Photos: Whimbrels migrate halfway around the globe

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Milo Burcham / www.miloburcham.com Whimbrels fly thousands of miles from breeding grounds in Alaska to wintering grounds reaching from Central America to southern South America. During a brief migration stopover on its way north, this whimbrel mingles with millions of other northbound shorebirds in the Copper River Delta Important Bird Area near Cordova.

LIBBYVILLE FLAT -- An evening flight of whimbrels streamed by our boat in a long, wide-spread V formation, their high-pitched peeping cry audible as they passed. Four distinct flocks of 50 or more birds made up the entire contingent of birds that call this place on Bristol Bay's lower Kvichakestuary home. The whimbrels were spread enough to make it seem as though there were many more than there actually were.

The entire population of whimbrels in North America probably numbers no more than 100,000 birds. During the summer months they are widely scattered along the Alaska coast with most of the breeders north of the Yukon Delta. Only a few of the Bristol Bay birds nest. These big shorebirds, weighing almost a pound, are part of the non-breeding population that grow fat on Bristol Bay's muddy tidal flats to prepare for their long-distance migration.

Read more: Soft piping cry of Bristol Bay whimbrels offer soundtrack to all that is wild