Pectoral Sandpiper Research Articles

New taxa of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitising aquatic birds of the Faroe Islands

The paper presents descriptions of new taxa and new records of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953 (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) parasitising aquatic birds in the Faroe Islands, Denmark. Sulisyringophilus jenskjeldin. gen., n. sp., is described from the northern gannet, Morus bassanus (Linnaeus) (Suliformes: Sulidae). The new genus, Sulisyringophilus, is new genus differs from the morphologically similar genus Procellariisyringophilus Schmidt and Skoracki, 2007 by the presence of lateral hypostomal teeth and leg setae vsII in females, the features which are absent in the latter. A new species Charadriphilus lymnocryptesn. sp. is described from the jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (Brünnich) (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae). Additionally, two rarely recorded species, Niglarobia ereuneti Kethley, 1970, and Creagonycha lara Kethley, 1970, are reported from two charadriiform hosts: the semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (Linnaeus) and the black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (Linnaeus), respectively.

The Amazon Basin’s rivers and lakes support Nearctic-breeding shorebirds during southward migration

ABSTRACT Identifying the migration routes and stopover sites used by declining species is critical for developing targeted conservation actions. Long-distance migratory shorebirds are among the groups of birds declining most rapidly, yet we frequently lack detailed knowledge about the routes and stopover sites they use during their hemisphere-spanning migrations. This is especially true for species that migrate through mid-continental regions in the Western Hemisphere. We therefore used satellite transmitters to track 212 individuals of 6 shorebird species during their southward migrations—Pluvialis dominica (American Golden-Plover), Limosa haemastica (Hudsonian Godwit), Tringa flavipes (Lesser Yellowlegs), Calidris subruficollis (Buff-breasted Sandpiper), C. melanotos (Pectoral Sandpiper), and Bartramia longicauda (Upland Sandpiper)—as they crossed the Amazon Basin of South America, a region from which reports of shorebird numbers are increasing but remain relatively rare. Our results make clear that the Amazon Basin provides stopover habitat for a large number of shorebirds: more than 74% of individuals tracked crossing the Amazon Basin stopped over in the region for an average of 2–14 days, with some spending the entire nonbreeding season there. All species selected stopover sites along the region’s many rivers and lakes, while within stopover sites each species exhibited distinct habitat preferences. The timing of stopovers within sub-basins of the Amazon Basin also coincided with periods of low water, when the muddy, shallow water habitats preferred by most shorebirds are likely plentiful. Together, our results highlight the need for detailed investigations into shorebird abundance and distribution within the Amazon Basin, threats to shorebirds within particular subbasins, and links between shorebird conservation efforts and those targeting the myriad other species that inhabit this dynamic, hyper-diverse region.

Why do avian responses to change in Arctic green-up vary?

Global climate change has altered the timing of seasonal events (i.e., phenology) for a diverse range of biota. Within and among species, however, the degree to which alterations in phenology match climate variability differ substantially. To better understand factors driving these differences, we evaluated variation in timing of nesting of eight Arctic-breeding shorebird species at 18 sites over a 23-year period. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a proxy to determine the start of spring (SOS) growing season and quantified relationships between SOS and nest initiation dates as a measure of phenological responsiveness. Among species, we tested four life history traits (migration distance, seasonal timing of breeding, female body mass, expected female reproductive effort) as species-level predictors of responsiveness. For one species (Semipalmated Sandpiper), we also evaluated whether responsiveness varied across sites. Although no species in our study completely tracked annual variation in SOS, phenological responses were strongest for Western Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and Red Phalaropes. Migration distance was the strongest additional predictor of responsiveness, with longer-distance migrant species generally tracking variation in SOS more closely than species that migrate shorter distances. Semipalmated Sandpipers are a widely distributed species, but adjustments in timing of nesting relative to variability in SOS did not vary across sites, suggesting that different breeding populations of this species were equally responsive to climate cues despite differing migration strategies. Our results unexpectedly show that long-distance migrants are more sensitive to local environmental conditions, which may help them to adapt to ongoing changes in climate.

