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Home , Far Eastern curlew, Marsh sandpiper, Solitary snipe

Conservation of North Pacific shorebirds

Robert E. Gill, Jr., Robert W. Butler, Pave/S. Tomkovich,Taej Mundkur & Colleen M. Handel

Gill, R.E., Jr., Butler, R.W., Tomkovich, PS., Mundkur, T. & Handel, C. 1995. Conservation of North Pacific shorebirds Study Group Bull.77: 82-91. (Reprinted,with amendments,from Trans. 59th North American Wildlifeand Natural Resources Conference (1994), with kind permissionof the publishers.) Robert E. Gill, Jr., National BiologicalService, Anchorage, Alaska; Robert W. Butler, Canadian WildlifeService, •Delta, BritishColumbia; Pavel S. Tomkovich,Zoological Museum, •Moscow State UniversityMoscow,Russia; Taej Mundkur,Asian WetlandBureau, Universityof Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;Colleen M. Handel, NationalBiological Service, Anchorage,Alaska

INTRODUCTION subspeciesof shorebirdsthat occur in this regionare shown in Table 1. In his introductionto the 1979 symposiumproceedings entitled "Shorebirds in Marine Environments," Frank Breeding Pitelka stressed the need for studies and conservation programsthat spannedthe western hemisphere(Pitelka The North Pacific region representsa relativelysmall 1979). In the 15 years since Pitelka's'call to arms,' the portion of the Holarctic landmass, but it is one of the locationsof many important migratoryand winteringsites world's most importantbreeding areas for shorebirds. for shorebirds have been identified in the Americas The regionnot only supportsa disproportionatelylarge (Senner & Howe 1984; Morrison& Ross 1989; Morrison& assemblageof specieswith a high degreeof endemism, Butler 1994) and in the East Asian-Australasianflyway but also hoststhe majorityof the global populationsfor (Lane & Parish 1991; Mundkur 1993; Watkins 1993). many other more widespreadtaxa. Comparedto the However, assessments of Central America, the Russian world's shorebirdfauna, that breedingin the North Pacific Far East, and most of Oceania remain incompleteor is representedby 4 of 12 families, 22 of 55 genera and 75 lacking. of 212 species(Table 1). This region, more so than anywhereelse in the world, is characterizedby the The recognitionthat shorebirdconservation required the Scolopacidae,the largest and most diverseof the protectionof habitatsthroughout the birdsrange (e.g. shorebird families. Within the North Pacific, the Morrison 1984; Davidson & Evans 1989; in Ens et al. Scolopacidaeare representedby 17 of 22 genera (77%) 1990) promptedthe establishmentof the Western and 65 of 87 species(75%). The polytypicgenera within HemisphereShorebird Reserve Network(WHSRN) in the this family are especiallywell representedwithin the Americas in 1985 (Joyce 1986). This program region. All speciesof ,shanks, , complementedthe 1971 Conventionon of dowitchersand (genera Limosa, , InternationalImportance Especially for Waterbirds Phalaropus,Limnodromus and Arenaria), 7 of 9 speciesof (Ramsar Convention,Smart 1987), recognizedby over 50 (tribe Numeniini),and 17 of 19 speciesof typical countries world-wide. (genus Calidds)breed in the North Pacific. Lastly, several of the genera and many of the species Our purposein writingthis paper is to: within this family are largely endemic to the regionor the majorityof their populationsoccur there. These include 1) describe the distributionof North Pacific shorebirds the monotypicgenera Eurynorhynchus(Spoon-billed throughouttheir annual cycle, ) and Aphdza (Surfbird), both speciesof tattlers 2) review the locationsof and threats to importantsites (Heteroscelusincanus and H. brevipes),Black used by North Pacific shorebirdsduring the breeding, Arenariamelanocephala, Bristle-thighed Numenius migration,and wintering periods,and tahitiensis,Western Sandpiper Caliddsmaud, all five races of Eock SandpiperC. ptilocnemis,Great Knot C. 3) outline a programfor internationalconservation of tenuirostds,American Black OystercatcherHaematopus Pacific shorebirds. bachmani,and the endangeredSpotted or Nordman's Greenshank Tdngaguttiler.

