman)are on the margins of suitable swan nesting habitatin the Kuparuk swan survey area (Stickney et al., inpress). The Cirque area largely consists of habitatthat is unsuitable for nesting swans, with the

exception of the large lake in the northeasterncorner.

TUNDRA SWAN BROODS

Based on 12 years of aerial surveys (no surveywas conducted in 1994), Tundra Swans duringbrood-rearing used at least one of the fourexploration areas each year surveys wereconducted (Table 3, Figure 5). Similar to thenesting surveys, swans were recorded more often,and generally in greater numbers, within theAndros and Antigua areas, than in the Cayman and

Table 3. Numbers of Tundra Swans, young and broods observed during August on aerial surveys of the Andros, Antigua, Cayman and Cirque areas, Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska, 1989–1993 and 1995–2001. Only years in which swans were recorded are presented for each area.

Numbers Density (/km²)

Area/Year

Adultswith

Broods Young Broods

AdultswithoutBroods

TotalAdults

TotalSwans

MeanBroodSize

AdultSwans Broods

Andros1989 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.06 01992 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0.03 01993 4 4 2 0 4 8 2.0 0.11 0.061995 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.06 01996 2 1 1 0 2 3 1.0 0.06 0.031997 2 2 1 7 9 11 2.0 0.25 0.031998 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.06 02000 4 5 2 10 14 19 2.5 0.39 0.062001 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.06 0

Antigua1990 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.13 01991 2 2 1 0 2 4 2.0 0.13 0.061992 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0.06 01993 2 4 1 0 2 6 4.0 0.13 0.061995 4 6 2 0 4 10 3.0 0.26 0.131996 2 3 1 0 2 5 3.0 0.13 0.061997 0 0 0 3 3 3 0 0.19 01999 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.13 02001 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.13 0

Cayman1993 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.07 01995 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.04 0

Cirque1989 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.04 01999 0 0 0 4 4 4 0 0.08 02000 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0.02 02001 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 0.04 0

Summary and Conclusions


Cirque areas. Swans with broods have never beenrecorded in either the Cayman and Cirque areasduring our surveys. In contrast, 1–2 broods wereseen in both Andros and Antigua in 4 of 12 years.Mean brood size was 2.4 young/brood (range =1–4, n = 11), which was similar to the 12-yearmean of 2.5 young/brood recorded in the Kuparukswan survey area (Anderson et al. 2001).

In addition to brood-rearing groups, swanswithout broods were recorded in one or more of theexploration areas in all years (Table 3). Likebrood-rearing swans, nonbreeders were recordedmore often in the Andros and Antigua areas.Andros had 1–10 nonbreeders in 7 of 12 years, butAntigua supported only 1–3 nonbreeders in 5 of 12years. In the Cayman area, nonbreeders (2 eachyear) were seen in only 2 of the 12 years, whereas1–4 nonbreeders were recorded in the Cirque areain 4 survey years.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Although surveys were not conductedspecifically in the four proposed exploration areasduring summer 2001, current and past surveysconducted in Kuparuk River Unit, Cairn, Tarn, andMeltwater areas provided a multi-year dataset onSpectacled Eider and Tundra Swan use of theseareas. The four proposed exploration areas in thesouthern portion of the GKA support low, andannually variable, numbers of Spectacled Eiderscompared to the entire Kuparuk Oilfield and theColville River Delta. Only two Spectacled Eidershave ever been seen on the ground in 8 years ofsurveys that encompassed the exploration areas.Suitable habitat for nesting is limited in theexploration areas, therefore, we would not expectmuch use by Spectacled Eiders there. These fourexploration areas are also at the margin of suitablehabitat for nesting Tundra Swans. Andros andAntigua contain the most suitable habitat for swansand this suitability was reflected in the consistentpresence of nesting, brood-rearing, andnonbreeding swans in these areas. The Caymanarea has supported mostly nonbreeding swans andgenerally only early in the summer. The onlysuitable area for swans in the Cirque area is thelake in the northeastern corner, but so far, only onenest and no broods have been recorded there.

LITERATURE CITED

Anderson, B. A. 2000. Cairn aviansurveys—1998. Unpublished report preparedfor ARCO Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 5 pp.

