ANAKTUVUK PASS 71 



The first arrivals of Baird's sandpiper were recorded May 13, 1949, 

 May 29, 1950, May 13, 1951, May 26, 1952, May 13, 1953, and May 12, 

 1954, In 1949, 200 were reported seen May 16 and again on May 17, 

 but by May 23 only 8 or 10 were reported daily. The early large 

 numbers seen along the lakes and streams probably included many 

 northbound migrants as the resident birds often resort to the higher 

 and drier parts of the tundra, even to elevation 1,400 feet above the 

 valley floor. The rush of migration passed in late May 1949. These 

 sandpipers, which are only known to nest north of the arctic circle, 

 make their way northward in large numbers through the Pass. 



On June 6, 1951, John Krog found a nest about 1,400 feet above the 

 valley floor in the mountains west of Tuluak Valley. Robert Paneak 

 found the young just breaking through the shell in a nest on the val- 

 ley floor June 24, 1951. A female contained an egg 20 mm. long May 

 28, 1951. These observations set the date of nesting as about June 1. 



Often they stand, like plovers, rather alert and suspicious, taking 

 wing to rise swiftly and soar about singly or in pairs. They are more 

 shy than semipalmated and least-sandpipers, but more conspicuous on 

 the dry ground which they often occupy. During migration they are 

 more conspicuous than the semipalmated and least sandpipers as is 

 also the case of the resident birds in summer. They appear to be about 

 as numerous as any migrant shore birds in their short season of flight. 

 In summer they are probably not as numerous as semipalmated sand- 

 pipers. 



The Nunamiut call Baird's sandpipers Nv/vuksruk, which means 

 that "they sound like a man with a bad cold." They can be confused 

 in the field by the Nunamiut, as by us, with semipalmated sandpipers, 

 but the name, like the birds' habits, was specifically distinct and was 

 correctly applied in about 20 cases when skins were examined for a 

 test. 



Erolia minutilla (Vieillot) 



4 males Mayl6-June8 weight (16), 16-23, 



average 20 g. 



5 females June 5- June 11 weight (14), 17-27, 



average 22 g. 



Least sandpipers arrive in the latter part of May, and when first 

 seen migrating are difficult to distinguish from semipalmated and even 

 Baird's sandpipers. First arrivals, often in pairs, have been recorded 

 May 30, 1950, May 16, 1951, May 29, 1952, May 22, 1953 and May 15, 

 1954. As one becomes accustomed to their habits and as they separate 

 into their habitat, which is usually small streams and pools, their be- 

 havior is quite distinctive. They stand more quietly and look more 

 delicate than the larger sandpipers. While capable of swift flight, 

 they often flutter their wings like a moth in making turns, whereas 



469496—60 6 



