Movements of Banded Arctic Waders to and from New Zealand

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Movements of Banded Arctic Waders to and from New Zealand Movements of banded Arctic waders to and from New Zealand ADRIAN C. RIEGEN 231 Forest Hill Road, Waiatarua, Auckland 8, New Zealand ABSTRACT Between 1979 and 1998,6975 Arctic waders of seven species (mainly Lesser Knots Calidris canutus and Bar-tailedGodwits Limosa lapponica) were caught by the Miranda Banders and the New Zealand Wader Study Group near Auckland. Of these, 1375 were marked with a white leg-flag on the tibia to denote capture in New Zealand. Thirty-two Lesser Knots and three Bar-tailed Godwits had already been banded overseas, mainly in Australia. Another two Lesser Knots and two Bar-tailed Godwits banded overseas have been found dead in New Zealand. Up to 135 Lesser Knots, 34 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Turnstones and 2 Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis) bearing Australian leg-flags, and 2 colour-banded Bar-tailed Godwits from Alaska have been seen in New Zealand. Of those birds banded or leg-flagged in New Zealand, up to 21 Lesser Knots, up to 17 Bar-tailed Godwits, and two Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) have been recovered or seen in six overseas countries. One Turnstone banded in New Zealand was caught in Australia and then recaptured back at its original banding site. The migration routes taken by Lesser Knots, Bar-tailed Godwits and firnstones visiting New Zealand have been deduced from these band recovery data. KEYWORDS: Arctic waders, Lesser Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, migration, band recoveries INTRODUCTION Banding of Arctic waders in New Zealand started at Miranda on the Firth of Thames (37"101S, 175"201E),in 1979, when Dick Veitch set up the 'Miranda Banders' in association with the Miranda Naturalists' Trust. The first catch was a modest one, but soon good numbers of Arctic and New Zealand native waders were caught in cannon-nets and occasionally in mist-nets. The Miranda Banders suspended operations in mid-1982, but was re-established in late 1986 by Stephen Davies and Adrian Riegen with the encouragement of the Australasian Wader Study Group and Dick Veitch. Since December 1991, white leg-flags have been attached to the tibia of 1375 waders. In 1993, the Miranda Banders changed its name to the New Zealand Wader Study Group to reflect the banding efforts by the group at sites other than Miranda. Most Arctic waders visiting New Zealand form part of the East Asian - Austral- asian Flyway populations. This flyway is one of the least understood of the world's flyways, especially since the proposed main staging site on the northern shores of theyellow Sea has not been visited by ornithologists (Wilson & Barter 1998). Minton (1996a, 1998) has deduced the migration pathways taken by Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis) and Curlew Sandpipers (C. ferruginea), respectively, between Notornis 46: 123-142 (1999) O 1999 Ornithological Society of New Zealand RIEGEN TABLE 1 - The number of Arctic waders caught in the Auckland area in 1979-98, the number of sites they were caught at, and the mean number caught on the occasions when they were caught. The final column gives the number of birds leg-flagged (white) since December 1991. Species Number Number Number Mean Number caught of sites of catches catch flagged Lesser Knot 5342 6 Bar-tailed Godwit 1514 7 Turnstone 92 3 Curlew Sandpiper 19 2 Red-necked Stint 3 1 Pacific Golden Plover 2 1 Terek Sandpiper 1 1 Australia and the Arctic. Wilson and Barter (1998) have proposed migration routes taken by Great Knots (Calidris tenuirostris), Lesser Knots (C. canutus) and Bar- tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) from Australia northwards to the Arctic. In this paper, I review recoveries of all banded Arctic waders from New Zealand, highlight significant recovery records, and deduce the migration routes to and from New Zealand for Lesser Knots, Bar-tailed Godwits and Turnstones (Arenaria interpres). METHODS Between 1979 and 1998, Arctic waders were caught on 41 occasions at seven sites in the Auckland region. The most frequently used sites were Jordan's farm on the south-eastern side of the Kaipara Harbour, and Miranda in the Firth of Thames. Almost all birds were caught by cannon-nets while the birds were at their high tide roosts on farmland (Jordan's) or shellbanks (Firth of Thames sites). In sum- mer and autumn (October-April),flocks of Arctic waders were targeted with a mean summer-autumn catch of 170 Arctic waders, mainly Lesser Knots and Bar-tailed Godwits. In the winter of 1980, 501 Arctic waders were caught incidentally while trying to capture Wrybills (Anarhynchus frontalis), and on 4 July 