Tetlin

X U X U R R X R ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ U ___________ W R __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ C C C U C X R X X Footnotes Common Name Sp S F Townsend’s Warbler* R R R Blackpoll Warbler R R R American Redstart X Northern Waterthrush* U U U Common Yellowthroat* R Wilson’s Warbler* U U U American Tree Sparrow* U U U Chipping Sparrow* R U R Clay-colored Sparrow X Brewer’s “Timberline” Sparrow* R Lark Sparrow X Savannah Sparrow* U U U Fox Sparrow* U C U Song Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow* U U U White-throated Sparrow X Golden-crowned Sparrow R R R White-crowned Sparrow* C C C Dark-eyed Junco* C C C Lapland Longspur C R Smith’s Longspur* R Snow Bunting C R Red-winged Blackbird* R U R Western Meadowlark X Rusty Blackbird* C C C Brown-headed Cowbird X X X Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch X X Pine Grosbeak* U R R Purple Finch X White-winged Crossbill* U U U Common Redpoll* C U U Hoary Redpoll R X Pine Siskin X X X W Notes U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge X Ethics for Birders X X X R Boreal Owl, Jennifer Smith/USFWS ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Common Name Sp S F Black-backed Woodpecker* R R R Northern Flicker* C C U Olive-sided Flycatcher* R U R Western Wood-Pewee* R U R Yellow-bellied Flycatcher* X R X Alder Flycatcher* R C U Least Flycatcher X Hammond’s Flycatcher R R R Say’s Phoebe* R R R Northern Shrike* R X R Warbling Vireo X Gray Jay* C C C Black-billed Magpie* U R U Common Raven* C C C Horned Lark* U R Tree Swallow* C U Violet-green Swallow* C C Bank Swallow* R U R Cliff Swallow* C C R Barn Swallow* X X Black-capped Chickadee* U U U Boreal Chickadee* C C C Gray-headed Chickadee X X Red-breasted Nuthatch X X X Brown Creeper X X X American Dipper R R R Golden-crowned Kinglet X Ruby-crowned Kinglet* C C C Arctic Warbler X X Northern Wheatear X Mountain Bluebird* R X X Townsend’s Solitaire* R R X Gray-cheeked Thrush* R R R Swainson’s Thrush* U C U Hermit Thrush* U U U American Robin* C C C Varied Thrush* U U U European Starling* X X White (Black-backed) Wagtail X American Pipit* U R U Bohemian Waxwing* U U U Tennessee Warbler* X X Orange-crowned Warbler* U U U Yellow Warbler* R U U Yellow-rumped “Myrtle” Warbler* C C C Use caution and restrain when observing or photographing birds to minimize disturbance. Disturbing nesting birds will increase the chance of exposing eggs or young to extreme temperatures and predation. Bird Checklist Remain well back from roosts, display areas and feeding sites. Stay on roads, trails and paths where they exist; otherwise try to minimize disturbance to habitat. X X X R C C R + Phylogenetic sequence and common names follow The A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds (7th ed, 1998) and supplements. Information used to compile this list comes from daily checklists kept for the Refuge and Tok area from 1990 to 1996, and data from long-term breeding bird surveys, offroad point counts, fall migration banding, Christmas bird counts, phenology counts, and incidental observations made through 2006. Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 779 Tok, Alaska 99780 907/883 5312 907/883 5747 Fax http://tetlin.fws.gov U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov Federal Relay 1 800/877 8339 Voice and TTY September 2007 Peregrine Falcon, USFWS ___________ W Varied Thrush, USFWS ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Common Name Sp S F Greater Yellowlegs X Lesser Yellowlegs* C C C Upland Sandpiper* R R Whimbrel* R R Hudsonian Godwit X Ruddy Turnstone X Black Turnstone X Surfbird X X Semipalmated Sandpiper U R U Western Sandpiper R R Least Sandpiper* U U U Baird’s Sandpiper R X Pectoral Sandpiper U X Buff-breasted Sandpiper X Short-billed Dowitcher X Long-billed Dowitcher U R U Wilson’s Snipe* U C U Red-necked Phalarope* U U U Black-headed Gull X Bonaparte’s Gull* C C U Mew Gull* C C U Herring Gull R R R Glaucous-winged Gull X Glaucous Gull X Sabine’s Gull X Black Tern X Arctic Tern* U C R Parasitic Jaeger X Long-tailed Jaeger X Rock Pigeon X X X Band-tailed Pigeon X Great Horned Owl* U U U Snowy Owl Northern Hawk Owl* U U U Great Gray Owl* R R R Short-eared Owl* R X R Boreal Owl* R R R Common Nighthawk X X Anna’s Hummingbird X Rufous Hummingbird X Belted Kingfisher* U U U Yellow-bellied Sapsucker* X X Red-breasted Sapsucker X Downy Woodpecker X X Hairy Woodpecker* R R R American Three-toed Woodpecker* U U U Checking the List We Need Your Help Tetlin Refuge hosts an increasing number of Trumpeter Swans that nest near isolated refuge lakes and ponds. The Refuge is also within the northern breeding range of several species, including Red-winged Blackbird, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Blue-winged Teal. During the short summer season, a rich banquet of plants, insects and invertebrates provides food for nesting birds and their young. Protection of these valued habitats, and the continued breeding success of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds, are primary goals of the Refuge. The Seasons Spring This checklist includes 190 bird species+ that are known to occur in the Tanana Valley from the Robertson River to