Sandpiper Research Articles

Abundância sazonal de aves migratórias na Área de Proteção Ambiental de Piaçabuçu, Alagoas, Brasil

Every year, thousands of limicola and migratory birds winter on the South American coast, between September and April, where they acquire body mass and undergo moulting before returning to their reproduction sites. Qualitative and quantitative studies were performed in the Piacabucu Protection Area located in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, by direct counting, aiming to follow upon the birds’ seasonal migration. Five species of Charadriidae family were recorded: Vanellus chilensis (Wagler, 1827); Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus, 1758); Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte, 1825; Charadrius collaris Vieillot, 1818 and Charadrius wilsonia (Ord, 1814), and five of the Scolopacidae family: Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758); Actitis macularius (Linnaeus, 1766); Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Gmelin, 1789); Calidris pusilla (Linnaeus, 1766) and Calidris alba (Pallas, 1764). Pluvialis squatarola, Charadrius semipalmatus, Charadrius collaris, Arenaria interpres, Calidris pusilla and Calidris alba were considered constant (present in over 50% of observation time). Charadrius semipalmatus and Calidris alba showed highest level of frequency during November and December and March and September, respectively. Spearman correlation shows a strong dependency on migration of this species. The birds’ loyalty to the Piacabucu area seen in this research show that this is a preferred site for wintering thus reinforcing its importance for the conservation of the migratory species that utilize the site.

Censo de aves migratórias (Charadriidae, Scolopacidae e Laridae) na Coroa do Avião, Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brasil

Thousands of shorebirds and seabirds use the Atlantic route through the northeastern coast of Brazil every year to migrate to South America. In this study was made a census of individuals that uses the Coroa do Aviao (7o40'S and 34o50W), an islet located on the south bar of the Santa Cruz channel on the north coast of Pernambuco state, from May 1993 throughout April 1995 and from August 1996 throughout July 1997. Four species of the family Charadriidae, seven species of the family Scolopacidae, and two species of the family Laridae was observed. The populational peaks match both the period of arrival to the winter season site and the period of departure to the reproduction site. The species considered very frequent were: Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte, 1825 and Calidris alba (Pallas, 1764). All the other species were considered rather frequent. There was a strong linear correlation between 1993 and 1994 among Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus, 1758) and Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758); A. interpres and Calidris pusilla (Linnaues, 1766); A. interpres and C. alba; and C. pusilla and C. alba. From 1994 to April 1995 it occured between P. squatarola and C. alba; C. semipalmatus and C. pusilla; C. semipalmatus and C. pusilla; and A. interpres and C. pusilla. From August 1996 throughout July 1997 there was correlation only between P. squatarola and C. pusilla. The obtained results demonstrate the great importance of the Coroa do Aviao as a winter season site.

Evolution of Foraging Strategies in Shorebirds: An Ecomorphological Approach

We studied the relationships between bill and hindlimb morphology and foraging behavior in 17 species of shorebirds within a phylogenetic framework. The results show that the evolutionary change in bill length is related to the evolutionary change in for-aging strategies from visual hunting to tactile hunting. We also found evolutionary relationships between an increase in bill length and both plunging and sweeping foraging movements, and a decrease in bill length and "routing" behavior. No relationships were found between hindlimb morphology and movement pattern (continuous hunting species vs. pause-travel species). Examining the evolutionary rate of change in bill and hindlimb structures shows that the family Scolopacidae and the subfamily Recurvirostrinae evolved more rapidly than the species of Charadriinae. Results from our ecomorphological and evolutionary analysis support the hypothesis by Zweers and co-workers on the evolution of feeding mechanisms in shorebirds.

Effects of a Commercial Baitworm Harvest on Semipalmated Sandpipers and Their Prey in the Bay of Fundy Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve

