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Manomet Returns to Arctic This Each summer, thousands of shorebirds gather along the coastline of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where they prepare for their epic southward migrations by fattening up on the abundant food resources available during the short arctic summer. Manomet is participating with a group of partners on an ambitious project to document the most important areas for staging shorebirds along the north slope. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is leading the project, and along with the US Fish and Wildlife Service is setting up camps all along the north slope. Manomet staff will assist with operations at the camp in the Arctic Refuge, where birds will be captured and measured to determine how well they are doing at gaining the weight they need for their migration. In addition to this project, Manomet staff will also conduct a survey by boat of the entire coastline of the Arctic Refuge to document the relative value of different estuaries and lagoons for staging shorebirds. Along more than 100 miles of Arctic Ocean coastline, shorebirds choose particular spots where food resources are abundant, and our project will help determine which areas are most important. This information will help protect the areas that are most important, particularly for the high priority species that are in serious decline. We need support to help get our field crew to this remote location, to provide the equipment they need to survive in the harsh arctic environment, and to support the boat travel along the coastline of the Arctic Ocean. Your gift will help ensure that these remote areas are protected, and can continue to support the first stage of the epic migrations of arctic shorebirds. |
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