Evaluation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) nesting on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—2015 Annual Report

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Alex Hartman ◽  
Joshua T. Ackerman ◽  
Mark P. Herzog ◽  
Cheryl Strong ◽  
David Trachtenbarg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
San Francisco Bay ◽  
National Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Charadrius Alexandrinus ◽  
Snowy Plover ◽  
Caspian Tern

scholarly journals Trends in Caspian Tern Nesting and Diet in San Francisco Bay: Conservation Implications for Terns and Salmonids

Waterbirds ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Collis ◽  
Daniel D. Roby ◽  
Keith W. Larson ◽  
Lindsay J. Adrean ◽  
S. Kim Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
San Francisco Bay ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Caspian Tern

Forster’s Tern, Caspian Tern, and California Gull Colonies in San Francisco Bay: Habitat Use, Numbers and Trends, 1982-2003

Waterbirds ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl M. Strong ◽  
Larry B. Spear ◽  
Thomas P. Ryan ◽  
Robin E. Dakin
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
San Francisco Bay ◽  
Caspian Tern

Monitoring Western Snowy Plover Nests with Remote Surveillance Systems in San Francisco Bay, California

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Demers ◽  
Catilin W. Robinson-Nilsen
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
San Francisco Bay ◽  
Behavioral Studies ◽  
Snowy Plover ◽  
Snowy Plovers ◽  
Nest Predators ◽  
Western Snowy Plovers

Abstract The western snowy plover Charadrius nivosus nivosus is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 due to long-term population declines related, in part, to nest predation and human disturbance. In San Francisco Bay, California, numbers of predators of western snowy plovers and the potential for recreation-based human disturbances have increased during the past few decades and will likely increase for the foreseeable future. In an attempt to increase the reproductive success of western snowy plovers, managers have dedicated considerable resources to management practices including predator removal and habitat enhancement projects in San Francisco Bay. The unequivocal identification of western snowy plover nest predators and information regarding the behavioral responses of nesting plovers to human disturbance would inform management practices for this species. Therefore, we examined the efficacy of using a digital video surveillance system to identify nest predators of western snowy plovers in former salt evaporation ponds in San Francisco Bay and to assess its potential for use in behavioral studies. This system was designed to minimize disturbance to nesting plovers and limit predator bias at breeding sites that had little or no cover to camouflage or protect the equipment. The system included a small camera with infrared lights placed approximately 20 m from nests and a continuously operating recording unit and power supply that was positioned up to 300 m from nests. The system could be deployed within 20 min, run continuously for up to 5 d, and data could be retrieved without disturbing nesting birds. During a 2-y study period, we recorded six species depredating plover eggs and chicks: red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis, common raven Corvus corax, California gull Larus californicus, northern harrier Circus cyaneus, ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres, and gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus. Our results suggest that this surveillance system was effective for identifying western snowy plover nest predators, and the presence of the camera did not influence nesting success of monitored nests. This system could be integrated into conservation programs intended to improve reproductive success of this species and could be useful for conducting behavioral studies of western snowy plovers and other species.

scholarly journals Detectability and Abundance of Snowy Plovers at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M Heath-Acre ◽  
Warren C. Conway ◽  
Clint W. Boal ◽  
Daniel P. Collins ◽  
Glen Hensley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Population Abundance ◽  
National Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Abundance Estimate ◽  
Salt Flat ◽  
Snowy Plover ◽  
Snowy Plovers

In the past two decades, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge has been increasingly recognized as important habitat for both breeding and migratory shorebirds. North American snowy plovers Charadrius nivosus in particular rely on the nearly 5,000 ha salt flat at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, which thousands use as breeding and stopover habitat. Elsewhere on the Southern Great Plains, decadal declines up to 75% within snowy plover subpopulations have been documented and attributed to vegetation encroachment, increased rates of nest predation, and decreased availability of fresh surface water. Despite many attempts to estimate this species’ abundance across the continent, to date, no known attempt at distance sampling of snowy plovers has occurred. To address this paucity of data, we assessed feasibility of distance sampling methods to accurately estimate snowy plover abundance and detectability. Distance sampling surveys (2017-2018) indicated high detection probability (P = 0.80) and the population abundance estimate across the salt flat extrapolated to 3,307 individuals. The distance sampling population abundance estimate is lower than population abundance estimates determined by two previous studies within the last decade but far greater than 2,105 estimated for a study in 2006. Overall, distance sampling snowy plovers at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge proved to be an effective addition to pre-established survey protocols but further investigation is needed to compare accuracy and precision of methods used in this study, annual surveys conducted by Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, and other potential snowy plover surveys.

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