DISTRIBUTION IN THE NORTH PACIFIC The biogeographicdistribution of shorebirdsbreeding withinthe NorthPacific is depictedin Figure1. Fifty-eight The North Pacificregion is the area boundedby British Columbia, Alaska and the . The status, distributionand scientificnames of the 93 speciesand Table 1. Statusof shorebirdswithin the NorthPacific Region.

82 Breeding Migration Wintering Species Russian Alaska British Russian Alaska British Russian Alaska British Far East Columbia Far East Columbia Far East Columbia

Haematopodidae Eurasianoystercatcher Haematopus xEa xE ostralegusosculans Americanblack oystercatcherHaematopus x x x x x x bachman/

Recurvirostridae Black-winged(black-necked) stilt Himantopus + + himantopus

Charadriidae Pacificgolden plover Pluvialis fulva x x x x x + x American golden plover Pluvialis domin/ca ? x + + x Grey (black-bellied)plover Pluvialis squatarela x x x x x + x Ringedplover Charadrius hiaticula tundrae x + + Semipalmated plover Charadrius + x + x x + x semipalmatus Long-billedplover Charadfius placidus +T +T bttle ringed plover Charadriusdub/us x x curon/cus Killdeer Charadrius vociferus x x + x Kentishsnowy ploverCharadrius alexandrinus + + x Lesser sandploverCharadrius mongolus x + x + stegrnanni Eurasian dotterel Charad#us mo#nellus + + + + Northernlapwing Vane#us vane#us x x

Scolopacidae Black-tailedgodwit Limosa limosa x x + melanuroides Hudsoniangodwit Limosa haernastica x + x + Bar-tailedgodwit Limosa lapponicabauer/ x x x x L. I. rnenzbieri x Marbledgodwit Limosa fedoa x x x L•ttle curlew Nurnenius rninutus + Eskimo curlew Nurnenius borealis +Eb +Eb WhimbrelNurnenius phaeopus variegatus x x Numeniuspo hudsonicus x x x Brisfie-thighedcurlew Nurneniustahitiensis x x Eurasiancurlew Nurnenius arquarta + Far eastern curlew Numenius x x madagascariensis Long-billedcurlew Nurneniusamericanus x x Uplandsandpiper Bartramia Iongicauda x x + + Spottedredshank Tringa erythrepus x x RedshankTringa totanus ussuriensis x + GreenshankTringa nebularia x x Marshsandpiper Tringa stagnat#is + + Spotted(Nordman's) greenshank Tringa xE xE guttiler Greateryellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca x x x x Lesseryellowlegs Tringa fiavipes x x x x Green sandpiperTringa ochropus x x Solitarysandpiper Tringa solitaria x x x x Wood sandpiperTringa glareola x + x + Wilier Catoptrephorussemipalmatus x Terek sandpiperXenus cinereus x x Commonsandpiper hypoleucos x x Spotted sandpiperActiris macularia x x x x Grey-tailedtattler Heteroscelus brevipes x x + Wanderingtattler Heterescelus incanus x x + x x Ruddytumstone Arenaria interpres x x x x x Blackturnstone Arenaria melanocephala x x x Wilson's phalaropePhalarepus trico/or + x + x Red-neckedphalarope Phalarepus Ioba•us x x x x x x Grey (red) phalaropePhalarepus fulicarius x x x x x Eurasianwoodcock Scolopax rust/cola x + Solitarysnipe Gallinagosolitaria japonica x + Japanesesnipe Gallinagohardwick# x + Pintailsnipe Gallinagostenura + x Swinhoe'ssnipe Gallinagornegala x x Commonsnipe Gallinagog. x x Gallinagog. delicata x x x x