Sexual selection for extreme physical performance in a polygynous bird is associated with exceptional sex differences in oxygen carrying capacity.

In many animals, males compete for access to fertile females. The resulting sexual selection leads to sex differences in morphology and behaviour, but may also have consequences for physiology. Pectoral sandpipers are an arctic-breeding polygynous shorebird in which males perform elaborate displays around-the-clock and move over long distances to sample potential breeding sites, implying the need for physiological adaptations to cope with extreme endurance. We examined the oxygen carrying capacity of pectoral sandpipers, measured as the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood (haematocrit, Hct). We found a remarkable sex difference in Hct levels, with males having much higher values (58.9 ± 3.8 s.d.) than females (49.8 ± 5.3 s.d.). While Hct values of male pectoral sandpipers are notable for being among the highest recorded in birds, the sex difference we report is unprecedented and more than double that of any previously described. We also show that Hct values declined after arrival to the breeding grounds in females, but not in males, suggesting that males maintain an aerobic capacity during the mating period equivalent to that sustained during trans-hemispheric migration. We conclude that sexual selection for extreme physical performance in male pectoral sandpipers has led to exceptional sex differences in oxygen carrying capacity.

Understanding the impact of sociosexual interactions on sleep using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.

Sleep is conserved across species, and it is believed that a fixed amount of sleep is needed for normal neurobiological functions. Sleep rebound follows sleep deprivation; however, continuous sleep deprivation for longer durations is believed to be detrimental to the animal's wellbeing. Under some physiologically demanding situations, such as migration in birds, the birth of new offspring in cetaceans, and sexual interactions in pectoral sandpipers, animals are known to forgo sleep. The mechanisms by which animals forgo sleep without having any obvious negative impact on the proper functioning of their neurobiological processes are yet unknown. Therefore, a simple assay is needed to study how animals forgo sleep. The assay should be ecologically relevant so it can offer insights into the physiology of the organisms. Equally important is that the organism should be genetically amenable, which helps in understanding the cellular and molecular processes that govern such behaviors. This paper presents a simple method of sociosexual interaction to understand the process by which animals forgo sleep. In the case of Drosophila melanogaster, when males and females are in proximity, they are highly active and lose a significant amount of sleep. In addition, there is no sleep rebound afterward, and instead, males engaged in sexual interactions continue to show normal sleep. Thus, sexual drive in the fruit flies is a robust assay to understand the underlying mechanism by which animals forgo sleep.

Chasing the bird: 3D acoustic tracking of aerial flight displays with a minimal planar microphone array

ABSTRACT Tracking the flight patterns of birds and bats in three-dimensional space is central to key questions in evolutionary ecology but remains a difficult technical challenge. For example, complex aerial flight displays are common among birds breeding in open habitats, but information on flight performance is limited. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a large ground-based 4-microphone planar array to track the aerial flight displays of the cryptic Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus. The main element of male display flights resembles a galloping horse at a distance. Under conditions of sufficient signal-to-noise ratio and of vertical alignment with the microphone array, we successfully tracked male snipe in 3D space for up to 25 seconds with a total flight path of 280 m. The ’gallop’ phase of male snipe dropped from ca. 141 to 64 m above ground at an average velocity of 77 km/h and up to 92 km/h. Our project is one of the first applications of bioacoustics to measure 3D flight paths of birds under field conditions, and our results were consistent with our visual observations. Our microphone array and post-processing workflow provides a standardised protocol that could be used to collect comparative data on birds with complex aerial flight displays.

