JPMayers 1976 Journal Atkasook on the Meade River, North Slope Borough, Alaska 17 June (cont'd) I'll handle shorebirds first: Pluvialis squatarola - thinly distributed but regular over most of the study area. Display now unfrequent, commonly chasing Stercorarius spp in flight. #s as last year Pluvialis dominica - probably not as common as squatarola, but in same range of density. perchier. Fewer around than last year. On nests now. I still am puzzled by the habitat difference between the two Pluvialis spp. They overlap heavily. Why squatarola is not at Barrow is a puzzle, as pairs definitely forage in lowlands as we ridges no higher than Carlin at Barrow. Perhaps they "require" the overall inundated topography, topographic relief. Arenaria interpres - as last year, very sparse. Possibly 2 pairs along transects 6-10. Calidris melanotos - sparse compared to previous year. Habitat very restricted this year to low ant swales - e.g. T6, T11 and the 2nd halves of T10 and T14. For these sites are so certain to see one or two PS's plus an incubating 3 or two. There are sites in which you are guaranteed a PS or two. But they are still more sporadic in other sites. Areas along T8, T9, and T7 which were grazed with PS's last year this year are wetlands. And the 4 population is also lower. I saw 2 88 w/nests. One definitely, even though I failed to find the nest - she was giving a 8