1992, 595 overwintering Lesser Knots were caught. A few birds were caught in mist-nets set at night over suitable feeding habitat at Miranda, Karaka (Manukau Harbour) and Tapora (Kaipara Harbour). All birds were banded with a metal band bearing a unique number, except for a few which had already been banded overseas. Since 1991,1375 birds (718 Lesser Knots, 593 Bar-tailed Godwits and 64 Turnstones) have had a small white leg-flag, made of stiff plastic (Damic), attached to the tibia to allow instant identification that the bird had been in New Zealand. With this marking method it is difficult to determine how many individuals are resighted unless two or more birds bearing the same colour-flag are seen simultaneously, but the reporting rate far exceeds that from banding alone (Minton 1996b). NOTORNIS 46 BANDED ARCTIC WADERS TABLE 2 - Summary of the movements of Arctic waders from and to New Zealand. From NZ to: Vic WA NT Qld NSW lrian Jaya China Japan Russia Alaska TOTAL Lesser Knot 1 Bar-tailed Godwit Turnstone [-Australian states 1 To NZ from: Vic WA NT Qld NSW Irian Jaya China Japan Russia Alaska TOTAL Lesser Knot 21 3 1 5 1 Bar-tailed Godwit 1 1 1 Turnstone 1 The birds were aged from plumage and state of moult or feather wear (Barter & Davidson 1990), and where possible they were sexed from measurements (Bar-tailed Godwits) or plumage (Turnstones). Except in a few very large catches, when some birds were aged, banded and released, biometrical data was collected on the length of exposed bill, wing, tail and tarsus, and weight of the bird. RESULTS Band recoveries A total of 6975 Arctic waders of seven species were caught by the Miranda Banders or the New Zealand Wader Study Group in the Auckland region between 1979 and 1998 (Table 1). Almost all were Lesser Knots (77%), Bar-tailed Godwits (22%) or Turnstones (0.9%), with very small numbers of Curlew Sandpiper, Red- necked Stint, Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus). A total of 33 of the waders had already been banded overseas, and 23 of the birds have since been recovered overseas, including a Turnstone that was re- captured in Australia and then caught back in New Zealand (Table 2). Of the 5342 Lesser Knots handled, 30 had already been banded in Australia. Two other Australian-banded Lesser Knot have been found dead in New Zealand, a bird found dead near Karaka (Manukau Harbour) and one in the Kaipara Har- bour. Nineteen (0.35%) of the Lesser Knots banded in New Zealand have been recovered overseas: ten in China, four in Australia, three in Russia, and two in Indonesia. Full details of each banded bird is found in Appendix la. Two of the 1514 Bar-tailed Godwits handled had already been banded in Australia. In addition, a Bar-tailed Godwit banded at Nudgee Beach, Queensland, was found dead on the Tamaki Estuary after hitting powerlines, and a Bar-tailed Godwit banded in the Pribolof Islands, off western Alaska, was found dead in Tauranga Harbour. RIEGEN NOTORNIS 46 Two birds from mainland Alaska have been reported from colour-band combinations; one was banded on the Seward Peninsula in western Alaska and seen in four of the five subsequent summers at Miranda, the other was banded at Lake Kgun on the Yukon delta and seen by me at Miranda, even though it was reportedly banded as a Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica). Three (0.2%) of the birds banded in New Zealand have been recovered overseas: two in Russia and one in Japan. Full details of these nine birds are given in Appendix lb. One (1%) of the 92 Turnstones handled was later caught in Queensland, but then recaptured back at its banding site at Miranda (Appendix lc). Leg-flag sightings Of the 718 Lesser Knots leg-flagged in New Zealand since December 1991, three (0.4%) have been seen overseas; one at Altona Beach, Victoria, in March, and two in South Korea in May. Up to eleven, but probably nine (1.5%) of the 593 leg-flagged Bar-tailed Godwits have been seen overseas. Six records are from Kyushu in southern Japan and may involve multiple sightings of the same bird: Ariaka Sea (32" 50'N, 130" 50'E) on 1April 1992, Hakata Bay (33" 401N,130" 25'E) on 17 April 1995, Sone (33" 55'N, 130" 55'E) on 1 May 1995 and 7 May 1998; Ganossa, in Hakata Bay, on 6 April 1996; and Nakatsu (33" 36'N, 131" 13'E) on 29 April 1998. Five sightings, probably of three individuals, have been reported from South Korea: Kanghwa Island (37" 35'N, 126" 25'E) on 18 and 23 April and 9 May 1998, Namyang Bay (37" 05'N, 126" 45'E) on 25 April 1998, and at Aphaedo Mokpo (34" 50'N, 126" 30'E) on 4 May 1998. One white-flagged Turnstone was seen at Dongjin Estuary, South Korea (37' 25'N, 126" 44'E) on 5 September 1997. It is difficult to determine the number of leg-flagged individuals seen in New Zealand because many birds carry the same flag colour.