Anderson, B. A., and B. A. Cooper. 1994.Distribution and abundance of SpectacledEiders in the Kuparuk and Milne Pointoilfields, Alaska, 1993. Final report preparedfor ARCO Alaska, Inc., and the KuparukRiver Unit, Anchorage, by Alaska BiologicalResearch, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 71 pp.

Anderson, B. A. and C. B. Johnson. 1999.Baseline avian surveys in four lease blockswithin the National PetroleumReserve–Alaska, 1999. Final report preparedfor ARCO Alaska, Inc. by ABR, Inc.,Fairbanks, AK. 18 pp.

Anderson, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, and A. A. Stickney.1996. Avian studies in the Kuparuk Oilfield,Alaska, 1995. Final report prepared forARCO Alaska, Inc., and the Kuparuk RiverUnit, Anchorage, by ABR, Inc., Fairbanks,AK. 69 pp.

Anderson, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, A. A. Stickney, andA. M. Wildman. 1998a. Avian studies in theKuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, 1997. Final reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., and theKuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, by ABR,Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 69 pp.

Anderson, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, A. A. Stickney, andA. M. Wildman. 1999. Avian studies in theKuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, 1998. Final reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., and theKuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, by ABR,Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 100 pp.

Anderson, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, A. A. Stickney, andA. M. Wildman. 2000. Avian studies in theKuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, 1999. Final reportprepared for PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc., and theKuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, AK, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 91 pp.

Literature Cited


Anderson, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, A. A. Stickney, andA. M. Wildman. 2001. Avian studies in theKuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, 2000. Final reportprepared for PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc., and theKuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, AK, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 88 pp.

Anderson, B. A., R. J. Ritchie, A. A. Stickney, andA. M. Wildman. In prep. Avian studies in theKuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, 2001. Draft reportprepared for PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc., and theKuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, AK, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 120 pp.

Anderson, B. A., J. E. Roth, B. E. Lawhead, and C.B. Johnson. 1998b. Environmental studies inthe Tarn Development Area, Alaska, 1997.Final report prepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc.,and the Kuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks. AK.

Anderson, B. A., A. A. Stickney, and R. J. Ritchie.1997. Avian studies in the Kuparuk Oilfield,Alaska, 1996. Final report prepared forARCO Alaska, Inc., and the Kuparuk RiverUnit, Anchorage, by ABR, Inc., Fairbanks,AK. 70 pp.

Anderson, B. A., A. A. Stickney, R. J. Ritchie, andB. A. Cooper. 1995. Avian studies in theKuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, 1994. Final reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., and theKuparuk River Unit, Anchorage, by ABR,Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 29 pp.

Bergman, R. D., R. L. Howard, K. F. Abraham, andM. W. Weller. 1977. Waterbirds and theirwetland resources in relation to oildevelopment at Storkersen Point, Alaska.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ResourcePublication. No. 129. 38 pp.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 1998.Northeast National PetroleumReserve–Alaska: Final Integrated ActivityPlan / Environmental Impact Statement. Vol.1. U.S. Dep. Interior, Bureau of LandManagement and Minerals ManagementService, Anchorage, AK.

Burgess, R. M., M. T. Jorgenson, J. E. Roth, B. E.Lawhead, B. A. Anderson, C. B. Johnson, andS. M. Murphy. 2000. Environmental Studiesin the Meltwater Development Area, 2000.Final report prepared for PHILLIPS Alaska,Inc., Anchorage, AK, by ABR, Inc.,Fairbanks, AK. 69 pp.

Caughley, G. 1974. Bias in aerial survey. Journalof Wildlife Management 38: 921–933.

Day, R. H., R. J. Ritchie, and D. A. Flint. 1995.Spectacled and Steller’s eider surveys atremote Air Force sites in Alaska, 1994.Unpublished report prepared for EAEngineering, Science, and Technology,Redmond, WA, and The United States AirForce, Elmendorf AFB, AK by ABR, Inc.,Fairbanks, AK. 81 pp.

Derksen, D. V., T. C. Rothe, and W. D. Eldridge.1981. Use of wetland habitats by birds in theNational Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service ResourcePublication No. 141. 25 pp.

