STATUS OF PIPING PLOVERS IN . - 1990 SUMMARY

Observers reported a total of 139 breeding pairs of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) at 58 sites in Massachusetts in 1990 (Table 1) . This compares to statewide totals from the past 2 years of 137 pairs (1989) and 134 pairs (1988). Observer effort in 1990, measured as number of sites surveyed and intensity of census effort at each site, was roughly equal to that of the previous 2 years. "Breeding pairs" are defined as pairs that are observed with either a nest or unfledged chicks or that exhibit site tenacity and evidence of pair bonding and territoriality. Single birds observed during the breeding season exhibiting agitated, site-tenacious behavior or distraction displays are also considered indicative of a breeding pair at a site. Breeding plovers were present at coastal sites from Plum Island south to the Rhode Island border and east to and . Twenty-two pairs (16% of the state total) occurred at sites on the North Shore (New Hampshire border south to Boston) , 6 pairs (4%) were on the South Shore (Boston to the Cape Cod Canal), 25 pairs (18%) were along the west shore of Buzzard's Bay (Wareham south to Rhode Island border), 23 pairs (17%) were at Upper Cape Cod sites (Cape Cod Canal east to Brewster and Harwich) , 31 pairs (22%) were at Lower Cape Cod sites (Chatham to Provincetown), and 32 pairs (23%) were on the Outer Islands ( east to Nantucket) . Mean number of pairs per site was only 2.4 (range = L - 11 pairs). Forty-six of 58 sites (79%) had 3 or fewer pairs, and accounted for 66 total pairs, or 47% of the state population. Maximum numbers of pairs occurred at Horseneck (11), (10), Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (10), and Little Beach/Barney's Joy (6) . Together, these 4 sites accounted for- over 26% of the state population. In addition to estimating total numbers of breeding pairs using each site over the entire season, cooperators this year/ also counted numbers of breeding pairs present at each site during the week of 27 May - 2 June. This 1-week count represents an effort to develop a standardized index to population trends that minimizes chances of "double-counting" pairs that move between sites during the summer. A total of 111 pairs were recorded during the count week, 80% of the statewide season total of 139 pairs (Table 1) . Six sites totalling 9 pairs were missed during the census week but were censused at other times during the summer. Counts during the week of 27 May - 2 June equalled or were only 1 pair less than total counts for the summer at 52 of 58 (90%) sites where pLovers were present. At 3 other sites, discrepancies of 2-4 pairs between the 1-week count and the total count were believed largely clue to pairs that established territories after 2 June and presumably had been at other locations during the count week. It was the general concensus of cooperators that: 1) it was feasible to census nearly all sites during the 1-week count period, and 2) the standardized census could probably be moved 1 week later, to the first full week in June, or be expanded to 10-14 days, and still achieve similar results. It is hoped that a single, standardized count "window" can be adopted by all the Atlantic states and provinces in time for the 1991 International Piping Plover Census.

Overall mean productivity for Massachusetts in 1990 was 1.38 chicks fledged per pair, based on estimates of fledging success for 125 of 139 (90%) pairs at 56 of 58 (97%) sites (Table 1) .. A chick was considered fledged if it survived 2. 25 days or was observed in flight, whichever came first. Mean productivity was lower this year than in 1989 (1.59), but remained higher than the 1988 and 1987 estimates of 1.29 and 1.10, respectively. The decline in productivity in 1990 was disappointing given that the scope and intensity of conservation efforts continued to increase. A common thread seemed to be that more sites reported nests lost to washover than in previous years, largely the result of storm and wind-driven high tides in May and June. On a more optimistic note, significant gains were recorded at Parker River NWR, where 10 pairs fledged 14 chicks, and on the Cape Cod National Seashore, where 15 pairs fledged 39 chicks, an average of 2.6 chicks per pair.

Our thanks to all who contributed data and for your efforts during the past year.

Data compiled by: Scott M. Melvin, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Field Headquarters, Westborough, MA 01581. 11/19/90 Table 1. Summary of abundance, distribution, and productivity of Piping Plovers in Massachusetts, 1990.

No. of pairs a No. Count Totalb chicks Location week count fledgedc JJORTH SHORE fcPJP-5 Salisbury Beach, Salisbury 0 nd nd t-){2-b Parker River NWR, Newbury/Rowley 6 10 14 jr<*.~: Plum Island State Park, Ipswich 1 2 0 JM S 5 Crane Beach, Ipswich 9 10 18

SOUTH SHORE J.I&"! Third Cliff, Scituate 3 3 3 5:; Fourth Cliff, Scituate 0 0 0 -" Duxbury Beach, Duxbury I 1 1 r > "-'Plymouth Beach, Plymouth I 2 4

BUZZARDS BAY -"':- Stony Point Dike, Wareham 1 1 nd '3'' Long Beach Point, Warehara nd nd nd '•; ' '•' West Island, Fairhaven 0 0 0 -Round Hill Beach, Dartmouth- 0 0 0 :"~Salter's Pond, Dartmouth 0 1 0 '- Little Beach/Barney's Joy, Dartmouth 5 6 5 • ' Gooseberry Neck, Westport 3 3 .. 4 '-''j> Horseneck Beach, Westport 8 11 5

No. of pairs No. Count Total chicks Location week count fledged frl ^ west Dennis Beach, Dennis 1 1 0 Chapin Beach, Dennis 0 0 0 LOWER CAPE 2- • ** 2- -Harding ' s Beach, Chatham 2 2 6 ""- Harding 's Beach Point, Chatham 0 0 0 i: ' North , Chatham 0 0 0 /" Armstrong Cut, Truro 1 1 3 oM£/High Head, Truro 0 1 2 OUTER ISLANDS o1 ! ?P nd 0 0 " 2 2 . nd ? " nd 4 °d ?5Cuttyhunk Island nd 4 3d Martha's Vineyard Hart Haven, Oak Bluffs 1 1 nd Eel Pond, Edgartown 1 1 0 Silvia State Beach, Edgartown 0 0 0 East Beach, Chappaquiddick 1 1 4 Cape Pogue, Chappaquiddick 0 0 0 Wasque , Edgartown 1 1 3 ^Norton Point, Edgartown 1 1 0 <^3Tisbury Great Pond (Quansoo) , Chilmark 1 1 0 9? Squibnocket, Chilmark 1 1 0 9^ Long Beach, Gayhead 1 1 0 l£ Tashmoo, Tisbury 1 1 0 <>>( 57Lobsterville, Gayhead . o 0 0 Table 1. Continued, No. of pairs No. Count Total chicks Location count fledged Nantucket ^g- Great Point 5 5 5 Tom Never s Head 0 0 0 :''"'•'• Surf side 0 0 0 :.> ''/ Smith Point 1 .1 2 - 1 1 0 ' 2 2 4 ''Nomans Land nd 0 0

TOTALS 111 139 172

Maximum number of territorial pairs present during week of 27 May - 2 June. nd = no data available. Best estimate of maximum number of territorial pairs present during breeding season. nd = no data available. Fledging defined as chicks >_ 25 days of age or observed in flight, whichever comes first, nd = no data available. Number of chicks fledged determined for only 1 of the pairs at this site. Number of chicks fledged determined for only 2 of the pairs at this site.