Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus Bachmani) Conservation Action Plan
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BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus bachmani) CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN 1 APRIL 2007 Prepared by: David F. Tessler1, James A. Johnson2, Brad A. Andres3, Sue Thomas4, and Richard Lanctot2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus bachmani) CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN 1 APRIL 2007 Prepared by: David F. Tessler1, James A. Johnson2, Brad A. Andres3, Sue Thomas4, and Richard Lanctot2 1 Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Nongame Program, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518; (907) 267-2332; [email protected] 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; (907) 786-3423; [email protected] 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225; (303) 275-2324; [email protected] 4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232; (503) 231-6164; [email protected] Preferred Citation: Tessler, D.F., J.A. Johnson, B.A. Andres, S. Thomas, and R.B. Lanctot. 2007. Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) Conservation Action Plan. International Black Oystercatcher Working Group, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska, and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, Massachusetts. 115 pp. (http://www.whsrn.org/shorebirds/conservation_plans.html) Black Oystercatcher Conservation Plan April 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................... 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................ 4 Legal or Priority Status..................................................................................................................................... 4 Rationale for Selection as a Focal Species........................................................................................................ 5 Spatial Extent of Action Plan............................................................................................................................ 6 Action Plan Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 6 POPULATION STATUS AND NATURAL HISTORY ...................................................................................... 7 Taxonomy and Geographic Morphological Variation....................................................................................... 7 Range and Distribution..................................................................................................................................... 8 Breeding Range ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Migration and Wintering Range................................................................................................................. 9 Major Habitats................................................................................................................................................ 12 Foraging Habitat....................................................................................................................................... 12 Nesting Habitat.......................................................................................................................................... 13 Life History, Breeding, and Demographics ..................................................................................................... 15 Population Estimate, Status, and Trend.......................................................................................................... 18 Alaska Population and Trend Information............................................................................................... 19 British Columbia Population and Trend Information.............................................................................. 24 Washington Population and Trend Information ...................................................................................... 28 Oregon Population and Trend Information.............................................................................................. 29 California Population and Trend Information ......................................................................................... 30 Baja California, Mexico Population and Trend Information ................................................................... 31 CONSERVATION SITES.................................................................................................................................. 31 Alaska............................................................................................................................................................. 32 Important Breeding Regions..................................................................................................................... 32 Important Wintering Regions................................................................................................................... 33 British Columbia............................................................................................................................................. 34 Important Breeding Regions..................................................................................................................... 34 Important Wintering Regions................................................................................................................... 34 Washington..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Important Breeding Regions..................................................................................................................... 35 Important Wintering Regions................................................................................................................... 35 Oregon............................................................................................................................................................ 36 Important Breeding Regions..................................................................................................................... 36 Important Wintering Regions................................................................................................................... 37 ii Black Oystercatcher Conservation Plan April 2007 California........................................................................................................................................................ 37 Important Breeding Regions..................................................................................................................... 37 Important Wintering Regions................................................................................................................... 38 Baja California ............................................................................................................................................... 38 Important Breeding Regions..................................................................................................................... 38 Important Wintering Regions................................................................................................................... 39 LIMITING FACTORS AND THREATS .......................................................................................................... 39 Predation on Eggs, Chicks and Adults ............................................................................................................ 39 Petroleum Contamination of Shorelines ......................................................................................................... 41 Flooding and Recreational Disturbance at Nest Sites ..................................................................................... 43 Amelioration Affects of Protected Lands on Threats....................................................................................... 44 FOCAL SPECIES OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................... 45 ADDITIONAL RESEARCH NEEDS................................................................................................................ 45 FOCAL SPECIES PRIORITY ACTIONS ........................................................................................................ 46 A Note on Projected Costs............................................................................................................................... 47 Range-wide Priority Actions............................................................................................................................ 47 Action R1: Assess nonbreeding distribution and migratory connectivity between breeding and wintering areas. ......................................................................................................................................... 47 Action R2: Initiate a coordinated range-wide monitoring