Northern shorebirds action plan: research

The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) needs information about life cycle phenology, demographics, and habitat requirements of virtually every bird species covered by the Northern Shorebird Program, so it is difficult to articulate every need and to determine priorities. Nonetheless, some of the more urgent priority items are listed below.

• Determine population demographics, habitat requirements and migratory pathways of Arctic shorebirds, particularly those that have exhibited declining population trends
• Determine breeding habitat requirements, breeding parameters and migratory pathways of boreal shorebirds, particularly priority species

Determine population demographics, habitat requirements and migratory pathways of Arctic shorebirds, particularly those that have exhibited declining population trends

Priority - medium
Bird Conservation Region (BCR) - 3

CWS needs to be able to delineate discrete breeding populations and identify where their wintering grounds are and the route(s) taken to get there. Basic life history information, such as arrival, departure, and nesting dates, is critical to our ability to accurately assess the impacts of developments and propose suitable mitigation measures. There is a need to know baseline demographic information as well (age at first breeding, nest success rates, adult survival rates, and factors affecting the above, for example) so that when declines occur it will be possible to pinpoint where precisely in the life cycle the problem is. Without this information it is difficult to take conservation action in response to declining population trends.

Similarly, habitat protection for declining species cannot be undertaken without understanding the habitat components that are required for successful breeding.

The Northern Shorebird program has a limited capacity to undertake shorebird research itself; most time and resources are devoted to monitoring functions. However, the Program has made progress on research action items by collaborating with graduate students and their supervisors. The Program will continue collaboration with graduate students to address demographic and habitat research questions.

Key result:

• Information regarding migratory routes, wintering areas, breeding season phenology, demographics, and breeding habitat requirements is available for priority species.

Determine breeding habitat requirements, breeding parameters and migratory pathways of boreal shorebirds, particularly priority species

Priority - medium
Bird Conservation Regions - 4, 6, 7

It is a high priority to develop a population monitoring program for these species, but it is not possible to do so without understanding more about their behaviour and movements during the breeding season. Basic life history information such as arrival, departure, and nesting dates is needed, as is demographic information (such as age at first breeding, nest success rates, adult survival rates, and factors affecting the above). Some of this information could be obtained in partnership with graduate student projects that have logistical support from CWS. Priority species are identified in the Action Plan.

Key result:

• Information regarding breeding season phenology, habitat requirements, demographics and migratory pathways is available for priority species.