Recommended publications
  • Age-Related Differences in Ruddy Turnstone Foraging and Aggressive Behavior
    AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN RUDDY TURNSTONE FORAGING AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR SARAH GROVES ABSTRACT.--Theforaging behavior of fall migrant Ruddy Turnstoneswas studiedon the Mas- sachusettscoast on 2 different substrates,barnacle-covered rocks and sand and weed-litteredflats. Foragingrates differedsignificantly between the 2 substrates.On eachsubstrate the foragingand successrates of adults and juveniles differed significantly while the frequenciesof successwere similarfor both age-classes.The observeddifferences in foragingrates of adultsand juvenilesmay be due to the degreeof refinementof foragingtechniques. Experience in searchingfor and handling prey may be a primary factor accountingfor thesedifferences, and foragingperformance probably improves with age and experience.Alternatively, the differencesmay be due to the presenceof inefficient juveniles that do not survive to adulthood. Both adultsand juveniles in the tall-depressedposture were dominant in aggressiveinteractions much morefrequently than birds in the tall-levelposture. In mixedflocks of foragingadult and juvenile turnstones,the four possibletypes of aggressiveinteractions occurred nonrandomly. Adult over juvenile interactionsoccurred more frequently than expected,and juvenile over adult interac- tions were never seen.A tentative explanationof this phenomenonmay be that juveniles misinter- pret or respondambivalently to messagesconveyed behaviorally by adultsand thusbecome espe- cially vulnerableto aggressionby adults.The transiencyof migrantsmade it unfeasibleto evaluate
    [Show full text]
  • Population Analysis and Community Workshop for Far Eastern Curlew Conservation Action in Pantai Cemara, Desa Sungai Cemara – Jambi
    POPULATION ANALYSIS AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOP FOR FAR EASTERN CURLEW CONSERVATION ACTION IN PANTAI CEMARA, DESA SUNGAI CEMARA – JAMBI Final Report Small Grant Fund of the EAAFP Far Eastern Curlew Task Force Iwan Febrianto, Cipto Dwi Handono & Ragil S. Rihadini Jambi, Indonesia 2019 The aim of this project are to Identify the condition of Far Eastern Curlew Population and the remaining potential sites for Far Eastern Curlew stopover in Sumatera, Indonesia and protect the remaining stopover sites for Far Eastern Curlew by educating the government, local people and community around the sites as the effort of reducing the threat of habitat degradation, habitat loss and human disturbance at stopover area. INTRODUCTION The Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariencis) is the largest shorebird in the world and is endemic to East Asian – Australian Flyway. It is one of the Endangered migratory shorebird with estimated global population at 38.000 individual, although a more recent update now estimates the population at 32.000 (Wetland International, 2015 in BirdLife International, 2017). An analysis of monitoring data collected from around Australia and New Zealand (Studds et al. in prep. In BirdLife International, 2017) suggests that the species has declined much more rapidly than was previously thought; with an annual rate of decline of 0.058 equating to a loss of 81.7% over three generations. Habitat loss occuring as a result of development is the most significant threat currently affecting migratory shorebird along the EAAF (Melville et al. 2016 in EAAFP 2017). Loss of habitat at critical stopover sites in the Yellow Sea is suspected to be the key threat to this species and given that it is restricted to East Asian - Australasian Flyway, the declines in the non-breeding are to be representative of the global population.
