CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE MOUNTAIN PLOVER (CHARADRIUS MONTANUS ) Version 1.0 May 2009 Brad A. Andres 1 Kelli L. Stone 2 © Stephen J. Dinsmore Conservation Plan Author: 1 National Coordinator, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486 DFC-Parfet, Denver, Colorado 80225-0486; [email protected] 2 Two Birds One Stone, LLC, P.O. Box 181070, Denver, CO, 80218-8822; [email protected] Conservation Plan Editor: Meredith Gutowski, WHSRN Executive Office, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, P.O. Box 1770, Manomet, Massachusetts 02345, USA; [email protected]. For further information: Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences: www.manomet.org Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network: www.whsrn.org Financial Contributors: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program, Regions 6 and 9 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Acknowledgements: We thank the following for comments on earlier drafts of this plan and for setting the authors straight on numerous aspects of Mountain Plover biology, ecology, and conservation — Individuals : K. Bryan, L. Edson, F. Knopf; Bureau of Land Management : C. Keefe; Colorado Division of Wildlife : V. Dreitz, J. Gammonly, K. Morgan, E. Odell, F. Pusateri; Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks : C. Wightman; Nebraska Game and Parks Commission : J. Jorgensen; Pronatura Noreste : A. Banda, A. Chavez-Ramirez; Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory : B. Bly, R. Lock; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department : B. Ortego, C. Shackelford; University of Colorado – Denver : M. Wunder; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service : S. Fellows, B. Howe, S. Jones, J. Lyons, P. Plage, C. Roberts; Wyoming Game and Fish Department: A. Orabona. Recommended Citation: Andres, B. A., and K. L. Stone. 2009. Conservation Plan for the Mountain Plover ( Charadrius montanus ), Version 1.0. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, Massachusetts. WHSRN – Mountain Plover Conservation Plan, May 2009 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................................................................................iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 1 PURPOSE....................................................................................................................................... 3 STATUS AND NATURAL HISTORY ......................................................................................... 6 Morphology................................................................................................................................. 6 Taxonomy ................................................................................................................................... 6 Population Estimate and Trend................................................................................................... 7 Distribution and Abundance ....................................................................................................... 8 Breeding Range...................................................................................................................... 8 Nonbreeding (Wintering) Range............................................................................................ 9 Potential Year-round.............................................................................................................. 9 Migration..................................................................................................................................... 9 Northbound Migration ........................................................................................................... 9 Southbound Migration ......................................................................................................... 10 Major Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 10 Breeding............................................................................................................................... 10 Migration.............................................................................................................................. 12 Nonbreeding (Wintering)..................................................................................................... 12 Conservation Status .................................................................................................................. 13 Population Objective................................................................................................................. 14 CONSERVATION SITES............................................................................................................ 14 Breeding Sites ........................................................................................................................... 14 Migration Sites.......................................................................................................................... 17 Northbound Migration ......................................................................................................... 17 Southbound Migration ......................................................................................................... 17 Nonbreeding (Wintering) Sites................................................................................................. 17 CONSERVATION CHALLENGES ............................................................................................ 21 Residential and Commercial Development .............................................................................. 22 Agriculture ................................................................................................................................ 22 Annual and Perennial Crops ................................................................................................ 22 Livestock Ranching ............................................................................................................. 24 Energy Production and Mining................................................................................................. 25 Oil and Gas Production........................................................................................................ 25 Mining and Quarrying.......................................................................................................... 26 Renewable Energy ............................................................................................................... 26 Transportation Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 26 Roads.................................................................................................................................... 26 Utility and Service Lines ..................................................................................................... 26 Use of Biological Resource ...................................................................................................... 27 Human Intrusions and Disturbance........................................................................................... 27 WHSRN – Mountain Plover Conservation Plan, May 2009 iii Natural System Modifications .................................................................................................. 27 Prairie Dogs ......................................................................................................................... 27 Predation .............................................................................................................................. 28 Fire suppression ................................................................................................................... 29 Invasive and Other Problematic Species and Genes................................................................. 29 Pollution.................................................................................................................................... 30 Climate Change and Severe Weather ....................................................................................... 31 Habitat Shifting and Alteration............................................................................................ 31 Drought ................................................................................................................................ 31 High Temperatures............................................................................................................... 32 CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS .................................................................. 32 Land Protection......................................................................................................................... 33 Land Management .................................................................................................................... 34 Direct Species Management ..................................................................................................... 35 Education and Awareness......................................................................................................... 35 Law and Policy ......................................................................................................................... 36 Economic and Other Incentives...............................................................................................