At the species level, the Ruddy Turnstone is considered
a species of high concern in the U. S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (Brown
et al. 2001). The population in eastern North America (Arenaria interpres
morinella) is thought to be declining overall, and has declined significantly
in two major survey areas (Donaldson
et al. 2001). As such, this population independently qualifies as one of high
concern. Ruddy Turnstones breeding along the Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska show
affinities with morinella, but the taxonomic status of birds in this region
of the state is unclear (Gabrielson
and Lincoln 1959, Engelmoer and Roselaar
1998). Most Alaskan breeders apparently belong to the nominate race, A.
i. interpres. Although the U.S. Plan indicates that this species is of only
moderate conservation score, interpres actually qualifies as a population
of high concern according to the quantitative criteria in the plan. The estimated
population size of this Alaskan population is only 20,000, but the quality of
that estimate is poor (Brown et al. 2001).
The population trend and non-breeding areas of Alaska-breeding birds are unknown.
Although thousands formerly congregated on the Pribilof Islands each fall to feed
on the maggots infesting slaughtered fur seals, those numbers have declined dramatically
since the cessation of the seal harvest. This phenomenon involved both Siberian-
and Alaskan-breeding birds (Thompson 1974),
but in what proportions is not known.
