Mud volcanoes are home sweet home to gyrfalcons

by K.J. Lincoln

Did you know that the highest concentration of gyrfalcons in the world live right here in the YK delta? One of the places in this area that gyrfalcons have called home are the Mud Volcanoes. The Mud Volcanoes are ancient volcanoes between Nelson Island and the Yukon River within the Yukon Delta Wildlife Refuge. They are called Ingrissaat by Nelson Island Yup’iks. They provide the habitat that gyrfalcons prefer – open habitat with high, rocky cliffs, and lots of prey.

“The refuge has the highest number of gyrfalcons and no one really knows that,” said Travis Booms, a doctorate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who volunteers each summer for the refuge as a biological technician. “I’d like the community to know that there is a phenomenal species of bird here. They are residents of Alaska and are here year round.”

One of the reasons why there is such a high number of gyrfalcons living at the Mud Volcanoes is because of the availability of food – ptarmigan, their most common food. Gyrfalcons also eat ducks, shorebirds, songbirds, and hares. Rough legged hawks and golden eagles can also be found at the Mud Volcanoes.

Gyrfalcons can also be found nesting in the Askinuk and Kilbuck Mountains but no further south of 60 degrees latitude. In other parts of the world, gyrfalcons can be found throughout the arctic regions of North America, Greenland, Europe and Asia.

Booms and his field partner, Josh Spice from the University of Wisconsin, camped out at the Mud Volcanoes from April 21st to July 29th - counting, banding, fitting transmitters, and collecting blood and DNA samples from the gyrfalcon population.

“This species is considered a special concern of the state,” said Booms. “This is the only state in the U.S. that has breeding gyrfalcons and the work that the refuge is doing is to see how the statewide population is doing.” There are approximately 20,000 gyrfalcons in the world, he added.

Booms and Spice counted approximately 8-10 nests at the Mud Volcanoes. In one of the nests they found a male gyrfalcon with no flight feathers that they rescued and eventually brought back to Bethel with them.

“He would have died if he wasn’t rescued. 10 days ago (from Aug. 2) he would have jumped out of the cliff. He wouldn’t have made it,” said Booms. It is unknown why his flight feathers did not grow.

The gyrfalcon, who was named Phil, was one of three nestlings. His two other siblings had healthy feathers growing so Booms believes that there is no reason to think that the reason for his lack of flight feathers is contaminant related.

Phil will be brought to the Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage on August 10 where he will live and be part of educational presentations.

Gyrfalcons come in three different colors: white with speckles, light gray, and dark gray. The females are larger than the males weighing 3-5 lbs. and the males 2-4 lbs. They are the largest falcon in the world with a wingspan of up to 4 feet and they fly with a with slow, steady, methodical wing beats. The female will lay 3-5 white/beige speckled eggs in early May, even while it is still cold. Gyrfalcons have the ability to turn their heads 180 degrees around and they can sleep with one eye open – a phenomenon called unihemispherical sleep, a trait that some humans wished they had.

Gyrfalcons are widely used for falconry where they are bred and trained to hunt and to return at a falconer’s command.

“In historical times, gyrfalcons were reserved for kings,” Booms said. “They are very highly prized.”

Keeping wild raptors is illegal in Alaska, said Booms. Special permits were required to conduct the tagging, to draw blood samples, to fit the birds with transmitters, and to bring Phil into captivity from the wild.

“He is not afraid of people,” said Booms. “He is learning ‘manning’ where he is getting used to his new surroundings.” Phil, who was sitting on Booms’ leather gloved hand at the Fish & Wildlife building during a community presentation last Wednesday, ruffled his feathers as a sign of contentment after a quail snack.