83 Breeding Migration Wintering Species Russian Alaska British Russian Alaska British Russian Alaska British Far Fast Columbia Far Fast Columbia Far Fast Columbia Short-billeddowitcher Limnodromus g#seus x x x x x x cau•inus Long-billeddowitcher Limnodromus x x x x x + x scolopaceus Asiatic dowitcherLimnodromus semlpalmatus + + SurfbirdAphriza virgata x x x x x Red knot c• canutus x Calidri$ c• roselaari x x + x x x Calidrisc. rogersi x x Great knot Calidris tenuirostris x x SanderlingCalidris alba x x x x x x Semipalmatedsandpiper Calidris pusilia + x x x Western sandpiperCalidris mauri x x + x x x Red-necked(rufous-necked) stint Calidrls x x + ruficollis Little stint Calidris minuta + + + Temminck's stint Calidrls temminckli x + + Long-toedstint Calidrissubmlnuta x x + Least sandpiperCalidris minutilla x x x x + White-rumpedsandpiper Calldris fuscicollis x + + Baird"ssandpiper Calidris balrdii x x + x x Pectoralsandpiper Calidris melanotos x x x x x Sharp-tailedsandpiper Calidris acuminata x x + Rock sandpiperCalidris ptilocnemls couesi x x x Calidrisp. tschuktschorum x x + x x x x Calidrisp. ptilocnemis x x x Calidrisp. quarta x x x Calidrisp. kurilensis xT xT xT DunlinCalidri$ alpina pacifica x + x x x x Calidris a. arcticola x x x Calidris a. sakhalina x x ? Calidris a. kistchinski x x Calidris a. actires xT xT Curlewsandpiper Calidri$ fermginea + + + Stiltsandpiper Calldri$ himantopus x + + Broad-billedsandpiper Limicola falcinellus x sibirica Spoon-billedsandpiper Eurynorhynchus x x pygmaeus Buff-breastedsandpiper Tryngites subruficollis + x + + + RuffPhilomachus pugnax x + + + +

1. Taxonomicand venacularnames from Haymanet aL (1986), exceptwe do not recognizeCalidris paramelanotus as a species,and we includestilt sandpiperwithin Calidds. 2. Breeding(May-June): (x) = significantportion of a populationof a speciesor subspeciesbreeds within this region;(+) = breedsin lownumbers withina region. Migration(July-October and March-May):(x) = occursin significantnumbers within the region,primarily on coastalor intertidal habitats;(+) -- occursregularly but in small numberswithin the region;(?) = statusuncertain. Wintering (November-March): (x) relativelylarge numbersoccur within the region,primarily on coastalor intertidalhabitats; (+) = occursregularly but in small numberswithin the region. E = endangered, T = threatened. Source:Brazil (1991), Campbell et al. (1990),Flint et al. (1984),Gabrielson and Lincoln(1959), R. Gill (unpublisheddata), Gothfield et al. (1984),Hayman et al. (1986), Kesseland Gibson(1978), Lane (1987), Paulson(1993), Stepanyan(1990), Stishovetal. (1991), Tomkovich(1986, 1992a, 1992b, 1992c, unpublisheddata), Vaurie (1965), and Watkins(1993). b inclusionfor regionbased on historicalaccounts. There has beenno substantiatedrecord for the curlewin Alaskasince 1899 and the speciesmay now be extinct(Gollop et al. 1986). species or races nest within the Russian Far East, Migration including37 that occur only withinthe Palearctic(see Table 1). Comparedto the RussianFar East, Alaska has Shorebirdsbreeding in the region migrate over a vast area slightlyfewer overall breedingtaxa (48) and only a third as of the globe, includingat least 40 differentcountries many taxa restrictedto its region(13). The 21 taxa that throughoutNorth, Central and South America, Oceania, breed in both the Russian Far East and Alaska are Asia, Australasia,and (Figure 2). Althoughthe dominatedby no single group, but includea mixtureof migrationcorridors along which North Pacificshorebirds plovers,godwits, curlews, phalaropes and sandpipers. travel are fairly well known,specific links betweendifferent Seventeen species breed in British Columbia, 16 of which breedingand winteringpopulations within broad-ranging also breedin Alaska. Only one species,the Red-necked speciesare virtually unknown. The routestaken are as PhalaropusIobatus, breeds commonly varied as the species and the migrationstrategies they throughoutthe entire region. employ. Migrationsentail distancesranging from only a few hundredkilometers (e.g. Rock Sandpiper)to several