First Nest Records of the Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris Melanotos) for Manitoba

First Nest Records of the Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris Melanotos) for Manitoba

Autumn migration of Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus in southern Sweden: results from ten years of crepuscular ringing

The autumn migration of Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus was studied using mist-netting at night along a muddy shoreline at Lake Tåkern in southern central Sweden. During ten consecutive autumn seasons ranging from mid-September to mid-November a total of 107 birds were captured, particularly within the first two hours after dusk. The peak of migration occurred in the first ten days of October with the juvenile birds on average passing a few days earlier than the adult birds. We present information on movements and ringing recoveries and review the challenges of ageing the species. We propose that crepuscular mist-netting near wetlands offering important staging grounds may be a suitable method to monitor the migratory movements, and possibly the population dynamics, of this little-studied species.

Salt marsh width positively affects the occurrence of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers in the St. Lawrence River Estuary during fall migration

Salt marshes are vulnerable to climate change-associated sea-level rise and storm-induced surges. Their degradation will likely affect shorebirds relying on this ecosystem. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) and Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) migrating along coastline habitats typically use salt marshes to rest and replenish their body reserves. Our objective was to test if width of the different vegetation zones within salt marshes affects the occurrence of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers stopping along the St. Lawrence River Estuary, Quebec, Canada, during fall migration. We established 26 survey sites, each 600 m in length, along the shoreline. Shorebird surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2012. We characterized salt marshes by measuring the width of each vegetation zone (lower marsh and upper marsh). We analyzed shorebird presence/not detected data with generalized estimating equations to test the predictions that occurrence of Least Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpipers increases with width of both the lower and upper marsh. Upper marsh width was positively associated with probability of occurrence in each species. Our results highlight the importance of protecting the integrity of salt marshes for these two species. In the St. Lawrence River Estuary, where landward migration of salt marshes is no longer possible (coastal squeeze), effective management of shorelines is much needed. Otherwise, salt marshes and these two species could be locally jeopardized.

Зміни видового складу куликів заходу України протягом історичного періоду зоологічних досліджень

Introduction. Information on historical changes in the fauna of geographical regions and biota habitats is important for understanding the processes that take place in ecosystems. The results of such an analysis in combination with modern research can indicate not only the global trends in changes of animal associations and the status of particular populations of species, but also reveal the reasons that caused the situation. Materials and discussion. The first lists of bird species in the 18th – early 19th centuries showed the nesting of 12 species of waders. However, during the 19th century 37 species of waders were found, 12 of which were nesting. 13 wader species were permanent migratory and 8 – rare migratory species. In the first half of the 20th century, there were 27 species of waders on the territory of Prykarpattia, and 25 in Volyn, among which there is a larger list of migratory and vagrant species in the foothills of the Carpathians. In the second half of the 20th century, 39 species of waders were described within the western regions of Ukraine, of which 17 were nesting, and four of them were recorded during the last decade. Conclusions. There are 42 species of waders (39 of them are recent) registered in the western part of Ukraine. Among them 17 species are nesting, 15 – migratory and seven – vagrant species. During the 20th–21st centuries, 23 species of waders, including only 7 nesting species, have not changed their status of stay. However, it has changed for 17 species: two species have disappeared; four – have become vagrant; the Ruff Calidris pugnax and the Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis have changed their status from nesting to migratory. The Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, the Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and the Wood Sandpiper T. glareola that were common, somewhere numerous bird, – have become few in numbers; and the Great Snipe Gallinago media and the Black-tailed Gotwit Limosa limosa – have become rare. The Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus has become migratory. The nesting of sandpipers, with a southern area of distribution, in the western regions of Ukraine proves the fact of the global warming. However, the drop of the water level, drying out of wet meadows and swamps and, as a consequence, plant succession, have terminated the nesting of such species as the Ruff and the Marsh Sandpiper; the Black-tailed, the Great Snipe and the Wood Sandpiper become rare; the Northern Lapwing and the Green Sandpiper have become much less numerous.