: The conservation of key stopover sites for migratory wading birds is important because there are so few and because in some cases they support entire populations. In Minas Basin in the Bay of Fundy, over 500,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) on southward migration feed on the abundant amphipod Corophium volutator. When a baitworm harvesting industry began there in 1985 (focused on bloodworms [Glycera dibranchiata]), concerns were raised about the potential effects of this activity on the foraging behavior of Semipalmated Sandpipers and on the density and age structure of their principal prey, C. volutator. Core sampling for invertebrates and paired focal sandpiper observations were undertaken in disturbed (dug) and undisturbed sediment. Semipalmated Sandpiper foraging efficiency decreased by 68.5% in dug sediment, corresponding to observed reductions in prey density. The decreased foraging efficiency may also have been related to reductions in prey availability due to the obstruction of visual and tactile prey cues caused by turning and loosening of the surface sediment. The overall density (adult and juvenile) of C. volutator decreased by 38.8% in dug sediment in the first year of baitworm harvesting, due to direct mortality and lower juvenile recruitment. Juvenile C. volutator were particularly susceptible to disturbance (55% decrease in dug sediment); because they overwinter to become the next year’s potential breeders, this decrease can be expected to compound with each subsequent year of harvesting. All the significant, negative effects of baitworm harvesting on Semipalmated Sandpiper foraging behavior and on the density and age structure of their principal prey, C. volutator, were realized after only one season of digging. Semipalmated Sandpipers foraging in harvested areas may take longer to deposit the fat required for migration, thereby delaying their arrival on the wintering grounds or forcing them to depart without sufficient fat loads. Resumen: La conservacion de sitios clave para aves migratorias es vitalmente importante debido a que son tan pocas y debido a que en algunos casos soportan poblaciones enteras. En la cuenca Minas de la bahia de Fundy mas de 500,000 playeros semipalmados (Calidris pusilla) de migracion surena se alimentan del abundante anfipodo Corophium volutator. Cuando se dio inicio a la industria de la cosecha de gusanos para carnada en 1985 (enfocada en el gusano Glycera dibranchiata), iniciaron tambien preocupaciones sobre sus potenciales efectos en las actividades de forrajeo del playero semipalmado y en la densidad y estructura de edades de su principal presa, C. volutator. Se realizaron muestreos de invertebrados y observaciones pareados focales de playeros en sedimentos perturbados (escarbados) y sedimentos sin perturbar. La eficiencia de forrajeo de los playeros disminuyo en un 68.5% en sedimentos escarbados, correspondiendo con observaciones de reducciones en la densidad de la presa. La disminucion en la eficiencia de forrajeo tambien pudo haber estado relacionada con reducciones de la viabilidad de la presa debido a la obstruccion de elementos visuales y tactiles en la presa causados por el movimiento y ablandamiento de la superficie del sedimento. En general, la densidad de C. volutator (adultos + juveniles) disminuyo en un 38.8% en sedimentos removidos en el primer ano de cosecha debido a una mortalidad directa y a un reclutamiento bajo de juveniles. Los juveniles de C. volutator fueron particularmente susceptibles a las peturbaciones (55% de disminucion en sedimentos escarbados) y debido a que invernan para convertirse en los posibles reproductores del ano siguiente, puede esperarse que estas disminuciones se acumulen en cado ano subsecuente de cosecha. Todos los efectos negativos y significativos de la cosecha de gusanos para carnada en la conducta del forrajeo de los playeros y en la densidad y estructura de edades de su principal presa C. volutator ocurrieron tan solo despues de una temporada de cosecha. El forrajeo de playeros semipalmados en areas cosechadas puede tomar mas tiempo en depositor la grasa necesaria para la migracion, retrasando con ello su arribo a las zonas de invierno y forzarlos a partir sin las reservas de grasa suficientes.

The adaptive significance of parental role division and sexual size dimorphism in breeding shorebirds

Sexual size dimorphism among 57 species in the shorebird family Scolopacidae is evaluated in relation to parental role division during breeding. Normal size dimorphism, i.e. the female being smaller than the male, occurs in species where the female has the main responsibility for parental care, whereas reverse size dimorphism, the most common pattern among shorebirds, is associated with reversed parental roles. Pronounced dimorphism between sexes occurs, besides in body size, also in bill length, where the sex undertaking the main part of brood attendance has a disproportionately short bill in species adapted for foraging by deep probing. A small body size is of adaptive value to attain high parental efficiency for energetic reasons, because smaller individuals need less energy to maintain themselves. Short bills may be advantageous during brood attendance when feeding mainly takes place in terrestrial habitats together with the chicks. Females released from parental care duties are favoured by a larger body size allowing increased accumulation of energy reserves for egg production. There are obvious parallels between shorebirds and raptors concerning the adaptive significance of reverse sexual size dimorphism and parental role division.

Stomach Contents of Dunlins Collected in Western Washington

The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is the most common sandpiper (Family Scolopacidae) that winters on the Pacific coast of North America (Bent 1927; Jewett et al. 1953; and Christmas Bird Count data published in American Birds during the last two decades). The food eaten by dunlins has been described from many locations throughout their distribution (see review in Cramp and Simmons 1983). In North America, food eaten by dunlins has been described from the Arctic (Holmes 1966; Baker 1977), at migratory stop-overs in the midwest (Brooks 1962) and British Columbia (Munro 1936), and at wintering areas in British Columbia (Fry 1980) and California (Recher 1964; Holmes 1966; Holmberg 1971). In addition, the food eaten by dunlins has been described from populations wintering in Grays Harbor (Smith and Mudd 1976; Kalinowski et al. 1982) and the San Juan Islands (Couch 1966) in Washington state. In this note, we describe the amounts and kinds of food eaten by dunlins at four estuaries in western Washington state; three in Puget Sound (Kennedy Creek delta, Nisqually River delta and Samish Bay) and one in Grays Harbor on the coast (Bowerman Basin). A description of these areas is provided by Brennan et al. (1985). We have previously summarized the food eaten by dunlins in western Washington in relation to the availability of prey and patterns of over-winter weight changes in dunlins (Buchanan et al. 1985). Our purpose here is to provide a complete listing of all food items obtained from our collections of dunlins.

