Kansas 2 0 Shorebird 0 Survey 4

KANSAS

FEBRUARY 2005 HELEN HANDS, KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & PARKS 2004 KANSAS SHOREBIRD SURVEY PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Currently, we have received data for 39 sites (78%) surveyed in Cygnes Wildlife Area (1.2%). spring 2002, 33 sites (70%) surveyed in summer-fall 2002, 33 During summer-fall 2004, 30,624 shorebirds were reported, surveyed in spring 2003 (68%), 30 surveyed in summer-fall 2003 about the same number as in summer-fall 2003 and less than half (62%), and 30 each in spring and summer-fall 2004 (56%) (Fig. the number in summer-fall 2002 (Fig. 2). Shorebird numbers 1). Most volunteers conducted one survey per survey period, 5 in were again highest at CBWA (53%) and QNWR (30%), followed spring and 8 in summer-fall. However, up to 49 surveys were con- by the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge (6%) and the ducted per site. To minimize bias due to differences in number of Bottoms TNC Preserve (4%). Because numbers of surveys, when analyzing data for statewide comparisons the max- shorebirds at CBWA and QNWR comprised such a large propor- imum count for each species per site per 2-week survey period tion of shorebirds reported in this survey during spring and sum- was selected. mer-fall, species composition and migration chronology for three In spring 2004, 172,061 shorebirds were reported, over four groups of sites were analyzed: CBWA, QNWR, and the rest of times as many as the spring 2003 total and nearly twice the spring the sites. 2002 total (Fig. 2). Not surprisingly, Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (CBWA, 83%) and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (QNWR, 10% of the statewide total) accounted for the highest proportions of shorebirds in spring 2004. After these traditional hotspots came the Tuttle Creek Reservoir (1.6%) and Marais des

Kansas Shorebird Survey Site Locations

CHEYENNE DONIPHAN RAWLINS DECATUR NORTON PHILLIPS SMITH JEWELL REPUBLIC WASHINGTON MARSHALL NEMAHA BROWN Lovewell RES Kirwin NWR Jamestown WA CLOUD ATCHISON SHERMAN THOMAS SHERIDAN GRAHAM JACKSON ROOKS OSBORNE MITCHELL CLAY RILEY POTTAWATOMIE Benedictine Bottoms Tuttle Creek RES Grant School (Airport) School JEFFERSON Kaw Valley Fish Farm Fort Riley Pottawatomie OTTAWA SFL #2 Perry RES WYANDOTTE LINCOLN SHAWNEE WALLACE LOGAN GOVE Lawrence Sod Farms, TREGO ELLIS RUSSELL DICKINSON Oxbow on LEAVEN- Sandpit Marsh GEARY Soldier Creek WORTH Clinton RES Baker SALINE JOHNSON Wilson RES WABAUNSEE ELLSWORTH MORRIS OSAGE DOUGLAS KCPL Prairie (Gardner) Wetlands

GREELEY WICHITA LYON FRANKLIN MIAMI SCOTT LANE NESS RUSH BARTON Kanopolis RES Council Grove RES Melvern RES Hillsdale RES McPHERSON MARION Cheyenne RICE CHASE Bottoms WA &TNC COFFEY ANDERSON LINN Marias Des Cygnes WA PAWNEE McPerson Marion RES HAMILTON KEARNY FINNEY Wetlands Flint Hills NWR HODGEMAN STAFFORD Ackley Lake RENO HARVEY John Redmond RES Quivera NWR BUTLER GREENWOOD WOODSON ALLEN BOURBON GRAY EDWARDS Bruno Sandpit Ford SFL (Finney Co.) Wild FORD SEDGWICK El Dorado RES Turkey PRATT STANTON GRANT Playa Dodge City Sandpit HASKELL KINGMAN WILSON NEOSHO 110 RD (Primrose) CRAWFORD Texas Yucca RD Butler SFL ELK Lake WA Isabel MEADE Wetlands Elk City WA MORTON CLARK BARBER SUMNER COWLEY STEVENS SEWARD COMANCHE HARPER MONT- LABETTE CHEROKEE CHAUTAUQUA GOMERY Slate Creek Elkhart Sewer Pnds Wetlands