Applications of thermal imaging for bird surveys: examples from the field

ABSTRACT The West Midlands Ringing Group (WMRG) have been using thermal-imaging equipment since 2016 to locate elusive birds for ringing by night and by day, to survey roosting birds in reedbeds, to monitor nets at night and to check nest boxes for occupancy. The technique has not only transformed the catch rate for ringing surveys of birds such as Skylark Alauda arvensis, Woodcock Scolopax rusticola, Snipe Gallinago gallinago and Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus but also resulted in an increase in survey efficiency, a reduction in disturbance of birds and an improvement in the accuracy of counts for birds of conservation concern. Here we present case studies from WMRG’s work and an overview of the advantages, constraints and potential applications for the use of thermal imaging in ornithological surveys.

Zwergschnepfe (Lymnocryptes minimus) Winterliche Vorkommen in Maßnahmenflächen für den Kiebitz

As part of the restoration of extensive, grazed wet grassland with open, temporary shallow water bodies for the lapwing, habitat conditions were created in seven areas of Baden-Württemberg that also meet the habitat requirements of wintering Jack Snipes. Four of the seven areas were specifically checked for the presence of the species on 11/01/2024. A total of five Jack Snipes were detected in three of the areas. This means that there are now winter records of the Jack Snipe from all seven sites. When additional data are taken into account, the sum of the maxima of the Jack Snipe, from all areas, amounts to a total of 37 individuals. In terms of nature conservation, this number would be classified as being of at least supraregional to state-wide importance, while the individual areas would be classified as being of regional importance. The data show that the wintering population of the Jack Snipe can be supported with a high degree of predictability if suitable habitat development measures are implemented. From a nature conservation perspec- tive, these important occurrences are proof that measures implemented for the lapwing have a relevant positive effect not only for this target species itself, but also for other declining species.

Zwergschnepfe (Lymnocryptes minimus) Winterliche Vorkommen in Maßnahmenflächen für den Kiebitz.

As part of the restoration of extensive, grazed wet grassland with open, temporary shallow water bodies for the lapwing, habitat conditions were created in seven areas of Baden-Württemberg that also meet the habitat requirements of wintering Jack Snipes. Four of the seven areas were specifically checked for the presence of the species on 11/01/2024. A total of five Jack Snipes were detected in three of the areas. This means that there are now winter records of the Jack Snipe from all seven sites. When additional data are taken into account, the sum of the maxima of the Jack Snipe, from all areas, amounts to a total of 37 individuals. In terms of nature conservation, this number would be classified as being of at least supraregional to state-wide importance, while the individual areas would be classified as being of regional importance. The data show that the wintering population of the Jack Snipe can be supported with a high degree of predictability if suitable habitat development measures are implemented. From a nature conservation perspec- tive, these important occurrences are proof that measures implemented for the lapwing have a relevant positive effect not only for this target species itself, but also for other declining species.

Miniature (dwarf) daff odils in the collection of Federal Research Center “Subtropical Scientifi c Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”

The Subtropical Scientifi c Center has a large collection of bulbous plants, including daff odils, dating back to the 1960s. The purpose of this work was to study miniature daff odils attracted to the collection. The research was carried out at the experimental base of the Center in Sochi (Razdolnoye village) in 2013-2019. As the collection was replenished with dwarf varieties, the work was begun on developing a methodology for evaluating this group. Climatic conditions of the research area are typical for the zone of humid subtropics, characterized by a large amount of precipitation, mainly in winter and early spring, and mild winters. During the research, it was noted that the meteorological parameters in the years of research diff ered both from the average long-term indicators and between themselves. When introducing and studying varieties, much attention was paid to both phenological observations and biometric measurements, as well as to varieties’ reproduction ability. It is established that all these parameters largely depend not only on variety characteristics, but also on climatic conditions during the growth and development of plants. Insuffi cient precipitation in some years and relatively cold winters contributed to the later phenophases, reducing their terms and biometric parameters. In general, as a result of long-term observations, it was found that in the humid subtropics of Russia, dwarf daff odils begin their vegetation in the fi rst or second ten-day period of January, which lasts from 118 to 135 days, depending on a variety. Early blooming (in the third ten-day period of February) was recorded in ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and ‘Jetfi re’ cvs. Later blooming was recorded in ‘Jack Snipe’ and ‘Canaliculatus’ cvs. in the second ten-day period of March. As a result of the research, the following miniature varieties with a plant height of less than 20 cm were selected from the daff odils collection: ‘Canaliculatus’, ‘Jack Snipe’, ‘Jetfi re’, ‘Rip van Winkle’, ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and ‘Topolino’. The studied varieties have high ornamental qualities, are resistant to biotic factors and can be used in pot culture and landscaping of open ground.

