Red knot (Calidris canutus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11

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Special Significance of the Species

Red Knots have been regarded as a flagship species for shorebird conservation for many years, certainly well before the present concern over their declines. The reasons for this are based on the characteristics of their life style, particularly their enormously long, inter-hemispheric migrations, and their concentration in large numbers (involving substantial proportions of the population) at a limited number of key sites. These features in many ways make them an “arch-typical” shorebird, a species where conservation of its key habitats will also bring benefits to many other species of shorebirds and other waterbirds. At some sites, knots (and other shorebirds) may be economically important in attracting eco-tourists and birdwatchers.