84 thousand kilometersin a single flight (e.g. Bristle-thighed Wintering Curlew). The distribution of shorebirds within the North Pacific Shorebirdstraveling to and from the region use a number region during winter is very different from that during of migrationcorridors, which sometimes differ between breeding. Only three specieswinter in the Russian Far spring and autumn. Corridors used in spring or autumn East, while 16 occur in Alaska and 28 occur in British within the western hemisphere have been summarized by Columbia during winter (Table 1, Figure 1). Only species Morrison& Myers (1987)• Those used in autumn associatedwith rocky intertidalhabitats or sandy beaches throughoutOceania and in autumn and spring in east As•a (e.g., American Black Oystercatcher,Sanderling, Rock are also generallywell known(Baker 1951, Parish el' a/ ,Sandpiper, Surfbirdand Black Turnstone) are common in 1987, Weishu & Purchase 1987, Parish 1989). Most Alaska duringwinter. Most species breedingin the migratingto the region in spring from western hemisphere Russian Far East and about half of those breedingin winteringgrounds follow routes along the east coast of the Alaska and British Columbia spend the boreal winter in Pacific Ocean or pass throughthe interiorof North tropical or subtropicallatitudes encompassing both America (Morrison & Myers 1987). Shorebirds migrating hemispheres of the globe. The patterns of post-breeding to the Russian Far East from eastern hemisphere dispersionshown in Figure 2 underscorethe need for a winteringareas primarilyfollow the west coast of the truly internationalperspective for the conservationand Pacific Ocean (Parish 1989), but also use several interior management of North Pacific shorebirds. routes. The termini of both the Pacific and Central flyways of the western hemisphereand the east Asian flyway overlap in Beringia (Hopkins 1982) and result in BREEDING considerableinterchange of species betweenAsia and North America (Figure 2). The third major migration corridorto the region is a transoceanic route from over- winter sites •n , New Zealand, and the myriad atolls and islands of southern Oceania (Baker 1951; Parish et aL 1987; Parish 1989).

In general, the major southwardmigration routes of shorebirds from the North Pacific are the reverse of those MIGRATION used in spring. The autumn migrationperiod, however, is much more protracted(June-October) than in spring (March-May) and birds use more stopoversites, many that differ from those used in spring(Page & Gill 1994). These differencesare mainly attributableto age- and sex- related differencesin the timing of postbreeding movements(e.g. Gill & Handel 1981; 1990; Butler et aL 1987).

The continentalroutes in North America are used mainly by birdsthat nest at high latitudesand winter in the WINTERING

Neotrop•cs(Pitelka 1979, Boland 1991). The continental ß Common flyways in Asia are used primarilyby birds migratingfrom 7il[71U..... central to the east Asian coast and from the Russian Far East to the Indian Ocean and Africa (Parish et aL 1987; P. Tomkovich unpublisheddata). One feature particularto autumn migration, however, is the greater

number of species that partake of long, transoceanic Russian British migrations. From the North Pacific these transoceanic Far East Alaska Columbia migrantsinclude populations of Pacific Golden Plovers Pluvialisfulva, Dunlin Calidrisalpina, Long-billed DowitchersLimnodromus scolopaceus, Bar-tailed Godwits Figure1. Biogeographicdistribution of shorebirdswithin three areas Limosa lapponica,Whimbrels Numeniusphaeopus, of the NorthPacific region during the breeding,migration and winteringperiods. Solidportion of bars indicatesthe numberof taxa Bristle-thighedCurlews, Ruddy RurnstonesArenaria (speciesand subspecies)occurring in significantnumbers within interpres, and SanderlingsCalidris alba. Red-neckedand each area; cross-hatchingshows those occurring regularly but in Grey (Red) PhalaropesPhalaropus fulicarius migrate small numbers(see Table 1). Connectionsbetween bars showthe exclusivelyat sea followingbreeding, the former alongthe number of taxa shared between areas. continentalshelf and the latter mostly across pelagic waters. Important wintering sites in the Pacific region for populationsof shorebirdsbreeding in the North Pacific occur in the Americas from southern Canada to Chile (Morrison& Ross 1989, Morrisonet al. 1992; 1993; Page & Gill 1994). These include numerous estuaries along the