Dickson, D. L., R. C. Cotter, J. E. Hines, and M. F.Kay. 1997. Distribution and abundance ofKing Eiders in the western Canadian Arctic.Pages 29–39 in Dickson, D. L. (ed.). Kingand Common Eiders of the western CanadianArctic. Environment Canada, CanadianWildlife Service, Ottawa. Occasional PaperNo. 94.

Johnson, C. B. 1995. Abundance and distributionof eiders on the Colville River Delta, Alaska,1994. Final report prepared for ARCOAlaska, Inc., Anchorage, by ABR, Inc.,Fairbanks, AK. 12 pp.

Johnson, C. B and A. A. Stickney. 2001. Aviansurveys for Exploration sites within theNational Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, 2001.Final report prepared for PHILLIPS Alaska,Inc., Anchorage, AK, by ABR, Inc.,Fairbanks, AK. 16 pp

Johnson, C. B., R. M. Burgess, B. E. Lawhead, J.R. Rose, A. A. Stickney, and A. M. Wildman.2000. Wildlife studies in the CD North studyarea, 2000. Final report prepared forPHILLIPS Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 96 pp.

Literature Cited


Johnson, C. B., B. E. Lawhead, J. R. Rose, A. A.Stickney, and A. M. Wildman. 1997.Wildlife studies on the Colville River Delta ,Alaska, 1996. Fifth annual report preparedfor ARCO Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, by ABR,Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 138 p.

Johnson, C. B., B. E. Lawhead, J. R. Rose, M. D.Smith, A. A. Stickney, and A. M. Wildman.1998. Wildlife studies on the Colville RiverDelta , Alaska, 1997. Sixth annual reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., Anchorage,by ABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 144 pp.

Johnson, C. B., B. E. Lawhead, J. R. Rose, M. D.Smith, A. A. Stickney, and A. M. Wildman.1999. Wildlife studies on the Colville RiverDelta , Alaska, 1998. Seventh annual reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., Anchorage,by ABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 102 pp.

Johnson, S. R., and D. R. Herter. 1989. The birdsof the Beaufort Sea. BP Exploration (Alaska)Inc., Anchorage. 372 pp.

Jorgenson, M. T., J. E. Roth, E. R. Pullman, R. M.Burgess, M. K. Raynolds, A. A. Stickney, M.D. Smith, and T. M. Zimmer. 1997. Anecological land survey for the Colville RiverDelta , Alaska, 1996. Final report preparedfor ARCO Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK, byABR, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 160 pp.

Kertell, K. 1991. Disappearance of the Steller’sEider from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta,Alaska. Arctic 44: 177–187.

King, J.G. 1973. The use of small airplanes togather swan data in Alaska. Wildfowl 24:15–20.

Larned, W., R. Platte, and R. Stehn. 2001. Eiderbreeding population survey, Alaska ArcticCoastal Plain, Alaska, 1999-2000. Unpub.rep., by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Migratory Bird Management, Anchorage,AK. 20 pp. + figures pp.

Murphy, S. M., and B. A. Anderson. 1993.Lisburne Terrestrial Monitoring Program:The effects of the Lisburne DevelopmentProject on geese and swans, 1985–1989.Final synthesis report prepared for ARCOAlaska, Inc., Anchorage, by Alaska BiologicalResearch, Inc., Fairbanks. 202 pp.

Murphy, S. M. and A.A. Stickney. 2000. BaselineAvian Surveys within the National PetroleumReserve—Alaska, 2000. Final reportprepared for PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc.,Anchorage, AK, by ABR, Inc., Fairbanks,AK. 28 pp.

North, M. R., J. L. Schwerin, and G. A. Hiemenz.1984. Waterbird studies on the Colville RiverDelta, Alaska: 1984 summary report. U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK.18 pp.

Pennycuick, C. J., and D. Western. 1972. Aninvestigation of some sources of bias in aerialtransect sampling of large mammalpopulations. East African Wildlife. Journal10: 175–191.