    [Show full text]
  • Common Caribbean Shorebirds: ID Guide
    Common Caribbean Shorebirds: ID Guide Large Medium Small 14”-18” 35 - 46 cm 8.5”-12” 22 - 31 cm 6”- 8” 15 - 20 cm Large Shorebirds Medium Shorebirds Small Shorebirds Whimbrel 17.5” 44.5 cm Lesser Yellowlegs 9.5” 24 cm Wilson’s Plover 7.75” 19.5 cm Spotted Sandpiper 7.5” 19 cm American Oystercatcher 17.5” 44.5 cm Black-bellied Plover 11.5” 29 cm Sanderling 7.75” 19.5 cm Western Sandpiper 6.5” 16.5 cm Willet 15” 38 cm Short-billed Dowitcher 11” 28 cm White-rumped Sandpiper 6” 15 cm Greater Yellowlegs 14” 35.5 cm Ruddy Turnstone 9.5” 24 cm Semipalmated Sandpiper 6.25” 16 cm 6.25” 16 cm American Avocet* 18” 46 cm Red Knot 10.5” 26.5 cm Snowy Plover Least Sandpiper 6” 15 cm 14” 35.5 cm 8.5” 21.5 cm Semipalmated Plover Black-necked Stilt* Pectoral Sandpiper 7.25” 18.5 cm Killdeer* 10.5” 26.5 cm Piping Plover 7.25” 18.5 cm Stilt Sandpiper* 8.5” 21.5 cm Lesser Yellowlegs & Ruddy Turnstone: Brad Winn; Red Knot: Anthony Levesque; Pectoral Sandpiper & *not pictured Solitary Sandpiper* 8.5” 21.5 cm White-rumped Sandpiper: Nick Dorian; All other photos: Walker Golder Clues to help identify shorebirds Size & Shape Bill Length & Shape Foraging Behavior Size Length Sandpipers How big is it compared to other birds? Peeps (Semipalmated, Western, Least) Walk or run with the head down, picking and probing Spotted Sandpiper Short Medium As long Longer as head than head Bobs tail up and down when walking Plovers, Turnstone or standing Small Medium Large Sandpipers White-rumped Sandpiper Tail tips up while probing Yellowlegs Overall Body Shape Stilt Sandpiper Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Probes mud like “oil derrick,” Willet, rear end tips up Dowitcher, Curvature Plovers Stilt, Avocet Run & stop, pick, hiccup, run & stop Elongate Compact Yellowlegs Specific Body Parts Stroll and pick Bill & leg color Straight Upturned Dowitchers Eye size Plovers = larger, sandpipers = smaller Tip slightly Probe mud with “sewing machine” Leg & neck length downcurved Downcurved bill, body stays horizontal .
    [Show full text]
  • List of Shorebird Profiles
    List of Shorebird Profiles Pacific Central Atlantic Species Page Flyway Flyway Flyway American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) •513 American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) •••499 Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) •488 Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) •••501 Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)•490 Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) •511 Dowitcher (Limnodromus spp.)•••485 Dunlin (Calidris alpina)•••483 Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemestica)••475 Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)•••492 Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) ••503 Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)••505 Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) •497 Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa)••473 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)•••479 Sanderling (Calidris alba)•••477 Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)••494 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)•••507 Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)•509 Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) •••481 Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) ••515 All illustrations in these profiles are copyrighted © George C. West, and used with permission. To view his work go to http://www.birchwoodstudio.com. S H O R E B I R D S M 472 I Explore the World with Shorebirds! S A T R ER G S RO CHOOLS P Red Knot (Calidris canutus) Description The Red Knot is a chunky, medium sized shorebird that measures about 10 inches from bill to tail. When in its breeding plumage, the edges of its head and the underside of its neck and belly are orangish. The bird’s upper body is streaked a dark brown. It has a brownish gray tail and yellow green legs and feet. In the winter, the Red Knot carries a plain, grayish plumage that has very few distinctive features. Call Its call is a low, two-note whistle that sometimes includes a churring “knot” sound that is what inspired its name.