85 coast of Washington and California, especiallySan large numbersof Dunlinand a few other specieswinter Francisco Bay (Page et al. 1992), estuariesalong the alongthe coasts of Korea, Japan, and China (Long et coasts of Baja and west coast of mainland Mexico 1988; Brazil 1991). The Bristle-thighedCurlew is the only (Morrisonet ai. 1992, G. Page unpublisheddata), and the migratoryspecies whose entire populationis confinedto Bay of Panama (Morrison& Butler 1994)u In Oceania and Oceania duringthe nonbreedingperiod (Gill & Redmond Eastern Asia, most North Pacific species winter south of 1992). about 30 degreesN (Weishu & Purchase1987), although

8 •

15 23

37-39

24 11

E&SE Contiguous 5 United States Asia 4 16 8 21 11

Middle 9-12 3 Oc• America

Figure2. Post-breedingdispersion of shorebirdsfrom the NorthPacific region. Number of taxabreeding within each of the threeareas is shown insideshaded ovals. Connections between areas within the NorthPacific show the numberof thesetaxa exchanging during autumn migration. Connectionsto otherregions of the world(clear ovals) show the numberof taxadispersing to winterin thoseregions. Many species winter in morethan one region, and exact connections between specific breeding and wintering populations are poorlyknown for mostspecies.

CONSERVATION OF SHOREBIRDS Oceania. Within the North Pacific region, fiveareas potentiallyqualify as internationalsites and 11 areas as The high degreeof endemismand speciesdiversity hemisphericsites (Table 2). Amongthese, only three makes the North Pacificone of the world'smost important have yet been officiallydesignated under the Ramsar or regionsfor shorebirds. The responsibilityfor their WHSRN programs. Izembek Lagoonin Alaska and the conservation rests upon the will for international Alaksen National Wildlife Area on the Fraser River Delta cooperation One of the most effectivemechanisms for in British Columbia are official Ramsar sites and the the conservationof shorebirdsis the protectionof critical CopperRiver Delta, Alaska, is a WHSRN hemispheric breeding,staging, and nonbreedingareas along entire site. Elsewherein the Pacific,12 areas qualifyas flyways, which transcend internationalboundaries. internationalsites and six areas qualifyas hemispheric sites accordingto WHSRN criteria(Table 2). Among Along the Pacific coast of the Americas, there are 26 these, only San FranciscoBay and Grays Harbor have areas knownto qualify as sites of hemisphericor been officiallydesignated as WHSRN sites. In additionto internationalimportance to North Pacificshorebirds under the 26 Pacific Rim sites identified here, numerous other the WHSRN program(Table 2, Figure3). To date, an sitesare importantto North Pacificshorebirds, especially additionaleight sites alongthe western rim of the Pacific to specieswith mid-continentor Atlanticmigration mutes Ocean have been identifiedto date as importantto North or those winteringalong the Atlantic coast of Central and Pacific shorebirds under these criteria. Identification of criticalsites is incomplete,however, especially in the Russian Far East, Central America, East Asia and

86 Table2• Coastalwetlands throughout the Pacificbasin that qualify as importantsites for NorthPacific shorebirds under criteria of the Western HemisphereShorebird Reserve Network (VVHSRN)a Sites referenced by number on Figure 3.

WHSRNSite designationa Source

United States - Alaska 1 St. Lawrence Island Hb Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 2. St. Matthew Island Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 3. Pribilof Islands Hb Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 4. Nunivak Island •b Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 5. Central Yukon-Kuskokwim River delta Gill & Handel(1990) 6. Kuskokwim River delta H Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 7. Cinder River lagoon I Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 8. NelsonLagoon i-Hc Gill & Jorgensen(1979), Gill et al. (1981), Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 9o Mud Bay FHc Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 10• RedoubtBay Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 11l. Fox River delta Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data, G. West unpublisheddata 112•N. MontagueIsland Hd Gill & Tibbittsunpublished data 13. Copper River delta H Senher& Howe(1984) 14• Stikine River delta H C. Iversonunpublished data

Canada 15. Fraser River delta, B.C. Morrisonet aL (1992) United States - contiguous states 16. Grays Harbor,Washington Senner& Howe(11984),Wilson (11993) 17. HumboldtBay, California Senner& Howe(11984) 118.San FranciscoBay, California Senner& Howe(1984), Page et al. (1992)

