SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF NEARTIC SHOREBIRDS IN THE GULF OF MARANHÃO, BRAZIL

Abstract

Abstract The seasonal abundance of Neartic shorebirds in the Gulf of Maranhao, Brazil, was studied by censusing three sites from April 1991–March 1992. Censusing was conducted on Cajual Island and Panaquatira Beach at 15-d intervals and at 30-d intervals on Raposa Beach. Bird movements were analyzed by comparing census data from the Gulf of Maranhao with those presented by McNeil (1970) for northeastern Venezuela and by Spaans (1978) for Surinam. During fall migration, there were marked similarities in the abundance peaks of Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) and Willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) in both Surinam and the Gulf of Maranhao, which might indicate that these species reach these sites by non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Sanderlings (Calidris alba), Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus), Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres), Black-bellied Plovers (Pluvialis squatarola), Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), and Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) reached their fall pe...