Seventy-one species of shorebirds have occurred in Alaska with 39 of these recorded in the Nushagak Bay and northern Bristol Bay areas. Many of these shorebirds breed here while others pass through on their spring or fall migrations.

Most of these shorebirds migrate south of the U.S.-Mexico border for the winter, however, some of these shorebird species also migrate through Asiatic routes to places like Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. And, there are 6 shorebird species that are present in Alaska year-round. Some of the more distant migratory shorebirds will travel up to 10,000 miles between their wintering grounds and their breeding grounds.

Shorebirds generally use a wide variety of open habitats for breeding, but are mostly found along coastal areas during staging and migratory stopovers.

Most of the world’s population of 8 shorebird species or subspecies occur entirely within Alaska during the breeding season. Some of these shorebirds are found in the Bristol Bay area either during breeding or migration.

Shorebirds are incredible little birds and I hope you are as intrigued by them as I am. For Field Notes, I’m Rob MacDonald.