Part 9

+Ereunetes pusillus+ (Linnaeus): Semipalmated sandpiper.--Specimens, 28: Barrier Lake, NE Teshekpuk Lake, 153 deg.05'40", 70 deg.39'40", 8 ft., 4, Nos. 30692-30695 including 3 juv. males and 1 juv. female, July 30, August 1, 3, 1951; Topagaruk River, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34', 10 ft., 21, Nos. 30682, 30683, 30696-30714 including 12 ad. males and 9 ad. females, July 6-9, 1951; Kaolak River, 159 deg.47'40", 70 deg.11'15", 30 ft., 3, Nos. 30689-30691 including 2 ad. males and 1 ad. of unknown sex, July 12, 14, 15, 1951.

Eleven adult males and nine adult females shot at Topagaruk from July 5-10, 1951, weighed 29(22-30) and 28(25-31) grams, respectively. The greatest length of skulls of each of the above sexes averaged 39.2 mm. The shortest juvenile, having a skull measuring 35.9 mm long, was a male shot at Kaolak River on July 15, 1951. Juveniles shot at Teshekpuk Lake on August 1 and 3, 1951, averaged 25 grams in weight and 28.4 mm in greatest length of skull. Testes of adults decreased in size from an average of 4 mm on July 6, to an average of 2 mm on July 14. Testes of juveniles on August 3 averaged 1.3 mm in length. The ovaries of seven adults from Topagaruk, shot on July 8 and 9, averaged 2.4 mm in length and the average diameter of the largest ovum was 7/10 mm.

A nest of four eggs, first examined on July 5, 1951, 1/4 mile southeast of the Arctic Research Laboratory, was abandoned on July 11.

At Topagaruk (July 7, 1951) we flushed several adult semipalmated sandpipers whose behavior suggested that they were nesting. Two days later one nest held newly hatched young. This species was third in abundance there, adults constituting 15 per cent of the avian population. They were numerous on polygons having low centers and on high windswept knolls in association with black-bellied plovers, ruddy turnstones and pectoral sandpipers. The call resembled that of the Hammond flycatcher and was accompanied by wing vibration.

At Topagaruk (July 9, 1951) a female semipalmated sandpiper fluttered off a nest, uttered a sharp cry, feigned injury by fluttering around the observer, became seemingly indifferent but refused to return to her nest, uttered sharp cries, came to within seven feet of the observer who was sitting within three feet of the nest and alternately chattered, ate several large dipterous insects from the ground and in approximately five minutes went back on the nest, within easy reach, although she still was not completely quiet. When the observer rose to leave she again fluttered off the nest and feigned injury (the bird was preserved as a specimen). The nest was concealed in a small depression surrounded on all sides by tufts of vegetation and contained four young, one of which had hatched no more than three hours before.

On a four field trip at Kaolak River (July 15, 1951) we counted 14 juveniles in large stands of willows among sand dunes. These juveniles were making short flights of from 15 to 40 feet. In contrast to the situation at Topagaruk (July 5-10), there were fewer semipalmated sandpipers than Baird's sandpipers at Kaolak River (July 12-18, 1951). July 16 was the first date on which family groups of sandpipers here ventured out on the exposed sand bars along the river for feeding. One juvenile was carried by wind over the river where it dropped into the water. When last seen the juvenile was being floated upstream by the wind. Next day in the same general area where winds had driven water on the sand, four semipalmated sandpipers were feeding with dunlin. These five birds kept together both on the ground and in flight.

At Point Barrow (July 27, 1951) semipalmated sandpipers were forming small groups and feeding on small lakes and ponds adjacent to the Arctic Ocean. At the south end of Lake Peters (Aug. 3, 1952) several semipalmated sandpipers were feeding in dry areas of alluvium trampled by caribou.

+Limosa lapponica baueri+ Naumann: Bar-tailed godwit.--At Kaolak River on July 18, 1951, one godwit was in company with a pair of golden plovers on a bare slope of an old sand dune along the edge of the river. The godwit when approached flew 150 feet and alighted and when pursued again flew another 150 feet and then departed for a lake 1/5 mile away.

+Phalaropus fulicarius+ (Linnaeus): Red phalarope.--Specimens, 11: Topagaruk River, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34', 10 ft., 11, Nos. 30715-30725 including 10 ad. males and 1 ad. female, July 6-9, 1951.

At Topagaruk (July 5, 1951), we located a nest and four eggs on the edge of a small drainage channel on the tundra. The nest was among mosses and lichens, one foot from open water. The bird left the nest when the observer was only four feet distant but on a second approach one hour later, left when the observer was 20 feet away. In each instance the bird pretended to have an injured wing. On July 7, this nest held four eggs. On July 8, there were four young, hatched either the previous afternoon or night and the female left the nest when the observer was 30 feet away. Ten adult males, shot at Topagaruk (July 5-10, 1951), averaged 50(45-54) grams in weight. These birds had testes that averaged 6.5(2.5-9.0) mm long. The red phalarope on July 7 was the fifth most common bird in the area, making up two per cent of the avian population and was commonly seen on polygons having high centers.

