2001 International Piping Plover Census Cheron L. Ferland Susan M. Haig U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey In cooperation with: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers iii This document should be cited as follows: Ferland, C.L. and S.M. Haig. 2002. 2001 International Piping Plover Census. U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon. 293 pp. DEDICATION This report is dedicated to the memory of Wayne Harris. For over 20 years, Wayne dedicated himself to conservation of Piping Plovers in Saskatchewan. His untimely passing leaves an important gap that will be hard to fill. We will miss him. Table of Contents Executive Summaries (English, French, Spanish) 1 Acknowledgements 7 Overview: Distribution and Abundance of Piping and Snowy Plovers in 2001 8 Methods 9 Results 10 Discussion 19 Literature Cited 25 2001 International Piping and Snowy Plover Winter Census Results 29 Winter Census Overview 30 North Carolina 31 South Carolina 35 Georgia 39 Florida 42 Alabama 57 Mississippi 62 Louisiana 67 Texas 72 Cuba 82 Puerto Rico 87 Bahamas 92 Sightings Outside the Census Window in Mexico and the Caribbean 95 iii 2001 International Piping Plover Breeding Census Results 98 – Atlantic Coast 99 Atlantic Canada Overview 100 St. Pierre and Miquelon, France 102 Newfoundland 105 Quebec 109 Nova Scotia 113 Prince Edward Island 119 New Brunswick 125 U.S. Atlantic Overview 131 Maine 133 New Hampshire 136 Massachusetts 139 Rhode Island 147 Connecticut 150 New York 153 New Jersey 159 Delaware 164 Maryland 167 Virginia 170 North Carolina 174 South Carolina 177 iv – Great Lakes 180 Great Lakes Overview 181 Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York 183 Wisconsin 188 Ontario 191 – Northern Great Plains and Prairies 195 Prairie Canada Overview 196 Alberta 198 Saskatchewan 206 Manitoba 219 U.S. Northern Great Plains Overview 223 Minnesota 225 Missouri River (MT, ND, SD, NE) 228 Montana 236 North Dakota 241 South Dakota 252 Iowa 257 Nebraska 260 Colorado 267 Kansas 271 Appendices A Key to 2001 Database Variables. 274 B Data Sheets and Guidelines for the 2001 Winter Census. 275 C Data Sheets and Guidelines for the 2001 Breeding Census. 280 D List of Cooperating Agencies and Organizations. 285 v List of Tables Table 1. Distribution and abundance of wintering Piping Plovers in 2001; 11 winter census effort. Table 2. Comparison of International Piping Plover Winter Census results 13 for 1991, 1996 and 2001. Table 3. Distribution and abundance of wintering Snowy Plovers on the Gulf 15 of Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba in 2001; winter census effort. Table 4. Census effort and coverage for the 2001 International Piping Plover 16 Breeding Census. Table 5. Comparison of results from the 1991, 1996, and 2001 International 18 Piping Plover Breeding Censuses. vi List of Figures Figure 1. 2001 International Piping Plover Winter Distribution Map. 12 Figure 2. 2001 International Snowy Plover Winter Distribution Map. 14 Figure 3. 2001 International Piping Plover Breeding Distribution Map. 17 Figure 4. Changes in the distribution and abundance of Piping Plovers from 1991-2001. 21 Figure 5. Piping and Snowy Plover Winter Census Distribution. 30 Figure 6. Regional Piping Plover Breeding Distribution. 98 Figure 7. Atlantic Coast Piping Plover Breeding Distribution. 99 Figure 8. Great Lakes Piping Plover Breeding Distribution. 180 Figure 9. Northern Great Plains and Prairie Canada Piping Plover Breeding Distribution. 195 vii Executive Summary Overall breeding census results indicated an 8.4% increase from 1991 estimates but only a 0.2% increase since 1996. Regional trends indicated For the third time in 10 years, an International that since 1991, the number of Piping Plovers Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Breeding and increased on the Atlantic Coast by 78% (2,920 Winter Census was conducted throughout the birds; 12.4% since 1996) and by 80% in the Great range of the species in 2001. In addition, for the Lakes (72 birds; 50% since 1996); however first time, Snowy Plovers (C. alexandrinus), were estimates declined 15% (2,953 birds; 10% since censused as they occurred throughout the winter 1996) in Prairie Canada and the U.S. Northern range of Piping Plovers. The census effort was Great Plains. Subregional trends since 1991 coordinated via the International Piping Plover reflect a 5.5% decline in Piping Plovers in Coordination Group consisting of recovery Atlantic Canada (481 birds; 14% increase since coordinators in the major regions in which the 1996), a 66.2% increase in the U.S. Atlantic birds occur: Atlantic Canada and U.S., Great (2,430 birds; 12% since 1996), a 2.5% decline in Lakes Canada and U.S., Prairie Canada, U.S. the U.S. Northern Great Plains (1,981 birds; 24% Northern Great Plains, as well as Atlantic and increase since 1996) and a 32.4% decline in Gulf winter regions. The goal of the International Prairie