    [Show full text]
  • The Following Is a List of Birds Seen Or Reported Around Vinalhaven Over the Past Twenty Years
    The following is a list of birds seen or reported around Vinalhaven over the past twenty years. Common Loon (Gavia immer) Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) Woodcock (Scolopax minor)N Red Necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena) Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritime) Pie- billed Grebe (Poilymbus podiceps)N? Red Knot (Calidris canutus) Yellow-nosed albatross (Diomedi chlororhynchos) Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) Sanderling (Calidris alba) Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) Western Sandpiper (Calidrs mauri) Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) Least Sandpiper (Calsidris minuttla) Wilson’s Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) Leach’s Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)N Baird’s Snadpiper (Calidris bairdii) White Pelican (Pelecanus erthrorhynchos) Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melnotos) Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) Gannet (Sula bassanus) Pomarine Jaeger (Stoecorarius pomarinus) Great Cormorant (Phalocrocorax carbo)N Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) Double -breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)N Little Gull (Larus minutus) Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)N Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Herring Gull (Larus argenatatusN Green Heron (Butorides
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Shorebirds Identification Sheet Department of the Environment Small Plovers and Turnstone and Water Resources No.1
    Australian Government Australian Shorebirds Identification Sheet Department of the Environment Small Plovers and Turnstone and Water Resources No.1 ORIENTAL PLOVER 25cm. M sparsely vegetated plains of arid large heavy bill inland and coastal mudflats and beaches of northern Australia adult breeding narrow bill adult male breeding adult adult non-breeding non-breeding long legs LARGE SAND PLOVER adult breeding 21cm. M coastal mudflats and bill short sandy intertidal zones and stout darker mask DOUBLE-BANDED PLOVER 19cm. M MONGOLIAN PLOVER 19cm. M coastal mudflats and adult breeding sandy intertidal zones RED-CAPPED PLOVER 15cm. R adult non-breeding rufous cap bill short and narrow winter visitor returning to New Zealand for summer adult non-breeding adult female coastal mudflats and sandy intertidal bare mudflats distinctive black markings zones, also open bare margins of inland and margins adult male on face and breastband of inland and freshwater and saline marsh, south-east coastal saline Australia wetlands BLACK-FRONTED DOTTEREL 17cm. R RED-KNEED DOTTEREL pairs or small family groups on dry margins of 18cm. R feshwater wetlands large or small feeds in shallow margins of inland short rear end freshwater wetlands including temporary shallows after rain black breast band and head, chestnut flanks, long legs with distinctive white throat pink upper half RUDDY TURNSTONE 23cm. M distinctive black hood and white wedge shaped bill collar uses stout bill to flip stones, shells, seaweed and drift- 21cm. R HOODED PLOVER wood on sandy or cobble sandy ocean beaches of beaches, rock platform or southern Australia, open short pink legs reef of coastal Australia edges of saltlakes in south-west Australia M = migratory .
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Sightings January/February 1997 Summary
    BIRD OBSERVER © Barry Van Dusen VOL. 25 NO. 3 JUNE 1997 BIRD OBSERVER • bimonthly journal • To enhance understanding, observation, and enjoyment of birds. Ma S S ^ VOL. 25, NO. 3 JUNE 1997 Editor in Chief Board of Directors Corporate Officers Matthew L. Pelikan Dorothy R. Atvidson President Associate Editor Marjorie W. Rines Alden G. Clayton Janet L. Heywood Treasurer & Clerk Department Heads William E. Davis, Jr. Glenn d’Entremont Assistant Clerk Cover Art H. Christian Floyd John A. Shetterly William E. Davis, Jr. Janet L. Heywood Where to Go Birding Subscription Manager Harriet E. Hoffman Jim Berry Carolyn Marsh Feature Articles Matthew L. Pelikan Advertisements Guy Washburn Marta Hersek Wayne R. Petersen Book Reviews Associate Staff John A. Shetterly Alden G. Clayton Theodore Atkinson Bird Sightings Robert H. Stymeist David E. Lange Robert H. Stymeist Patricia A. O’Neill Simon Perkins At a Glance Pamela A. Perry Wayne R. Petersen BIRD OBSERVER (USPS 369-850) is published bimonthly, COPYRIGHT © 1997 by Bird Observer of Eastern Massachusetts, Inc., 462 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA 02178, a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts to Bird Observer will be greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BIRD OBSERVER, 462 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA 02178. PERIODICALS CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT BOSTON, MA. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $21 for 6 issues, $40 for two years in the U.S. Add $2.50 per year for Canada and foreign. Single copies $4.00. An Index to Volumes 1-11 is $3. Back issues: inquire as to price and availability.