At Kaolak River (July 12-18, 1952) red phalaropes were uncommon. On July 15, a female was noted but seemed not to have young or to be nesting. A juvenile from Kaolak (July 22, 1951) was 180 mm in length and weighed 31 grams. On September 6 and 7, we observed hundreds of these birds, mostly juveniles, feeding in the ocean two to three feet beyond beaches at Point Barrow. Small lakes and open water in marshes had been frozen over since September 5, but larger lakes still were open. Except for a few birds around edges of open bodies of water, the great bulk of red phalaropes was (Aug. 7, 1951) on the Arctic Ocean. On September 11, there was none at Point Barrow. Thomas Brower, a resident at Barrow Village, stated that he had never before seen this species congregate on the Arctic Ocean bordering the shore.

+Lobipes lobatus+ (Linnaeus): Northern phalarope.--Specimens, 5: Topagaruk River, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34', 10 ft., 2, Nos. 30729, ad. male, July 9, 1951, and 30730, ad. female, July 8, 1951; Kaolak River, 159 deg.47'40", 70 deg.11'15", 30 ft., 3, Nos. 30726-30728 including 2 ad. males and 1 ad. of unknown sex, July 14, 15, 1951.

In the period July 8-15, 1951, four adult males at Topagaruk and Kaolak River averaged 31(28-33) grams in weight. Their testes averaged 2.3(2-3) mm long. A female (July 8) weighed 37 grams. Her largest ovum was 2 mm in diameter. A juvenile from Kaolak River (July 16) was 176 mm long and weighed 35 grams. Young northern phalaropes at Kaolak River (July 12-18, 1951) were more numerous than at Topagaruk (July 4-10, 1951) and were almost the size of adults. On July 15, on a four hour field trip, we counted 24 individuals including adults and juveniles. On this date the juveniles were almost ready for flight. At Kaolak (July 22, 1951) a young bird 212 millimeters in length was flying and feeding alone. In our seven day stay at Teshekpuk Lake only one northern phalarope was seen. It was near camp on August 3, 1951. Between Birnirk and Point Barrow (Aug. 25, 1952), approximately 3000 northern phalaropes had collected on fresh water ponds, salt water lagoons and on the Arctic Ocean. Many of them were feeding while others were nesting on matted green mosses bordering ponds. Their habit of spinning in water was noted. Those feeding on the Arctic Ocean were on the relatively smooth water immediately beyond the point where the breakers formed. On September 11, at Point Barrow, we did not see the species.

+Stercorarius pomarinus+ (Temminck): Pomarine jaeger.--At Birnirk (June 14, 1952) while snow still covered most of the ground, pomarine jaegers hunted for lemmings by flying approximately 20 feet above the tundra and occasionally hovering. On June 15, one had eaten parts of two large lemmings caught in traps along the edge of a snow-bound lake. On June 17, these birds were preying on live lemming and swallowing them whole. One flew 50 meters with a brown lemming in its mouth and after alighting, consumed it. The backs of several lemmings caught in traps had scars probably made by jaegers or conceivably by snowy owls. West of Salt Water Lagoon (June 17, 1952), 12 jaegers were counted with the aid of a 6 x 30 power binocular in a 90 deg. arc to the southward. Three snowy owls also were hunting in this area. In traveling one and three-eighths miles south by east from Barrow Village on June 20, 1952, we counted eight single pomarine jaegers in the air and on the return trip the same day, five pomarine jaegers (one was dead, another was resting on a lake and 3 were in flight).

At Point Barrow (June 21, 1952) two pomarine jaegers left the land and flew north out of sight over the Arctic Ocean. At a point 9/10 mile east and 4/5 mile north of Barrow Village (June 23, 1952) we observed a pomarine jaeger cruising three feet above ground. It dropped to the tundra and picked up a lemming by its back and after adjusting the lemming swallowed it tail first. On a lake one mile southwest of the Arctic Research Laboratory a group of six and two pairs all facing into the wind were resting on ice. In an area of 240 acres (outlined by the tripod communication line to the west, "Y" line to east, and row of 50 gallon drums following the ground line to south), we counted 19 pomarine jaegers in groups of from one to four or one per 12 square acres; one snowy owl was in the area.

At Kaolak River (July 12-18, 1951) pomarine jaegers were the second most common jaeger in the area. In walking for four hours on July 15, two pairs were noted. Ordinarily, however, these birds are seen singly not in pairs. At Lake Schrader (July 23-31, 1952) pomarine jaegers were active both day and night, especially at night. At Barrier Lake (Aug. 2, 1951) two pomarine jaegers flew close together along the edge of the south end of the lake. As they left the lake and flew over the extensive marsh to the east they separated and flew as single individuals. On August 4, a pomarine jaeger was chasing an Arctic loon that had a fish in its bill. On August 10, 1951, a single pomarine jaeger was noted at Chandler Lake. As late as September 7, 1952, one half mile south of the Arctic Research Laboratory, seven pomarine jaegers were foraging for brown lemmings.

