U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge Update: Protected Stopovers Help Restore Shorebirds
More than 130 red knots and other shorebirds were banded at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, MA,
last fall in an effort to learn more about their health and the way they use the refuge.
Photo credit: Molly Cornell
Red knots don't only use Delaware Bay in New Jersey as a stopover, they also rely on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, MA, and surrounding Cape Cod beaches during their north-south migration, but most importantly during their southward migration. In September 2009, Monomoy Refuge staff concluded the first year of a collaborative project to investigate the health of migrating shorebirds around Chatham, MA. Many of the species have been identified as high priority for live bird sampling for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, avian flu) in the Atlantic Flyway. Refuge staff captured and banded red knots and other shorebirds that utilize the refuge as a stopover.
Early in the planning process, Monomoy Refuge staff decided to collaborate with Lawrence Niles of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, who had already studied red knots in the Arctic and Tierra del Fuego. With Niles’ assistance, refuge staff learned to cannon-net shorebirds. Nets are pulled rapidly by explosive-driven projectiles to cover a large area and capture as many birds as possible. A cannon-net may use four or cannons to pull a net over the target area. Cannon-netting requires an experienced team not only to coordinate and manage the catch itself, but also to care for the birds so they can be released safely. The team included Brian Harrington, a senior scientist of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, who had documented changes in red knot foraging and roosting areas throughout southeastern Massachusetts. Harrington’s observations as well as his knowledge of red knot roosting ecology largely informed the daily decision of where to target netting efforts.
Shorebirds were trapped using two cannon nets at three sites in Chatham, which included state, town and federal property, greatly expanding local partnerships. The project was completed during eight days of field work, and included many volunteers and staff from the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The largest catch took place on Minimoy Island, part of Monomoy Refuge, and included 135 red knots, four black-bellied plovers and one short-billed dowitcher. The catch met goals for the number of birds; no birds were killed or seriously injured.
All captured birds were banded; most were sampled for HPAI, which was not present. By banding the birds, the refuge is able to follow them throughout their lifespan and learn more about how they use the refuge. Data from red knots outfitted with geolocators will be interpreted when the individuals are recaptured next year by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation. This is the first time these relatively new devices have been used on red knots at Monomoy Refuge. Niles is hopeful that the research will bolster evidence regarding the importance of Monomoy Refuge and the surrounding area for southbound shorebirds.
“I felt privileged to work in the wilderness of Monomoy Refuge and the surrounding islands in Chatham, one of the few protected stopovers for shorebirds during their southbound flight,” said Niles. “This research builds on the growing base of data, which points to the National Wildlife Refuge System as an anchor for the protection of red knots and other declining shorebirds. Once, refuges played a crucial role in the restoration of waterfowl. Now, they are playing a similar role in the restoration of shorebird populations.”
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 3/1/2010 7:00 AM 
Categories: Birds
Tags: red knots shorebirds migration conserve wildlife foundation cape cod stopover
Categories: Birds
Tags: red knots shorebirds migration conserve wildlife foundation cape cod stopover
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