Loons swim near a pipeline and other oil field infrastructure at the Greater Prudhoe Bay Unit on Alaska’s North Slope in this undated photo. A new study finds that nest survival is lower for birds closer to high-use infrastructure. (Photo by Kayla Scheimreif/Wildlife Conservation Society)

Loons swim near a pipeline and other oil field infrastructure at the Greater Prudhoe Bay Unit on Alaska’s North Slope in this undated photo. A new study finds that nest survival is lower for birds closer to high-use infrastructure. (Photo by Kayla Scheimreif/Wildlife Conservation Society)

Study: The closer that birds’ nests are to Prudhoe oil infrastructure, the lower the survival rates

A long-term study of birds that summer around the Prudhoe Bay oil complex found that nest survival for all bird types decreased significantly the closer those nests were to high-use oil field infrastructure.

The study, by scientists with the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society and published in the Journal of Avian Biology, is a rare long-term analysis of nesting birds in the region that holds the nation’s biggest oil field.

It used observations taken from 2003 to 2019 of 1,265 shorebird nests, 378 passerine nests and 231 waterfowl nests

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

To the Wildlife Conservation Society, the study provides a cautionary tale about long-term impacts of oil development and lessons that are timely as development is continuing to spread west on the North Slope to ConocoPhillips’ recently approved Willow project and other sites.

There should be more protections for birds, John Calvelli, the organization’s vice president for public affairs, said in a statement. He pointed to the protected areas designated in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

A male Lapland longspur is seen near Utqiagvik on June 17, 2019. Lapland longspurs are the North Slope’s dominant species of passerines, which are perching birds. (Photo by Peter Pearsall/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

“In the face of current uncertainty, to protect migratory birds, the U.S. Government should ensure the most important bird areas continue to be set aside, as has been done through the NPR-A’s Special Areas,” Calvelli said.

Passerines, perching birds that include songbirds like sparrows and commonly known as songbirds, had overall nest survival that declined over the 17-year study period. The trend was particularly notable for Lapland longspurs, the most abundant passerine on the North Slope.

For waterbirds and shorebirds, categories that include loons, ducks and geese, nest survival did not change with time even though proximity to heavily used infrastructure was consistently associated with lower survival over the study period.

Passerines appear to be more sensitive to habitat disturbances, said Martin Robards, a coauthor.

“They have to have territory that is available to them, or they’re not going to breed,” he said.

Just what is causing reduced nest survival closer to high-use infrastructure is yet to be determined.

Among the suspects are nest-raiding predatory birds that have become more numerous around the oil field infrastructure — glaucous gulls and ravens.

Red-necked phalarope chicks are seen in a nest at Prudhoe Bay in this undated photo. Red-necked phalaropes are shorebirds that breed in the Arctic. (Photo by Emily Weiser/U.S. Geological Survey)

“Particularly the ravens have basically followed the infrastructure,” Robards said.

There is a belief that predatory birds are finding food in oil field garbage dumps and finding convenient perches on oilfield structures, the study noted.

While that seems to hold for ravens, the gull story appears more complicated. Glaucus gulls increased across the Arctic coastal area and not just in the oilfield sites, Robards said.

The study points to previous research that found increasing gull populations across the coastal North Slope, not just the oilfield areas. Further, oilfield operators’ garbage-management practices have improved steadily over the past two decades, making it yet more difficult to parse out the reasons for the increases in gull and raven populations, the study said.

Climate change may play a role, the study said. A 2018 study that surveyed bird populations globally found that tundra-nesting birds in the North American Arctic have been particularly affected by increased predation. That 2018 study cited an Arctic-wide decline in populations of small rodents, a normal source of food for predatory birds, and change to vegetation as shrubs spread north.

Other factors that could be affecting nest survival include industrial noise, pollution, hydrological changes and road dust, the new study said.

• Yereth Rosen came to Alaska in 1987 to work for the Anchorage Times. She has reported for Reuters, for the Alaska Dispatch News, for Arctic Today and for other organizations. She covers environmental issues, energy, climate change, natural resources, economic and business news, health, science and Arctic concerns. This story originally appeared at alaskabeacon.com. Alaska Beacon, an affiliate of States Newsroom, is an independent, nonpartisan news organization focused on connecting Alaskans to their state government.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Emma Pokon, then acting commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, speaks on Nov. 15, 2023, at the Resource Development for Alaska annual conference in Anchorage. Pokon, whom Gov. Mike Dunleavy promoted to commissioner the following month, was chosen to lead the regional Environmental Protection Agency office serving Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and 271 tribal nations. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska environmental commissioner picked for Trump administration EPA post

Alaska’s top environmental regulator was chosen to be the new Pacific Northwestern… Continue reading

The State Office Building in Juneau is seen on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Salary board recommends automatic pay changes for Alaska governor, legislators, top officials

Switch to inflation-adjusted salaries will automatically take effect unless lawmakers reject it.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé students, along with a handful of state legislators and staff members, march from the school to the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in a protest seeking more state funding from lawmakers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alaska students rank 51st among 53 U.S. jurisdictions in 3 of 4 categories in annual ‘Nation’s Report Card’

Dunleavy administration says it shows failure of public schools, other say it reflects lack of funds.

Thom Young sits with Pepper and Rick Driscoll sits with Homer in a dog visiting room at Juneau Animal Rescue on Jan. 28, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
North to adoption: Three dogs from LA arrive at Juneau Animal Rescue

From the Antelope Valley to Mendenhall Valley, dogs close to euthanasia get a fresh start.

The renovated Edward K. Thomas Building, used by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, has been frequented in recent days by residents seeking tribal IDs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Natives in Juneau rushing to get tribal IDs amidst fears of immigration detentions

115 IDs issued Tuesday is “incredibly not normal,” tribal president says; no local detentions confirmed.

The White House rescinded its order to freeze federal grants on Wednesday. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Trump administration rescinds freeze on federal grants and loans

Freeze is rescinded but a review to eliminate spending on ‘woke’ ideologies will proceed.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Juneau Empire relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in