Wind conditions influence breeding season movements in a nomadic polygynous shorebird.

Nomadism is a behaviour where individuals respond to environmental variability with movements that seem unpredictable in timing and direction. In contrast to migration, the mechanisms underlying nomadic movements remain largely unknown. Here, we focus on a form of apparent nomadism in a polygynous shorebird, the pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). Local mating opportunities are unpredictable and most males sampled multiple sites across a considerable part of their breeding range. We test the hypothesis that individuals decided which part of the breeding range to sample in a given season based on the prevailing wind conditions. Using movement data from 80 males in combination with wind data from a global reanalysis model, we show that male pectoral sandpipers flew with wind support more often than expected by chance. Stronger wind support led to increased ground speed and was associated with a longer flight range. Long detours (loop-like flights) can be explained by individuals flying initially with the wind. Individuals did not fly westwards into the Russian Arctic without wind support, but occasionally flew eastwards into the North American Arctic against strong headwinds. Wind support might be less important for individuals flying eastwards, because their autumn migration journey will be shorter. Our study suggests that individuals of a species with low site fidelity choose their breeding site opportunistically based on the prevailing wind conditions.

Migration Distance and Body Condition Influence Shorebird Migration Strategies and Stopover Decisions During Southbound Migration

Technological constraints have limited our ability to compare and determine the proximate and ultimate drivers of migratory behaviour in small-bodied birds. Small VHF transmitters ( 9,000 km; pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, and white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis) would be more likely to migrate with characteristics of a time-minimizing migration strategy compared to species migrating intermediate distances (5,000-7,500 km; semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla; and lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes) or shorter distances (~5,000 km; least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla; semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus), which would migrate with more characteristics of an energy-minimizing strategy. Our results indicate that migration and stopover behaviours for adults matched this prediction; longer distance migrants had longer stopover lengths, departed with higher relative fuel loads, flew with faster ground and airspeeds, and had a lower probability of stopover in North America after departing the subarctic. The predicted relationship between migration distance and migratory strategy was not as clear for juveniles. Despite our prediction that longer distance migrants would be less wind selective at departure and fly into headwinds en route, all species and age classes departed and migrated with supportive winds. Birds with higher estimated fuel loads at departure were less likely to stop in North America after departing the subarctic, indicating that some birds attempted non-stop flights from the subarctic to the Caribbean or South America. Additionally, within species, adults with higher relative fuel loads at departure had a higher detection probability after departing the subarctic, which we interpret as evidence of higher survival compared to juveniles. This study shows that migratory behaviour of shorebirds has predictable patterns based on migration distance that are moderated by body condition of individuals, with potential implications for fitness.

Phenological mismatch in Arctic-breeding shorebirds: Impact of snowmelt and unpredictable weather conditions on food availability and chick growth.