the White River drainage on the Alaska/Canada border. Summer Your observations can play an important role in keeping this checklist updated. Please report unique or unusual sightings to Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, 907/883 5312 or P.O. Box 779 Tok, AK 99780 or tetlin@fws.gov. Fall Spring and fall are the best times to see the greatest variety of species. Good places to observe waterfowl from the Alaska Highway are on lakes at mileposts 1221.6, 1267, 1289, and by boat on Desper and Scottie creeks (access is available at mileposts 1223-1225). Winter (March, April, May) Increased daylight and warming temperatures in March bring early migrants such as Snow Bunting, Golden Eagle, and Bald Eagle. These are followed closely by Mallard, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Lapland Longspur. The first water birds are attracted to thawing streams and ponds in late April along with a few landbirds. Spring migration peaks in mid-May, with shorebirds and many songbirds. Abundance Wilson’s Warbler, USFWS Summer Homes Sandhill Crane, USFWS Imagine millions of birds making the long, arduous journey to Alaska each year with a single purpose – to breed and raise young. Within a few short months, adults and their offspring will set out again to travel great distances back to their wintering grounds in the lower 48 states and Central and South America. Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge lies along this major migration corridor and is a crucial stop for these winged migrants. For some, like the Sandhill Crane, Tetlin may be a needed stop before they continue west as far as eastern Siberia. For others, like the Trumpeter Swan, it will be their summer home. Tetlin Refuge’s 730,000 acres of wetlands, lakes, and forests are nestled within Alaska’s Upper Tanana Valley. The area was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1980 because it is so vital to North America’s migrating birds. In 2007, the Refuge and the surrounding Valley received special designation as an Important Bird Area. American Wigeon, USFWS Trumpeter Swan, Steve Hillebrand/USFWS The Long Journey C Common – Usually present in considerable numbers. Widely distributed and relatively easy to detect. U Uncommon – Usually present in relatively small or moderate numbers and often unevenly distributed. Not regularly observed. (June & July) The breeding season in Alaska is relatively short. The majority of birds nest in June, and most young have hatched by July. By late July, some shorebirds begin their migration south. (Late August, September, October) Young birds grow quickly and are ready to migrate in late August and early September. Peak migration for most raptors and Sandhill Cranes occurs between mid and late September. Tundra and Trumpeter Swans usually move through in early October. By the end of October mostly resident species remain. (November, December, January, February) Only the hardiest species such as Boreal Chickadees, Black-billed Magpies, and Common Redpolls remain to endure winter temperatures that seldom rise above 0° F, with prolonged periods below -40° F. This checklist will give you an idea of what species you might encounter on the Refuge and in the Upper Tanana Valley area. Abundance can vary greatly from year to year and even within a season. There are 120 species listed as confirmed or probable breeders, each noted with an *. R Rare – Present annually in very small numbers or locally distributed. Not frequently encountered. X Casual/Accidental – Do not occur annually. Species is beyond normal range and may not occur again. ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Common Name Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Brant Canada Goose* Tundra Swan Trumpeter Swan* Gadwall* Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon* Mallard* Blue-winged Teal* Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler* Northern Pintail* Green-winged Teal* Canvasback* Redhead* Ring-necked Duck* Greater Scaup* Sp S F W C X C X X X X C R C C X C C C C X R X X C C C C C C X R R R X U U U C U C C C C U U U R X U C U R X ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Common Name Sp S F Lesser Scaup* C C C Harlequin Duck* X X X Surf Scoter* U U U White-winged Scoter* C C C Long-tailed Duck R R X Bufflehead* U C U Common Goldeneye* U U U Barrow’s Goldeneye* U U U Common Merganser R R R Red-breasted Merganser X Ruddy Duck* X R X Ruffed Grouse* U U U Spruce Grouse* U U U Willow Ptarmigan* U U U Rock Ptarmigan* R R R White-tailed Ptarmigan X X Sharp-tailed Grouse* U U U Red-throated Loon X X X Pacific Loon* U C U Common Loon* R R R Horned Grebe* C C C Red-necked Grebe* U U U Double-crested Cormorant X Turkey Vulture X Osprey* U U U Bald Eagle* U U U Northern Harrier* U U U Sharp-shinned Hawk* U U U Northern Goshawk* R R R Swainson’s Hawk X X Red-tailed Hawk* U U U Rough-legged Hawk U U Golden Eagle* U R U American Kestrel* U U U Merlin* R R R Gyrfalcon* R R R Peregrine Falcon* R U R Sora* X R American Coot* X R X Sandhill Crane* C U C Black-bellied Plover X X American Golden-Plover* U R Semipalmated Plover* U U U Killdeer* X X X Spotted Sandpiper* U C U Solitary Sandpiper* U U U Wandering Tattler* R W X U U U R U X R X