Platte, R. M., and A. W. Brackney. 1987. TundraSwan surveys. Pages 16–17 in G. W. Garnerand P. E. Reynolds, eds. Arctic NationalWildlife Refuge coastal plain resourceassessment, 1985 update report — Baselinestudy of fish, wildlife, and their habitats. U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK.

Quakenbush, L., and J. Cochrane. 1993. Reporton the conservation status of the Steller'sEider (Polysticta stelleri), a candidatethreatened and endangered species. Reportwith recommendations for listing as athreatened species submitted by U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, Ecological Services,Fairbanks, Alaska, and Anchorage, Alaska, toU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office ofEndangered Species, Washington, D.C. 26pp.

Quakenbush, L., R. Suydam, K. M. Fluetsch, andC. L. Donaldson. 1995. Breeding biology ofSteller’s Eiders nesting near Barrow, Alaska,1991–1994. Unpublished report prepared byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks,AK. 53 pp.

Literature Cited


Ritchie, R. J., P. W. Banyas, A. A. Stickney, R. M.Burgess, and J. G. King. 1990. Tundra Swanand Brant surveys on the Arctic Coastal Plain,Colville River to Staines River, 1989. Finalreport prepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., andBP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Anchorage,AK, by Alaska Biological Research, Inc.,Fairbanks, AK. 138 pp.

Ritchie, R. J., J. G. King, and P. W. Banyas. 1989.Aerial waterfowl surveys in the KuparukRiver Unit and Oil and Gas Lease Sale 54.Unpublished report prepared for ARCO,Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK, by AlaskaBiological Research, Inc., Fairbanks, AK.26 pp.

Ritchie, R. J., A. A. Stickney, P. W. Banyas, and J.G. King. 1991. Tundra Swan and Brantsurveys on the Arctic Coastal Plain, ColvilleRiver to Staines River, 1990. Final reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc. and BPExploration (Alaska) Inc., Anchorage, AK, byAlaska Biological Research, Inc., Fairbanks,AK. 103 pp.

Rothe, T. C., C. J. Markon, L. L. Hawkins, and P.S. Koehl. 1983. Waterbird populations andhabitats of the Colville River Delta , Alaska.1981 Summary Report. U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, Special Studies, Anchorage, Alaska.67 pp.

Simpson, S. G., J. Barzen, L. Hawkins, and T.Pogson. 1982. Waterbird studies on theColville River Delta, Alaska: 1982 summaryreport U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Anchorage, AK. 24 pp.

Smith, L. N., L. C. Byrne, C. B. Johnson, and A. A.Stickney. 1994. Wildlife studies on theColville River Delta , Alaska, 1993. Finalreport prepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc.,Anchorage, Alaska, by Alaska BiologicalResearch, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 95 p.

Stickney, A. A., B. A. Anderson, R. J. Ritchie, andJ. G. King. In press. Spatial distribution,habitat characteristics and nest-site selectionby Tundra Swans on the Central ArcticCoastal Plain, northern Alaska. Waterbirdsxx: xxx-xxx.

Stickney, A. A., R. J. Ritchie, B. A. Anderson, andD. A. Flint. 1993. Tundra Swan and Brantsurveys on the Arctic Coastal Plain, ColvilleRiver to Sagavanirktok River, 1993. Finalreport prepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc.,Anchorage, AK, by Alaska BiologicalResearch, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 83 pp.

Stickney, A. A., R. J. Ritchie, B. A. Anderson, andD. A. Flint. 1994. Tundra Swan and Brantsurveys on the Arctic Coastal Plain, ColvilleRiver to Sagavanirktok River, 1993. Finalreport prepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc.,Anchorage, AK, by Alaska BiologicalResearch, Inc., Fairbanks, AK. 62 pp.

Stickney, A. A., R. J. Ritchie, P. W. Banyas, and J.G. King. 1992. Tundra Swan and Brantsurveys on the Arctic Coastal Plain, ColvilleRiver to Staines River, 1991. Final reportprepared for ARCO Alaska, Inc., and BPExploration (Alaska) Inc., Anchorage, AK, byAlaska Biological Research, Inc., Fairbanks,AK. 81 pp.