The ecological consequences of climate change have been recognized in numerous species, with perhaps phenology being the most well‐documented change. Phenological changes may have negative consequences when organisms within different trophic levels respond to environmental changes at different rates, potentially leading to phenological mismatches between predators and their prey. This may be especially apparent in the Arctic, which has been affected more by climate change than other regions, resulting in earlier, warmer, and longer summers. During a 7‐year study near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, we estimated phenological mismatch in relation to food availability and chick growth in a community of Arctic‐breeding shorebirds experiencing advancement of environmental conditions (i.e., snowmelt). Our results indicate that Arctic‐breeding shorebirds have experienced increased phenological mismatch with earlier snowmelt conditions. However, the degree of phenological mismatch was not a good predictor of food availability, as weather conditions after snowmelt made invertebrate availability highly unpredictable. As a result, the food available to shorebird chicks that were 2–10 days old was highly variable among years (ranging from 6.2 to 28.8 mg trap−1 day−1 among years in eight species), and was often inadequate for average growth (only 20%–54% of Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpiper broods on average had adequate food across a 4‐year period). Although weather conditions vary among years, shorebirds that nested earlier in relation to snowmelt generally had more food available during brood rearing, and thus, greater chick growth rates. Despite the strong selective pressure to nest early, advancement of nesting is likely limited by the amount of plasticity in the start and progression of migration. Therefore, long‐term climatic changes resulting in earlier snowmelt have the potential to greatly affect shorebird populations, especially if shorebirds are unable to advance nest initiation sufficiently to keep pace with seasonal advancement of their invertebrate prey.

Do the high energy lifestyles of shorebirds result in high maximal metabolic rates? Basal and maximal metabolic rates in least and pectoral sandpipers during migration

Shorebirds have high resting and field metabolic rates relative to many other bird groups, and this is posited to be related to their high‐energy lifestyle. Maximum metabolic outputs for cold or exercise are also often high for bird groups with energetically demanding lifestyles. Moreover, shorebirds demonstrate flexible basal and maximal metabolic rates, which vary with changing energy demands throughout the annual cycle. Consequently, shorebirds might be expected to have high maximum metabolic rates, especially during migration periods. We captured least Calidris minutilla and pectoral C. melanotos sandpipers during spring and fall migration in southeastern South Dakota and measured maximal exercise metabolic rate (MMR; least sandpipers only), summit metabolic rate (Msum, maximal cold‐induced metabolic rate) and basal metabolic rate (BMR, minimum maintenance metabolic rate) with open‐circuit respirometry. BMR for both least and pectoral sandpipers exceeded allometric predictions by 3–14%, similar to other shorebirds, but Msum and MMR for both species were either similar to or lower than allometric predictions, suggesting that the elevated BMR in shorebirds does not extend to maximal metabolic capacities. Old World shorebirds show the highest BMR during the annual cycle on the Arctic breeding grounds. Similarly, least sandpiper BMR during migration was lower than on the Arctic breeding grounds, but this was not the case for pectoral sandpipers, so our data only partially support the idea of similar seasonal patterns of BMR variation in New World and Old World shorebirds. We found no correlations of BMR with either Msum or MMR for either raw or mass‐independent data, suggesting that basal and maximum aerobic metabolic rates are modulated independently in these species.

First records of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata for Mozambique and continental Africa, and additional records of Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos in Mozambique, with comments on identification and patterns of occurrence

The first records of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata for Mozambique and continental Africa (1–2 adults, 4 February–16 April 2018), and additional records of Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos in Mozambique (1–2 birds, 20 February–31 March 2018) are reported, all at Macaneta, Maputo province. Identification features of these two species attaining breeding plumage are detailed and patterns of occurrence in Africa are discussed.

Regular wintering of Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) in NW Italian heathland habitat

The regularization of the wintering status of the Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) in NW Italy has been confirmed for the first time within the heathland of the “Baraggia di Candelo Natural Reserve” (Piedmont, Biella). Regular monitoring from winter 2009/2010 to winter 2015/2016 allowed to describe the phenology and the abundance of the species in the area comparing it with that of an ally species, the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). A maximum count of 6 birds during winter and at least 13 individuals during the spring migration were recorded. The species was more abundant during the second 10-day period of November and the first 10-day period of March. Jack Snipe outnumber the Common Snipe throughout the period they were censused.