Arctic News 2006

Field Assistant A.Leist with a Red-necked Phalarope

September 22, 2006  -- The Wildlife Conservation Society has just completed its fifth year of field work on wildlife in Alaska’s arctic coastal plain, and its second season near Teshekpuk Lake in the largest single piece of public land in the United States, the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A).  We are working with many partners to identify key regions for wildlife conservation, and to understand how existing oil development may affect wildlife so as to help direct the management of these important areas. 

Teshekpuk Lake, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska

Arctic Alaska contains one of the great wildlife spectacles on earth.  The coastal plain is an important nursery for birds that migrate from every continent and every ocean to breed there.  Our ongoing studies are indicating that the Teshekpuk region contains comparatively high diversity, high density, and high productivity of shorebirds, the most diverse group of all wildlife in the arctic.  Aerial surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service make clear that many other species, like yellow-billed loons, eiders, geese, and  swans are also in great numbers near Teshekpuk.  This is also the calving area for the 45,000-strong Teshekpuk caribou herd.

We are hoping to secure real protection for this region in advance of the oil development set to expand westward from the existing oil fields near Deadhorse, including most of the area around Teshepuk Lake (see map). We feel that responsible oil development in the 23.5 million acre NPR-A should include a clear plan to protect key wildlife areas.   
   

Avian Flu and Migratory Birds in Prudhoe Bay

In addition to our work in the NPR-A we collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to examine key migratory shorebirds for the presence of avian flu (the Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus).  Arctic Alaska brings together migratory populations from several flyways, including Asia where the H5N1 virus is clearly present.  To date, there is no indication that wild birds in Alaska are carrying the virus.

WCS is also involved in a large collaboration with BP, ConocoPhillips, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences and others to examine the connection between oil and human infrastructure, the noted increases in nest predators (arctic fox, ravens, and gulls), and the effect on nesting bird populations.  Results from this four-year effort are being assessed now.

                                          Cackling Geese, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Arctic Alaska is changing dramatically and this once-remote haven for wildlife is at risk.  The Arctic climate is changing in pronounced ways than anywhere else.  Polar bears are clearly at risk; the changes for migratory animals are as of yet unclear, but certainly unsettling.  Concerns about avian flu are a reminder of the importance of this remote location as a breeding ground for millions of birds that winter in all of our backyards.  Energy development, both oil and gas, is set to expand markedly.  We at WCS are seeking to understand how migratory bird conservation is best achieved in this time of growing development and shifting climates. 

The Wildlife Conservation Society played a leading role in creating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  We remained committed to bringing good science and effective wildlife conservation to America’s arctic, the nesting home for birds from all over the world.