Seasons Site Has Been Surveyed 1 Season 2 Seasons 3 Seasons 4 or more Seasons

FIGURE 1 SURVEY FINDINGS

During both spring and summer-fall 2004, 36 species of shore- species composition, and timing vary annually in response to birds were recorded. Statewide, unidentified shorebirds com- many factors including weather and habitat conditions. Rainfall prised 33% of shorebirds recorded, however, most (92%) of these was below average throughout the western part of the state before were from CBWA (Fig. 3). Of those shorebirds identified to at and during the survey periods. Thus, water levels in most marsh- least a group (i.e., excluding the unidentified shorebirds), species es in the west were relatively low and availability of shorebird composition varied between the three groups of sites during habitat at such sites was probably below average to non-existent. spring and summer-fall. However, many reservoirs and other water areas in the east expe- At CBWA in spring 2004, “peeps” (57%), Wilson’s phalaropes rienced high water levels during portions of 2004. (23%), and dowitchers (14%) were the most common shorebirds It is premature to conclude that Cheyenne Bottoms and QNWR reported. Wilson’s phalaropes (46%) and Baird’s sandpipers are the only important shorebird areas in the state. Surveys need (12%) were the most common species at QNWR. Throughout the to continue for a few more years (at least two) to adequately rest of the state, peeps (28%) were the most common species assess the value of other shorebird areas in the state. Surveys dur- reported, followed by lesser yellowlegs (12%) and least sand- ing different weather patterns are necessary to make this assess- pipers (10%). ment. During summer-fall 2004, dowitchers (50%) were the predom- The size of Cheyenne Bottoms and QNWR is one reason that inant species at CBWA. Stilt sandpipers (19%) and peeps (10%) they attract large numbers of shorebirds. To adequately compare also were common. At QNWR, peeps (41%) were the most com- shorebird use among all the sites in this survey, the density of mon species, followed by dowitchers (13%) and least sandpipers shorebird use will be calculated in addition to the number of (10%). Killdeer (31%) was the most commonly reported species shorebirds. This will require maps of all sites surveyed. throughout the rest of the state, followed by peeps (16%) and Currently, maps of the survey area are available for 37 of the least sandpipers (11%). 51 sites. The survey area is the portion of the site where search- Migration chronology differed among the three groups of sites es for shorebirds actually occurred. Estimates of “percent of site in spring 2004 (Fig. 4). At CBWA, shorebirds numbers increased suitable for shorebirds today” will be used to further refine den- dramatically from the last two weeks of March to the first two sity estimates and to track habitat availability at each site. weeks of April, remained steady during the next three periods, However, these density estimates can only be calculated if sur- and then increased again during the last two weeks of May. vey area maps are available and there are enough estimates of Shorebird numbers at QNWR peaked during the last two weeks habitat availability. of April and the first two weeks of May. Throughout the rest of the state, shorebird numbers peaked during the first two weeks of May. During summer-fall, migration chronology again differed among the three groups of sites (Fig. 4). At CBWA, shorebirds peaked during the first two weeks of October. Shorebird numbers peaked during the first two weeks of September at QNWR; how- ever, no surveys were conducted during October. Throughout the rest of the state there was no discernable peak and numbers tend- ed to fluctuate. These results are very preliminary and it is too early to reach conclusions. Patterns in shorebird migration such as site use, FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 Kansas Shorebird Survey Migration Chronology 2004

80 SPRING LEGEND 70 Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area 60 Quivira National Wildlife Refuge 50 Remainder of State 40

30 Surveys conducted at Cheyenne Bottoms WA, 20 Quivira NWR and 32 sites throughout the rest of the state during 10 spring and summer-fall. Percent of Shorebirds Percent

0 MAR 16-31 APR 1-15 APR 16-30 MAY 1-15 MAY 16-31 Dates of Survey 44 30 SUMMER-FALL

25

20

15

10

5 Percent of Shorebirds Percent 0 JUL 1-15 JUL 16-31 AUG 1-15 AUG 16-31 SEP 1-15 SEP 16-30 OCT 1-15 OCT 16-31 Dates of Survey FIGURE 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report would not have been possible without the help and data received from the following volunteers:

Mark Land, Doris and Wakefield Dort, James and Jen Malcom, Tim Menard, Ken Brunson, Shannon Rothchild and the Kirwin NWR staff, Kerrie Kirkpatrick, Nada Voth, Rob Penner, Roxanna Tosterud, Mike Rader, Lawrence and Ruth Smith, Mark and Elaine Corder, Mick McHugh, Ralph Pike, Art Swalwell, Lee and Jane Queal, Chris and Kristin Hase, Jimmy Fallon, Kylee and Scott Sharp, Alexis Powell, Dan LaShelle, Jeff Keating, Bryan Reinert, Roger Boyd, Peg and Don Althoff, Brett Whitenack, Allen Jahn, Wayne Jahn, Ed Miller, Olin and Donna Allen, Jessica Schmitt, Dan Larson, Barbara Campbell, Harold McFadden, Joyce Davis, Marvin Kuehn, Paul McKnab, Aaron Pendergraft, Rob Unruh, Republican Valley (Nebraska) Bird Watchers, Tom Shane, Doris Burnett, Chod Hedinger, Charles Anderson, Bill Langley, Max Thompson, and Chet Gresham.

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs described herein is available to all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or handicap. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office of the Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 1020 S Kansas Ave. Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612-1327 3/05