The ecological significance of tarsometatarsal length in sandpipers

The lengths of the femur (F), tibiotarsus (TB) and tarsometatarsus (TR) were measured in 158 specimens from 6 genera in the family Scolopacidae, and the relative length of the TR (TR/F+TB+TR) was calculated for each specimen.

Avian Haemoproteidae. 10. The haemoproteids of the avian family Scolopacidae

The haemoproteids of the avian family Scolopacidae are reviewed and their hosts and geographic distribution summarized. Haemoproteus scolopaci Galli-Valerio, 1929 is redescribed. Two new species, Haemoproteus contortus and H. rotator, are described from scolopacids of the Philippine Islands.

An Albinistic Marbled Godwit: A First Record

Albinism occurs infrequently in the family Scolopacidae as compared to other avian families (Sage 1963, Gross 1965). There are apparently no previous records of albinism for the Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) (Ross 1963), although there is one record each for the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) (Deanne 1880), and the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (Sage 1962). At 15:30 on 9 February 1974 on the east shore of Drake Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore, Inverness, California, I spent approximately 15 min observing an albinistic Marbled Godwit foraging on mudflats among a relatively large flock of godwits. Observations were made from a distance of about 30 m with a 15-60x zoom telescope. There were no clouds or wind, and glare was minimal. A description follows: Bill-flesh colored with black tip, apparently normal; Irides-black, apparently normal; Legs-dark or black, apparently normal; Body and head-entirely or almost entirely diluted to white on all parts except axillae and wing linings, which were heavily tinged cinnamon. The back and the wing coverts retained a distinct pattern of dusky, transverse barring. A less distinct pattern of faint barring was present ventrally on the rectrices. The coloration of this individual seems to have resulted from extreme dilution of the rufous-brown, and cinnamon pigmentation in most of the plumage and should therefore be considered as a case of imperfect albinism (Pettingill 1956).

Social Interactions in Flocks of Courting Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor)

A remarkable diversity of mating systems and related social behavior patterns is found in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae (including the Phalaropodinae, after Jehl, 1968). Mating systems range from territorial monogamy in the Willet (Cataptrophorus semipalmatus) (Vogt 1938), possible polygyny in the Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) (Pitelka 1959), polyandry in the Northern Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) (Raner 1972; Hilden and Vuolanto 1972) to lek promiscuity in the Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) (Hogan-Warburg 1966). In such species as the Pectoral Sandpiper (Pitelka 1959) and the Whiterumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) (Parmelee et al. 1968), males play the active role in courtship and only females incubate, whereas the reverse is true in the phalaropes (Tinbergen 1935; H6hn 1967; Bengtson 1968). Between these extremes, other species exhibit varying degrees of role-sharing by the sexes. The strategy of pair formation in a given species probably represents a series of adaptations to a set of social and environmental conditions. Holmes and Pitelka (1966) have presented an ecological classification of social systems in calidridine sandpipers based upon the relative conservatism or opportunism in the manner of environmental exploitation. Their classification attempts to explain in particular the adaptiveness of spacing patterns of individuals during pair formation and the resulting monogamous, polygamous, or promiscuous mating system. In this paper the social phases of early pair formation in Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) are examined in some detail with a view to interpreting the adaptiveness of the social behavior patterns exhibited. No attempt will be made at this stage to explain the reversal of sex roles, for which this species and its congeners are well known (Bent 1927). A later paper will deal with the interactions of the sexes during the subsequent period of avoidance of conspecifics, during which time the pair bond is completed and nesting initiated. This study follows and supplements earlier investigations into the breeding biology of W lson's Phalarope, most notably those of H6hn (1967) and Johns (1969). Names of taxa follow the classification of Jehl (1968).