+Stercorarius parasiticus+ (Linnaeus): Parasitic jaeger.--Specimens, 3: Topagaruk River, 155 deg.48', 70 deg.34, 10 ft., 2, Nos. 30732-30733, ad. females, July 6, 8, 1951; Kaolak, 160 deg.14'51", 69 deg.56'00", 178 ft., 1, No. 30731, ad. male, July 21, 1951.

At Topagaruk (July 5-10, 1951) parasitic jaegers ranged over nearly all plant and animal associations, but flew more frequently over polygons with low centers than elsewhere. Data on two adult females, shot on July 6 and 8, in that order are as follows: weight, 525, 320 grams; largest ovum, 3, 1 mm; length of ovary ----, 5.5 mm. The bird killed on July 6 was in the black color phase.

At Kaolak River (July 12-18, 1951) the parasitic jaeger was the least common of the three species of jaegers.

At Kaolak (July 21-27, 1951) two birds nested near camp while others passed through the area. These passing birds generally were seen singly or in pairs; long-tailed jaegers commonly are in groups of four or five. The parasitic jaegers were not so noisy nor so much given to chasing others of their own species as were long-tailed jaegers. Several single birds hunted in areas of sedges and grasses that yielded lemmings. On July 21, a parasitic jaeger was flying with three glaucous gulls, and demonstrating its usual flight tactics of gliding, climbing and swooping as it accompanied the gulls. An adult male shot on July 21, weighed 460 grams.

On alluvial outwash at the southwest end of Lake Schrader (July 27, 1952) a male and female parasitic jaeger defended their territory by diving at us. Periodically both birds alighted approximately 60 feet away and each pretended to have a crippled wing for approximately a minute. The female acted as if herding the young but was not. On each of our daily inspections an adult defended the area. In a period of four days the area defended was shifted approximately 1/5 of a mile south in the marsh area adjacent to the lake. Parasitic jaegers were noted in the Lake Schrader area from July 23 to July 31 inclusive.

At Barrier Lake (July 30, 1951) two parasitic jaegers were harassing a glaucous gull that responded as if being attacked by a hawk. The plunging of the jaeger continued while the gull was flying 300 feet horizontally. One other jaeger chased a glaucous gull for one-fourth of a mile and finally having caught up with it dove at the gull several times, each time almost making contact. From our camp on Barrier Lake (July 29-Aug. 4, 1951) we watched parasitic jaegers hunt along the south end of the lake, following precisely the edge of the water. The wind drove debris to the south end of the lake. The long-tailed jaeger was the more numerous here; it flew along ridges and over marshes. On July 30, a single jaeger flew over the lake and after hovering above a young Arctic loon, which had strayed from its parent, dove down and picked it up. Three other parasitic jaegers arrived and competed for the prey.

A single parasitic jaeger was noted at Chandler Lake on August 10 and one on August 11, 1951. At Gavia Lake (Aug. 21, 1952) there were six jaegers in one group.

+Stercorarius longicaudus+ Vieillot: Long-tailed jaeger.--Specimens, 5: Kaolak River, 159 deg.47'40", 70 deg.11'15", 30 ft., 1, No. 30738, ad. female, July 12, 1951; Kaolak, 160 deg.14'51", 69 deg.56'00", 178 ft., 4, Nos. 30734-30737 including 2 ad. males and 2 ad. females, July 21, 1951.

The long-tailed jaeger was the second most abundant of the three jaegers at Topagaruk (July 5-10, 1951). The greatest number seen on any one day was three. At Kaolak River (July 12-19, 1951) this species was the most common jaeger. On a four hour field trip (July 15 and 18) we saw six birds. When in groups of three or more, they frequently chased each other and called vigorously. One adult female shot on July 12, weighed 300 grams. The largest ovum in the female was 1.2 mm in diameter and the ovaries were 5 and 6 mm long.

Within 1/5 of a mile of our camp at Kaolak (July 21-27, 1951) there were three breeding pairs of jaegers. On a four hour trip beyond this limit we saw as many as 14 individuals. Most of these were in groups of three and were commonly seen flying over meadows and along ridges. Single birds hunted by hovering or swinging upward. Territories vacated by our collecting adult birds were not immediately filled by other nesting jaegers. One pair of jaegers nested in a broad grassy meadow. The female was aggressive and demonstrative and called continually above her young. The male was less demonstrative but joined the female when she began calling. On July 24, four jaegers flew over areas where brown lemmings had been trapped in greatest numbers. Two adult males shot on July 21, weighed 270 and 250 grams. The testes of these two birds were 5.5 and 8.0 mm long. Two adult females from the same area, and shot on the same date as the males, were larger than the males. The females weighed 285 and 298 grams.

At Barrier Lake (July 29, 1951) we observed three long-tailed jaegers, all chasing and harassing a glaucous gull. These jaegers hunted mostly along ridges and over marsh. At midnight these birds were still hunting and flying about. Other long-tailed jaegers were on the lake from July 29 to August 4 inclusive.

At Gavia Lake (Aug. 21-23, 1952) two long-tailed jaegers fed from our refuse pile only 30 feet from our tent. A single individual was noted at Lake Peters on July 25, 1952, and one at Driftwood on August 27, 1952.