Mexico 19. Rio Colorado Morrisonet al. (1993) 20. LagunaO•o de Liebre Morrisonet al. (1993), G. Page unpublisheddata 211. Esteros Tobari and Lobos Morrisonet al. (11993) 22. Culiacan-Los Mochis Morrisonet al. (11993)

Panama 23. Panama Bay I Morrison& Butler(1994)

Peru 24• Virrilaestuary He Morrison& Ross (11989) 25. Chiclayoregion H Morrison& Ross (11989)

Chile 26. Chiloeregion Hf Morrison&Ross (11989)

Russian Far East 27. MoroshechnayaRiverdelta P. Tomkovichunpublished data

Sumatra 28• BanyuasinMusi Riverdelta I Mundkur(1993)

Australia 29. Lake McLeod I Watkins(1993) 30. Port Hedland Saltworks I Watkins(1993) 31. EightyMile Beach H Watkins(1993) 32. RoebuckBay and Plains I Watkins(11993) 33. S. E. Gulf of Carpentaria I Watkins(1993) 34. The Coorong I Watkins(1993)a a UnderWHSR N criteria, an international site(I) must annually support at•east 100,000 shorebirds or15% of a flywaypopulation; a hemispheric site (H) mustsupport at least500,000 shorebirdsor 30% of a flywaypopulation. b Basedon percent ofrock sandpiper population using this site. c Sitequalifies as (I)based on numbers and as (H) based on percent offlyway population (dunlin and bar-tailed ). Additional studies also likelyto support(H) designationbased on totalnumbers. d Basedon percent ofsurfbird population using this site. e Basedon percent of sanderling population using this site. f Basedon percent ofHudsonian godwit and whimbrel populations usingthis area.

87 SouthAmerica. Such sites includeCheyenne Bottoms in ManagementArea in 1994. Conservationefforts in Alaska Kansas,Laguna Madre along the eastcoast of Mexico, and British Columbia should be directed primarily at and BahiaLomos, Chile (Senner & Howe1984; Morrison preventinghabitat deterioration, especially from oil spills & Ross 1989; Morrison et aL 1992, 1993). In the RussianFar East major effortsshould be directed at identifyingthe manyimportant sites that are likelyto Mostsites in Alaskaare currentlyafforded some levelof exist. The effectsof huntingthat occurslocally along the officialprotection under various land conservation coast shouldalso be assessed,particularly the impactson measures(e.g., as NationalWildlife Refuges, National populationsof EurasianWoodcock Sco/opax rustico/a, Monuments,or State CriticalHabitat Areas)ø Boundary Whimbrel, EurasianOystercatcher Haematopus Bayin the FraserRiver delta, British Columbia, will likely ostra/egusand the endangeredSpotted Greenshank. receiveofficial protection as a ProvincialWildlife

Alaska

Britist

Pacific Ocean

Hemisphericsite Internationalsite

Figure3. Locationsofcoastal wetlands throughout thePacific basin that meet Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network criteria for sites of internationalorhemispheric importance (see Table 2 forcriteria and designations).

The majorthreats to NorthPacific shorebirds in Central avifauna of Oceania, which is one of the fastest growing America, SouthAmerica, and the East Asian/Australasian humanpopulation centers on earth(Holyoak 1973, Moors flywayare fromdestruction of mangrovehabitats, hunting, 1985, Loopeetal. 1988, IUCN 1991). Thereis a and pollutionfrom oil, miningand pesticides(Delgado particularneed for informationon the Bristle-thighed 1986, Mundkur1993, I. Davidsonpersonal Curlew becauseof its restrictedrange on small islands communication:1994). Most shorebirdpopulations are and atolls,where it may be vulnerableto human judgedto haverebounded from the markethunting that disturbanceand exoticanimals, especiallyduring its occurredduring the past centuryin NorthAmerica flightlessmolt (Marks et al. 1990,Gill & Redmond1992) (Morrison& Harrington1979, Senher& Howe1984). The Red-neckedPhalaropes, which winter throughout southern longperiod required for recovery,however, highlights the Oceania,may be threatenedby ingestionof plastic needfor effectiveprotection from severeimpacts particles(Connors & Smith1982) and by oil spills.Only throughouttheir range. Humanshave devastated the