Ecology and Evolution of Social Organization in Arctic Sandpipers

A comparative analysis of sandpiper social systems on arctic and subarctic breeding grounds (24 species in the family Scolopacidae, subfamily Calidridinae) shows four major patterns. In a majority of the species (15), populations are dispersed through a strongly developed territorial system, with strong monogamous pair bonds and only minor yearly fluctuations in numbers. The second pattern is seen in three species in which the female of a pair may lay two sets of eggs in quick succession, one for each member of the pair to incubate. This opens opportunities for facultative polygyny or polyandry (‘serial polygamy’) and for the evolutionary weakening of the strong pair bond seen in the first pattern. The third and fourth patterns are those of polygyny (three species) and promiscuity (three species). These six species show clumped dispersions; their year-to-year fluctuations tend to be strong; the males defend compressible, often small, territories; and high densities can occur locally. It is suggested that the pattern of overdispersion and monogamy represents a conservative mode of adapting to high-latitude environments, while the pattern of clumped dispersion with polygyny or promiscuity represents an opportunistic mode in that the birds are concentrated into breeding areas where and when weather, food, and/or some other environmental factors are particularly favorable. Apparently falling evolutionarily between these two basic patterns are several species conservative in their life-styles, but polygamous at least occasionally and showing some features of opportunism. There is thus a striking diversity of social systems in calidridine sandpipers, that is, in the styles of habitat exploitation they have evolved in the arctic and subarctic habitats to which their breeding is confined. A graphic model suggesting paths of evolutionary development and of interplay among factors considered critical in the evolution of these systems is proposed.

Chemotaxonomische untersuchungen an limikolen: Die zusammensetzung des bürzeldrüsensekretes von austernfischer, rotschenkel, knutt und alpenstrandläufer

The fatty acid and alcohol composition of the uropygial gland wax from four species of birds of the order Laro-limicolae was investigated. Compounds were identified by GLC-MS and the major components were found to be mono-, di and tri-methyl-branched fatty acids and n-, mono- and di-methyl-substituted alcohols. The wax patterns of the three species of the family Scolopacidae ( Tringa totanus L., Calidris canutus L., Calidris alpina L.) were shown to be closely related and different from that of the oystercatcher ( Haematopus ostralegus L.) by the occurrence of trimethyl-substituted fatty acids and dimethyl-substituted alcohols. In contrast to the species of Scolopacidae, the substituents in the monomethyl-branched alcohols of the oystercatcher are exclusively located in postions near the aliphatic end of the molecule. There are some relationships in uropygial gland wax composition between the Scolopacidae and the Alicae and Laridae.

One Week Flight of a Least Sandpiper

One Week Flight of a Least Sandpiper

Review: The Sandpiper

Review: The Sandpiper

Sandpipers on One Leg

Sandpipers on One Leg

Two New Mallophaga from Two Closely Related Shorebirds.

There are described herein two new species of Mallophaga colledcd from two species of shorebirds: Lesser yellowlegs, Totanus flavipes (Gmelin) and greater yellowlegs, Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin), both common during migrations in the United States. These two sandpipers (Order Charadriiformes, Family Scolopacidae) are almost indistinguishable in coloration but the greater yellowlegs is about one-third larger in size than the lesser yellowlegs. The two new species of Mallophaga are easily separated by the different male genitalia; in other characters they closely resemble each other; the larger louse is found on the larger bird.

On the Carpal and Tarsal Bones of Birds *

THE author stated that he had followed with great interest the work of Huxley, Cope, Morse, and others, in tracing out the ornithic characters in the Dinosauria. While following these relations he had noticed a marked difference in the characters of the carpus and tarsus of the two classes. It seemed strange that a group of bones so persistent in the reptiles as well as in the mammalia should be so obscure or wanting in birds. Owen objects to the term tarso-metatarse, as he believes the existence of a tarsus has not been demonstrated. W. K. Parker, in 1861, on the osteology of Balæniceps, questions if the lower articular portion of the tibia is not the homologue of the mammalian astragalus and not an epiphysis. Gegenbaur has now shown that in one stage of the young bird there is a proximal tarsal ossicle, and a distal tarsal ossicle, the first one ancrrylosing with the tibia, the distal one likewise anchylosing with the metatarse. Thus, the term tarso-metatarse is quite proper. While this was a great step toward a proper understanding of these parts, Mr. Morse believed that a nearer relation would be found in the discovery of another proximal tarsal bone. In those reptiles he had examined, whatever the number of tarsal bones, there were always in the proximal series one corresponding to the tibia, and another corresponding to the fibula. He had found this feature in birds. In studying the embryos of the eave swallow, bank swallow, king bird, sand piper, blackbird, cow blackbird, bluebird, chirping sparrow, yellow warbler, and Wilson's thrush, he had found three distinct tarsal bones, two in the proximal series answering to the tibia and fibula, and one in the distal series. The first two early anchylose, and present an hour-glass-shaped articular surface as Prof. Cope has described in the astragalus of Lælaps. The final anchylosis of these conjoined ossicles with the tibia, formed the bicondylar trochlea so peculiar to the distal end of a bird's tibia. The distal tarsal ossicle became united with the proximal ends of the metatarse, as has been shown. In the carpus he had found four perfectly distinct ossicles, the distal carpal bones becoming united to the base of the mid and outer metacarpals, the other two remaining free, though the ulnar carpal in some cases anchylosed with the ulna. In the king bird and yellow warbler, he had found a fifth carpal on the radial side.