Canada (972 birds; 42.4% decline since Census is to assess the current status and 1996). Even in regions with apparent increases, distribution of the species and, in conjunction results from specific states or provinces indicate with international censuses in 1996 and 1991, significant declines. For example, since 1996, provide a measure of the success of recent Piping Plovers have declined 32.7% in Quebec recovery efforts for the species. Results also and 34.2% in North Carolina. Strikingly, every indicate areas in need of additional conservation province in Prairie Canada has declined since both measures and provide baseline data for population the 1991 and 1996 censuses. models at various spatial scales. Piping Plovers are listed as endangered in Canada and in the U.S. Piping Plovers and Snowy Plovers were found in Great Lakes; they are considered threatened a variety of habitats in 2001. In winter, Piping through the remainder of their U.S. range. Snowy Plovers were found primarily on islands (73.4%) Plovers are currently listed as threatened on the and on mudflats (36.3%), sandy beaches (33.2%), Pacific Coast. and sand/salt flats (23.1%). Snowy Plovers were primarily found on islands (57.9%) and on sandy The 2001 Census resulted from the efforts of beaches (31.6%), sand/salt flats (21.4%), mudflats nearly 1,400 biologists and volunteers from 32 (21%), and gravel shores (13.3%). During U.S. States and Puerto Rico; 9 Canadian breeding, Atlantic birds were primarily seen on Provinces; St. Pierre and Miquelon, France; Cuba, barrier islands (39%), ocean fronts (37%), and and the Bahamas. Approximately 2,244 sites bays (12%); Great Lakes birds occurred more covering more than 11,836 km of shoreline often on mainland shorelines (61%) than on habitat were surveyed during census periods in islands, and on sand (54%) and mud (23%); Great January/February and May/June, 2001. During Plains/Prairie birds were found on alkali lakes the winter census, 2,389 Piping Plovers and 1,083 (34%), reservoirs (31%), and rivers (20%). Snowy Plovers were counted; 33.5% of sites surveyed (N = 352) had Piping Plovers. Of these, Recent increases on the Atlantic Coast and Great 56.8% had 10 or fewer birds present. At sites Lakes appear to be the result of intensive where Snowy Plovers were surveyed, 25.9% (N = management including extensive use of predator 255) contained Snowy Plovers and 51.5% of sites exclosures, nest monitors, captive rearing (on the occupied contained less than 11 birds. The Great Lakes), and predator control. While breeding census resulted in observation of 5,945 numbers were down in much of the U.S. Northern adults at 777 sites (N = 1,892). Over 80% of sites Great Plains, on the most significant breeding with Piping Plovers present had 10 or fewer birds. area, the Missouri River, numbers were up 1 460.4% since 1996 (1,048 birds; 67.7% since Overall, the International Piping Plover Census 1991). This increase was primarily due to represents a remarkable example of international unusually good habitat conditions from major cooperation accomplishing a tremendous flood events in 1996 and 1997 that scoured conservation need and is one of the most vegetation from breeding sites that had not been extensive endangered species census efforts in viable recently. However, the vegetation is now North America. Results of the Census represent beginning to encroach again. The most the most comprehensive population estimate for a significant decline occurred in Prairie Canada North American shorebird (N = 50 species) or any where both drought and flooding have rendered other widespread shorebird worldwide. much of the habitat unusable. However, in some cases, birds did not use sites where habitat For further information regarding the 2001 census appeared viable. Prairie Canada birds may have results, contact Susan Haig, USGS Forest and temporarily dispersed to the unusually good Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 3200 SW habitat conditions on the Missouri River. Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, However, as that habitat changes and their prairie [email protected]. habitat remains poor, the loss of birds to Prairie Canada may become permanent. 2 Résumé 56,8 % de ce pourcentage, on n’a compté que 10 oiseaux ou moins. Le recensement des sites de reproduction a permis d’observer 5945 adultes En 2001, pour la troisième fois en dix ans, un dans 777 sites (1892 sites étudiés). Plus de 80 % recensement international d’hiver et un inventaire des sites où des Pluviers siffleurs ont été observés des sites de reproduction des Pluviers siffleurs comptaient 10 oiseaux ou moins. Dans (Charadrius melodus) ont été faits dans l’ensemble, les résultats du recensement des sites l’ensemble de l’aire de répartition de l’espèce. En de reproduction ont montré une augmentation de outre, pour la première fois, les Pluviers neigeux 8,4 % par rapport aux évaluations de 1991, mais (C.