88 •nternationalcooperation will ensure that oceanic and identifythem. It is in the interest of all Pacific Rim nations coastal habitats remain free of such pollution. to identifyand evaluate the relative importanceof all critical sites used by North Pacific shorebirdsduring their annual cycle. CO-ORDINATED INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION As a second step, we need to establish programsto link each of these sites to the specific populationsthat use Many countriesare involvedin migratorybird them duringvarious stages of the annual cycle. It is conservationthroughout the Pacific. However, hollowconservation to have identifieda critical staging site in Alaska, for example, if sites used by these same conservationinformation is dispersed,resources are birds the other 10 months of the year are not known and if hmited, and data necessary for conservationactions are potentialthreats to the areas are not assessed. These not always available. The global scale of shorebird links can be establishedthrough large scale marking and conservationproblems requires coordinatedefforts to direct resultsto appropriatedecision-makers• We see this certsusingprograms that are organizedalong flyways by happeningat two levels, one involvingthe hands-on core staff in each nationand that functionwith mostly biologists,the other wildlife admimstrators, but both volunteerhelp. New advances in genetics and systematicsshow much promise as another tool that can workingjointly through all phasesof the program. be used by research biologiststo link populationsto specificbreeding, staging, and winteringsites. If these In the past two decades numerous organizationshave links can be established, it will be much more cost- formed to promote the study and conservationof effectiveto initiateinternational monitoring programs at shorebirds,including the Wader Study Group of , appropriatesites throughoutthe annual cycle, than to the Western HemisphereShorebird Reserve Network, the have a single country try to cover all aspects by itself. AustralasianWader Studies Group, the Asian Wetlands Such programs, however,will require a strong, long-term Bureau, Wetlands for the Americas and the Russian commitmentby the participatinggovernments to support Working Group on , to name a few. These groups their portionof such an internationalmonitoring program. have been very active in their areas of geographicinterest It may be in the best interests of some of the nations to and have readily made informationavailable to others. assistothers, particularlythe developingcountries, in Recently,they have recognizedthe need to form organizingsuch programsand developingtheir own partnershipsand expandtheir focusthroughout a flyway. expertise. For example,the Wader Study Group developeda formal protocolfor internationalcooperation in research efforts in Lastly, once sites have been identified, linked, and their the eastern hemisphere, includingthe East Asian- threats assessed,they need to be recognizedas critical Australasianflyway (Wader Study Group 1992). They also developeda formal agreementto provideadvice on componentsof an internationalshorebird reserve network. shorebird research and conservation issues to the This wiii requirethe continuedfinancial and political InternationalWetlands Research Bureau (N. Davidson, supportof existingprograms such as WHSRN, Ramsar, Wetlands for the Americas and the Asian personalcommunication: 1994). The protocoland agreement are being used as models to establish Bureau. Mostly, it will require a strong commitment from the three North Pacific countries - the United States, arrangements between the western hemisphere section of the Wader Study Group and Wetlands for the Americas Russian,and Canada - to expandthe scope of such (Canavari 1993). The AustralasianWader StudiesGroup, programsand forge partnershipsthat encompassthe entire Pacific basin. in conjunctionwith Russianshorebird biologists, recently has supportedwork on Palearcticnesting species using the east Asian flyway. All of these partnershipsare aligned around north-southshorebird migration corridors. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We have shown in this paper that shorebirdsthroughout the Pacific, but especiallythe North Pacific, involveeast- We thank lan Davidson for information from Central and west associationsas much as they do those north-south. South America, Gary Page for informationfrom Mexico, It is time for the variousshorebird groups and national and Chris Iverson and George West for informationfrom conservationagencies throughoutthe Pacific Rim nations Alaska. Bob Elnercritiqued an earlierdraft of this paper. to recognizethis east-west link and beg•nwork towards new partnerships. Further,these arrangementsshould extendto includePacific islandnations that individually REFERENCES supportmany small populationsof shorebirdsbut collectivelyaccount for substantialnumbers of birds. Baker,R. H. 1951. The avifaunaof Micronesia,its origin,evolution, and distribution. Univ. Kansas PubL Mus. Hist. 3:1-359. 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