SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR LONG -BILLED CURLEW (NUMENIUS AMERICANUS ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 DARBY N. DARK -SMILEY AND DOUGLAS A. KEINATH 1 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 2 Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming January 2004 Dark-Smiley and Keinath – Numenius americanus January 2004 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 4 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 4 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 5 Taxonomy .......................................................................................................................................5 North American Distribution ..........................................................................................................6 Wyoming Distribution.....................................................................................................................7 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 9 Foraging Habitat (Microhabitat) .....................................................................................................9 Summer Habitat (Breeding) ..........................................................................................................10 Wyoming Breeding Habitat ..........................................................................................................11 Spring and Fall Habitat (Migration)..............................................................................................12 Winter Habitat...............................................................................................................................12 Territoriality and Area Requirements............................................................................................13 Landscape Pattern .........................................................................................................................14 Movement and Activity Patterns ............................................................................................15 Migration.......................................................................................................................................15 Daily Activity................................................................................................................................16 Reproduction and Survivorship..............................................................................................17 Breeding Behavior.........................................................................................................................17 Breeding Phenology ......................................................................................................................18 Mating ...................................................................................................................................................18 Pair Formation.......................................................................................................................................18 Nesting and Egg Laying ........................................................................................................................19 Egg Incubation ......................................................................................................................................19 Hatching ................................................................................................................................................20 Parental Care .........................................................................................................................................20 Fledging/Weaning .................................................................................................................................20 Natal Dispersal ......................................................................................................................................21 Breeding in Wyoming ...........................................................................................................................21 Breeding and Nesting Habitat Requirements ................................................................................21 Fecundity and Survivorship ..........................................................................................................22 Annual and Lifetime Reproductive Success .................................................................................23 Population Demographics......................................................................................................23 Limiting Factors............................................................................................................................23 Metapopulation Dynamics ............................................................................................................24 Genetic Concerns ..........................................................................................................................24 Food Habits...........................................................................................................................24 Food items.....................................................................................................................................24 Foraging Strategy..........................................................................................................................24 Foraging Variation ........................................................................................................................25 Community Ecology...............................................................................................................27 Predation .......................................................................................................................................27 Interspecific interactions ...............................................................................................................27 Parasites and Disease ....................................................................................................................28 Symbiotic and Mutualistic Interactions.........................................................................................28 CONSERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 28 Conservation Status ..............................................................................................................28 Federal Endangered Species Act...................................................................................................28 Page 1 of 60 Dark-Smiley and Keinath – Numenius americanus January 2004 Bureau of Land Management........................................................................................................29 Forest Service................................................................................................................................29 State Wildlife Agencies.................................................................................................................29 Heritage Ranks and WYNDD’s Wyoming Significance Rank.....................................................30 Biological Conservation Factors ............................................................................................31 Abundance.....................................................................................................................................31 Trends............................................................................................................................................33 Abundance Trends.................................................................................................................................33 Population Extent and Connectivity Trends ..........................................................................................34 Trends in Available Habitat...................................................................................................................36 Range Context...............................................................................................................................37 Extrinsic Threats and Reasons for Decline ...................................................................................38 Anthropogenic Impacts .........................................................................................................................38 Stochastic Factors..................................................................................................................................39 Natural Predation...................................................................................................................................39