The Role of Inlets in Piping Plover Nest Site Selection in New Jersey 1987-2007 45 Christina L
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Birds Volume XXXV, Number 3 – December 2008 through February 2009 Changes from the Fiftieth Suppleument of the AOU Checklist 44 Don Freiday The Role of Inlets in Piping Plover Nest Site Selection in New Jersey 1987-2007 45 Christina L. Kisiel The Winter 2008-2009 Incursion of Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus) in New Jersey 52 Michael Britt WintER 2008 FIELD NotEs 57 50 Years Ago 72 Don Freiday Changes from the Fiftieth Supplement to the AOU Checklist by DON FREIDay n the recent past, “they” split Solitary Vireo into two separate species. The original names created for Blue-headed, Plumbeous, and Cassin’s Vireos. them have been deemed cumbersome by the AOU I “They” split the towhees, separating Rufous-sided committee. Now we have a shot at getting their full Editor, Towhee into Eastern Towhee and Spotted Towhee. names out of our mouths before they disappear into New Jersey Birds “They” seem to exist in part to support field guide the grass again! Don Freiday publishers, who must publish updated guides with Editor, Regional revised names and newly elevated species. Birders Our tanagers are really cardinals: tanager genus Reports often wonder, “Who are ‘They,’ anyway?” Piranga has been moved from the Thraupidae to Scott Barnes “They” are the “American Ornithologists’ Union the Cardinalidae Contributors Committee on Classification and Nomenclature - This change, which for NJ birders affects Summer Michael Britt Don Freiday North and Middle America,” and they have recently Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, and Western Tanager, has Christina L. Kisiel published a new supplement to the Check-list of been expected for several years. Mitonchondrial DNA Regional Editors North American Birds (Chesser et al. 2009). The studies support the move, as do many birders familiar Rick Radis, Northwest supplement contains a few changes that involve birds with tropical tanagers of the family Thraupidae. For Patrick Belardo, occurring in New Jersey; these changes are described now, there is no change to these species’ common Piedmont Scott Barnes, N. Coast below. Laurie Larson and Jennifer Hanson have already names, e.g. Summer Tanager is not changed to “Sum- Steve Sobocinski, alertly incorporated these changes into the official mer Cardinal.” However, checklist order must be Lower Delaware Valley Vince Elia, S. Coast state list, viewable at < http://www.njbrc.net/docu- revised, and presumably future field guides will also ments/NJStateList.pdf >. The AOU supplement and be revised to reflect this changed checklist place- New Jersey Birds, Volume XXXV, Number 3, quar the full checklist are available on-line at < http://www. ment. On the NJ checklist, the tanagers now appear terly. Published online by aou.org/checklist/north/index.php >. immediately after Snow Bunting and immediately the New Jersey Audubon I have included changes to scientific names, even before Northern Cardinal. Society. General office: 9 Hardscrabble Road, though birders generally do not use them. Say what Bernardsville, NJ 07924. you will about the AOU Committee, most birders Scientific name change for redpolls and siskins Editorial office: CMBO, 600 Rte 47 N, Cape May Court would agree that the Committee’s standardized list of Redpolls, siskins, and goldfinches had all been in the House, NJ 08210. Tel. common names makes birding much more fun, and same genus, Carduelis. Both redpolls now are moved (609) 8610700;email: bird names much easier to pronounce. into the newly created genus Acanthis (elevated from don.freiday@njaudubon. org. No parts of this maga being a subgenus). Thus, Common Redpoll becomes zine may be reproduced Boreal Chickadee scientific name change: Poecile Acanthis flammea, and Hoary Redpoll becomes A. by any means without the written consent of New hudsonica becomes P. hudsonicus hornemanni. Jersey Audubon Society. Won’t it be nice if someday this name change has In a similar move, siskins and New World gold- significance for a birder in NJ? The last “invasion” finches have been placed into genusSpinus . Thus, Pine New Jersey Birds is now of Boreal Chickadees into NJ was 1981-1982, and it Siskin becomes Spinus pinus (don’t you love that one!) available online on the seems there have been none since. The change, by and American Goldfinch becomesS. tristis. New Jersey Audubon Society website: <http:// the way, is to establish gender agreement (masculine) European Goldfinch becomes the only species on www.njaudubon.org> between genus and species names. the AOU Checklist in the genus Carduelis. Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow becomes References Nelson’s Sparrow Chesser, R.T, R. C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C. Cicero, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow becomes J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Saltmarsh Sparrow Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz These were once considered conspecific under and K. Winker. 