    [Show full text]
  • Biometrics and Breeding Phenology of Terek Sandpipers in the Pripyat’ Valley, S Belarus
    54 Wader Study Group Bulletin Biometrics and breeding phenology of Terek Sandpipers in the Pripyat’ Valley, S Belarus NATALIA KARLIONOVA1, MAGDALENA REMISIEWICZ2, PAVEL PINCHUK1 1Institute of Zoology, Belarussian National Academy of Sciences, Academichnaya Str. 27, 220072 Minsk, Belarus. [email protected] 2Avian Ecophysiology Unit, Dept of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Univ. of Gdansk, al. Legionów 9, 80-441 Gdansk, Poland. [email protected] Karlionova, N., Remisiewicz, M. & Pinchuk, P. 2006. Biometrics and breeding phenology of Terek Sandpipers in the Pripyat’ Valley, S Belarus. Wader Study Group Bull. 110: 54–58. Keywords: Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus, biometrics, breeding phenology, Pripyat’ Valley, Belarus We present data on the breeding phenology and biometrics of Terek Sandpipers from the isolated westernmost population in the Pripyat’ river valley, S Belarus, close to the border with Ukraine. Studies were conducted on floodplain islands between the beginning of April and mid-July during 1996–1999 and 2002–2006. Over the years, the first arrivals appeared during 10–26 April (median 14 April), first eggs were laid during 24 April to 5 May (median 30 April) and the latest egg was laid on 25 May, first chicks hatched during 19 May to 1 June (median 25 May) and the first fledged juveniles were caught on 23 June. We present biometric data for juve- niles (at the post-fledging stage) and adults. The mean wing length of juveniles, just before departure from the breeding grounds in mid June, reached 96% of that of adults. Juvenile total head lengths were 91% of adult, and bill and nalospi lengths 85% of adult, but tarsus and tarsus plus toe lengths were the same as adults.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide of Bird Watching Course on Sado Island
    Guide of bird watching course on Sado island SPRING Recommended theme: Migratory birds in Washizaki Place: Washizaki cape in northeastern in Sado Birds: Duck, Grebe, Plover, Snipe, Wagtail, etc. -Watch the birds stay and regroup their flocks in Washizaki. List of birds that can be observed on Sado in spring English name Scientific name *Duck etc. Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Gadwall Anas strepera Falcated duck Anas falcata Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope American Wigeon Anas americana Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Eastern spot-billed duck Anas zonorhyncha Northern shoveler Anas clypeata Northern pintail Anas acuta Garganey Anas querquedula Teal Anas crecca Common pochard Aythya ferina Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Greater scaup Aythya marila Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus Black scoter Melanitta americana Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula Smew Mergellus albellus Common merganser Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator *Grebe Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus Horned grebe Podiceps auritus Eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis *Plover, Snipe, etc. Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus Pacific golden-plover Pluvialis fulva Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius 1 Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus Lesser sand-plover Charadrius mongolus Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola Solitary snipe Gallinago solitaria Latham's snipe Gallinago hardwickii Common snipe Gallinago
    [Show full text]
  • Shorebirds and Horseshoe Crabs in Jamaica Bay: 2014 Update
    Shorebirds and Horseshoe Crabs in Jamaica Bay: 2014 Update credit: Don Riepe Debra Kriensky, New York City Audubon Harbor Herons Working Group Annual Meeting –Dec. 11‐12, 2014 Photo Credit: coastaloutdooradventures.com Sanderling Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Shorebird Migration Semipalmated Sandpiper Dunlin http://fossilcollector.wordpress.com/ Photo Credit: marinebio.org www.allposters.com Jamaica Bay JBWR Big Egg Marsh Plumb Beach Dead Horse Bay Bay Dunes Shorebird monitoring sites Horseshoe crab monitoring sites CITIZEN SCIENCE Horseshoe Crab Monitoring 2009‐2014 Average # of HSC Counted per Sampling Night 350 Note: Different sampling methods 300 used at PBW & DHB in 2014 Night 250 Sampling per 200 Plumb Beach Dead Horse Bay Counted 150 Big Egg Marsh HSC Plumb Beach West of # 100 Average 50 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Year