Troy, D. M. 1988. Bird use of the Prudhoe BayOil Field during the 1986 nesting season.Report prepared for Alaska Oil and GasAssociation., Anchorage, by LGL AlaskaResearch Associates, Anchorage. 96 pp.

Troy Ecological Research Associates (TERA).1996. Distribution and abundance ofSpectacled Eiders in the vicinity of PrudhoeBay, Alaska: 1995 status report. Unpublishedreport to BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.,Anchorage. 17 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1987a.Standard operating procedures for aerialwaterfowl breeding ground population andhabitat surveys in North America.Unpublished report, Migratory Bird andHabitat Research Laboratory, Patuxent Wildl.Res. Center, Laurel, MD. 96 pp.

USFWS. 1987b. Trumpeter and Tundra swansurvey protocol update. Unpublished memoprepared by Office of Migratory BirdManagement, Juneau, AK. 8 pp.

Literature Cited


USFWS. 1991. Trumpeter and Tundra swansurvey protocol. Unpublished memo preparedby Office of Migratory Bird Management,Juneau, AK. 4 pp.

USFWS. 1996. Spectacled Eider Recovery Plan.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage,AK. 157 pp.

USFWS. 1998. Steller’s Eider Draft RecoveryPlan. Preliminary draft, Ecological Services,Fairbanks, AK.

Walker, D.A., K. R. Everett, P. J. Everett, P. J.Webber, and J. Brown. 1980. Geobotanicalatlas of the Prudhoe Bay region, Alaska.CRREL Report. 80–14, U. S. Army Corps ofEngineers Cold Regions Research andEngineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH. 69 pp.

Warnock, N. D., and D. M. Troy. 1992.Distribution and abundance of SpectacledEiders at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: 1991.Unpublished report by Troy EcologicalResearch Associates to BP Exploration(Alaska) Inc., Anchorage, AK. 21 pp.

Appendices


Appendix A. The extent of coverage of the four proposed exploration areas in each year by the aerial surveys for Spectacled Eiders in the Greater Kuparuk Area, Alaska. nc = no coverage.

Exploration Area

Year Andros Antigua Cayman Cirque

1993 50% nc 50% nc1995 N ¼: 50%; S ¾: 25% 25% N ¼: 50%; S ¾: 25% nc1996 N ¼: 50%; S ¾: 25% 25% N ¼: 50%; S ¾: 25% nc1997 100% 25% N ¼: 50%; S ¾: 25% nc1998 50% 25% N ¼: 50% 50%1999 50% nc N ¼: 50% nc2000 50% nc N ¼: 50% 50%2001 50% nc N ¼: 50% 50%

Appendices


Appendix B. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service protocol for determining indicated total birds from aerial breeding-pair surveys.

For aerial surveys of Spectacled Eiders, we calculated the density of the “indicated total

breeding population” using the USFWS (1987a) breeding population survey protocol:

Total indicated birds = (lone males × 2) + (flocked males × 2) + (pairs × 2) + (group total × 1).

Each of these categories is defined in the USFWS protocol:

1) “lone males” are single, isolated males without a visible associated female;

2) “flocked males” are two or more males in close association (limited to 2–4 males per

flock; no females in the flock);

3) a “pair” is a male and female in close association; and

4) a “group” is three or more of a mixed-sex grouping of the same species in close

association, which cannot be separated into singles or pairs (one female with two males was

considered to be a pair and a lone male, and one female with three males was considered to be a

pair and two lone males).

Lone females are not counted using this protocol, because it is assumed they are accounted for by

doubling the count of lone males. Flying birds are counted only if their flight originated or

terminated within the transect boundaries; because we were unable to determine this on our

survey, we have excluded all flying birds from the FWS calculations. The USFWS also uses a

sightability correction factor of 3.58 to adjust actual counts for the probable number of eiders

missed by observers (sightability is defined as “the probability that an animal within the

observer’s field of search will be seen by that observer” [Caughley 1974: 923]). We do not

present totals or densities adjusted using this correction factor because there is some question as

to whether this correction factor, which was developed for surveys on the Yukon-Kuskokwim

Delta, is applicable to the Arctic Coastal Plain.

avian surveys in four exploration areas in the greater ... surveys in four exploration areas in the...

Documents