2009. Fiftieth Supplement to the Design and layout by Middle Mountain Designs. the common name Sharp-tailed Sparrow, but studies American Ornithologists Union Check-List of published in 1993 established that they were indeed North American Birds. Auk 126(3):705-714. COVER PHOTO: Perhaps the avian star of winter 2008-2009 was the Green-tailed Towhee which wintered in the yard of John and Peggy McDevit, Collingswood, Camden County. The bird was first detected 1 Jan, lasted until 10 May, and was seen by hundreds of birders for a 7th state record. Photo/Peter Burke 44 — December 2008 – February 2009 The Role of Inlets in Piping Plover Nest Site Selection in New Jersey 1987-2007 by CHRISTINA L. KISIEL* ntroduction Great Plains populations are listed as threatened. The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a After the species was listed the New Jersey Division I small shorebird that occurs throughout North of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Spe- America along lakes, rivers and the ocean. New Jersey’s cies Program (ENSP) and its partners began closely Piping Plover (C. m. melodus) population is part of monitoring the Piping Plover population, recording the Atlantic coast population, which extends from the location and outcome of each known nesting at- Newfoundland in Canada to North Carolina in the tempt. Therefore, a long-term dataset set, comprised United States (Elliott-Smith & Haig, 2004; Miller et of detailed population, reproductive and nest location al. 2009). In New Jersey they are found primarily on information was available for analysis. ocean beaches where they nest between the toe of the The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) dune and the high tide line. Most adults arrive on the Atlantic Coast Piping Plover Recovery Plan, the breeding grounds in late March and begin laying eggs guidance document used by species managers, has in April. An egg is generally laid every other day until created population and reproductive goals for this the clutch is complete at four (occasionally three on species (USFWS, 1996). In the twenty-plus years since a re-nest). Incubation commences after the last egg the Piping Plover was listed, New Jersey has never is laid, thus assuring synchronous hatching (Cairns, reached its reproductive goals (a five year average of 1982). The adults split incubation duties evenly and 1.5 fledges/pair) (Pover, 2007). The state population, the eggs hatch in approximately 28 days. The precocial despite yearly fluctuations, is relatively flat with no chicks leave the nest bowl within a few hours and are long-term gains (see Fig. 1). Despite the best efforts responsible for feeding themselves. The adults play a of ENSP and its cooperators, the state population strong role in defense and protection from the elements is not progressing towards recovery. Other states (the chicks cannot regulate their body temperature in the Atlantic coast region have seen population until approximately 2 weeks of age). After 25 days, the increases, in some cases dramatically (Hecht, 2007). chicks are capable of short flights and are considered Understanding the distribution of NJ’s plovers might fledged. If a nest is destroyed, or chicks are lost before allow us to determine why we are unable to emulate they fledge, the adults may renest (occasionally up to other states’ population increases. Although ENSP 3 more times but most often with just one additional compiles yearly reports and NJ information is folded attempt) (Elliott-Smith & Haig, 2004). Migration into Atlantic coast reports, there has not been an ➟ from the New Jersey breeding grounds peaks in August but begins in early July (especially for the females, who sometimes leave before their chicks are fledged) and extends into October, with the rare recording of a late individual into November and December (T. Pover, personal communication, 3 December 2008; <http://www.njaudubon.org/Tools.Net/Sightings/ SightingsArchive.aspx>). Piping Plover nesting season corresponds to the peak tourism season in coastal communities and this pressure on their habitat, coupled with its degrada- tion as it has been (and continues to be) developed, led to the species being state listed as endangered in 1984 (E.N.S.C.A. 23:2A) and federally listed (Endangered Species Act of 1973) as endangered or threatened in 1986. The Great Lakes population is listed as endangered while the Atlantic coastal and An adult Piping Plover in breeding plumage. Photo: State of New Jersey Vol. XXXV, no. 3 — 45 effort to conduct a long-term examination of the Canal) was also included. From 1987-2007 there spatial and temporal distribution of nesting Piping was no documented nesting by Piping Plovers north Plovers in this state. The ability to understand the of the Cape May Canal. It is likely that any pairs in factors that influence site selection may offer valu- this area would be detected because the Delaware Bay able insight into their habitat requirements as well region is a stopover habitat for migratory shorebirds as focus management efforts into the areas that are and there are many biologists working in that area the most important in the state for nesting success.