Smith's Longspur male in the Arctic Refuge. USFWS photo

Map of Smith's Longspur winter and breeding ranges. USFWS map

A chilly biologist at 3am on Smith's Longspur breeding habitat in Arctic Refuge. USFWS photo

As the only National Wildlife Refuge in the United States with a significant breeding population of Smith’s Longspurs, the Arctic Refuge plays a role in understanding the birds’ breeding biology. That’s important because these little birds are recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a species of concern—they have a small total population and they winter in a limited area in the south-central United States where they may be vulnerable to land-use changes.

Research in Canada has shown that these birds exhibit an unusual breeding strategy where each female mates with one to three males and each male mates with one to three females. The chicks in each nest are from one female but individual chicks have different fathers. Because their young are distributed between a number of nests, several males may feed chicks in a single nest, and each male may feed chicks in a number of nests.

Little is known about Smith’s Longspurs on their summer breeding grounds in Alaska, but that is changing. Arctic Refuge biologists, in partnership with other federal agencies and the University of Alaska, studied Smith’s Longspurs during the summers of 2006 and 2007, and two additional years of study are planned.

To study Smith’s Longspurs, Refuge biologists overcame challenges of cold, snowy summer weather, harassment from grizzly bears,  numerous biting insects, and long, arduous climbs up steep cliff faces.  Bird observations began at 3 a.m. daily.  Colored leg-bands were attached to monitor birds’ behavior and determine which birds associated with which nests. Chest swabs were used to collect genetic material from chicks and adults. All these efforts are resulting in a clearer understanding of the breeding behavior and habitat requirements of these uncommon birds and the importance to them of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.