Plumb Beach June 2012 vs. November 2012 Shorebird Monitoring 2009‐2014 Maximum Count per Species ‐ Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 3000 2500 American Oystercatcher Black‐bellied Plover 2000 Dunlin Least Sandpiper Red Knot 1500 Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Plover 1000 Semipalmated Sandpiper Short‐billed Dowitcher White‐rumped Sandpiper 500 Willet 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Shorebird Monitoring 2009‐2014 Maximum Count per Species ‐ Plumb Beach 3500 3000 American Oystercatcher Black‐bellied Plover 2500 Dunlin Least Sandpiper Red Knot 2000 Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling 1500 Semipalmated Plover Semipalmated Sandpiper Short‐billed Dowitcher 1000 White‐rumped Sandpiper Willet 500 TOTAL HSC 0 2009 2010 2011 2012
    [Show full text]
  • Vol. 2 No. 3 May-June 2006
    Indian Birds Vol. 2 No. 3 May-June 2006 READY-RECKONER Internet Resources India Birds: http://www.indiabirds.com/ Bird conservation organisations Birds of Kerala: http://birdskerala.com/ BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY: Honorary Secretary, Hornbill BirdLife International: http://www.birdlife.net/ House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai 400023, Maharashtra. Indian Jungles: http://www.indianjungles.com/ Website: www.bnhs.org. Email: [email protected]. Publish: Birds of Kolkata: http://www.kolkatabirds.com/ Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society; Hornbill. Contact Sanctuary Asia: http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/ above for: INDIAN BIRD CONSERVATION NETWORK: Publish: Red Data Book: http://www.rdb.or.id/index.html/ Mistnet. ENVIS CENTRE: Publish: Buceros. The Northern India Bird Network: http://www.delhibird.com/ SALIM ALI CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY: Zoological Nomenclature Resource: http://www.zoonomen.net/ Director, Anaikatty P.O., Coimbatore 641108, India. Website: N.C.L. Centre for Biodiversity Informatics: http://www.ncbi.org.in/biota/ www.saconindia.org. Email: [email protected] fauna/ BIRDWATCHERS’ SOCIETY OF ANDHRA PRADESH: Honorary John Penhallurick’s Bird Data Project: http://worldbirdinfo.net/ Secretary, P.O. Box 45, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Website: Saving Asia’s threatened birds: www.bsaponline.org. Email: [email protected] Publish: Mayura; http://www.birdlife.net/action/science/species/asia_strategy/pdfs.html/ Pitta. Optics: http://www.betterviewdesired.com/ MADRAS NATURALISTS’ SOCIETY: Honorary Secretary, No. 8, Janaki Library Avenue, Abhirampuram, Chennai 600018, India. Website: Ali, Salim, 2002. The book of Indian birds. 13th revised edition. Mumbai: www.blackbuck.org. Email: [email protected]. Publish: Blackbuck. Bombay Natural History Society. INSTITUTE OF BIRD STUDIES & NATURAL HISTORY: Director, Ali, Salim & S.
    [Show full text]
  • Shorebird Habitat Conservation Strategy
    Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture Shorebird Habitat Conservation Strategy May 2007 1 Shorebird Strategy Committee and Members of the Joint Venture Science Team Bob Gates, Ohio State University, Chair Dave Ewert, The Nature Conservancy Diane Granfors, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bob Russell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bradly Potter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mark Shieldcastle, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Greg Soulliere, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Cover: Long-billed Dowitcher. Photo by Gary Kramer. i Table of Contents Plan Summary................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements...................................................................................................... 2 Background and Context ................................................................................................. 3 Population Status and Trends ......................................................................................... 6 Habitat Characteristics .................................................................................................. 11 Biological Foundation..................................................................................................... 14 Planning Framework.................................................................................................. 14 Migration and Distribution........................................................................................ 15 Limiting
    [Show full text]