Tag: red knot

By: Lindsay McNamara, Communications Coordinator

“Moonbird is the most famous, charismatic member of a group of mid-sized shorebirds called Rufa red knots, whose numbers have plummeted so dramatically in the past several decades that they just became the first bird ever listed under the Endangered Species Act with climate change cited as a “primary threat.”

 

Rufa red knots are among the avian world’s most extreme long range flyers (especially in light of their relatively small size). They travel vast distances — some flying over 18,000 miles — in the course of an annual migration that begins in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, and extends all the way up to the Canadian Arctic (and back again).

 

Which brings us to Moonbird’s distinction: Because he is so old — he is at least 21 — he is believed to have flown as many as 400,000 miles in his lifetime. The distance to the moon varies, depending on where it is in its orbit, but the average distance is about 237,000 miles. Thus, Moonbird has not only flown the distance it takes to reach the moon — he has also covered the bulk of the return voyage.

 

Assuming that Moonbird is still living — the last sighting was in May — there are reasons to wonder whether there will ever be another bird that is his equal. Why? Simply put, his subspecies has been devastated, and climate change will only make matters worse — making extreme survival of the sort that Moonbird has achieved that much more difficult.”

 

Washington Post Science and Environment Reporter Chris Mooney explores Moonbird’s journey, threats to the species, and the recent Endangered Species Act listing of the Rufa Red Knot:

• Read the article on Washington Post’s Wonkblog.

 

Learn more:

• On Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s blog: Wildlife Beach Restoration Groups Applaud Endangered Species Act Designation for Red Knot 
• Read the Press of Atlantic City article: New Jersey shorebird to get new federal protections
• Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s Delaware Bay Shorebird Conservation Project
• Become a Delaware Bay Shorebird Steward!

Lindsay McNamara is the Communications Coordinator for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

 

Shorebird now federally protected as threatened species under Endangered Species Act

By: Lindsay McNamara, Communications Coordinator

Wildlife conservation organizations leading the efforts to restore New Jersey’s Delaware Bay beaches for at-risk shorebirds today applauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to designate the Red Knot, a migratory shorebird, as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. A “threatened” designation means a species is at risk of becoming endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

 

“This federal designation will make a big difference in strengthening the protections of this incredible shorebird,” said David Wheeler, Executive Director for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

 

“Here in New Jersey, we are restoring the vital beach habitat that had been decimated by Hurricane Sandy, and this designation ensures the safeguards we are providing can be complemented along the East Coast,” Wheeler added.

 

Since the 1980’s, the Knot’s population has fallen by about 75 percent in some key areas. Wildlife biologists believe the major threat to the Red Knot is the dramatic decline of horseshoe crab eggs, an essential food source at the most critical stop over during their 8,000 mile trip from southern wintering grounds to Arctic breeding territory. High-energy horseshoe crab eggs provide nourishment for Red Knots to refuel and continue their journey.

 

“This is an important and needed step in the conservation and recovery of the Red Knot. It is an essential step in preventing the extinction of this amazing long distance traveler,” stated Tim Dillingham, Executive Director for American Littoral Society.

 

The largest concentration of Red Knots is found in May in the Delaware Bayshore of New Jersey and Delaware, where the shorebirds stop to gorge themselves on the eggs of spawning horseshoe crabs. In just a few days, the birds nearly double their weight to prepare for the final leg of their long journey.

 

“The major decline of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay is one of the largest threats to the survival of the shorebird,” explained Dr. Larry Niles, a biologist who leads the beach restoration efforts for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and American Littoral Society, and has studied Red Knots for three decades. “Agency groups have been working hard for the last two years, and will continue for the next two years going forward to rebuild the habitat damaged by Hurricane Sandy that the horseshoe crabs rely on. This work is integral to the recovery of the Red Knot and the shorebird’s best hope for survival.”

 

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, American Littoral Society and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey Recovery Fund to remove 8,000 tons of debris and added 45,000 tons of sand to the beaches just before the annual spring arrival of the Red Knot in 2013.

 

Learn More:

• Read the Press of Atlantic City article: New Jersey shorebird to get new federal protections
• Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s Delaware Bay Shorebird Conservation Project
• Become a Delaware Bay Shorebird Steward!

Lindsay McNamara is the Communications Coordinator for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

by Stephanie Feigin, CWF Program Coordinator

This marks the second story in Shorebird Week! Our first blog post, on Tuesday, introduced the film “A Race Against Time” and directed you to a free viewing of the film on our website. Today’s blog post, will highlight an incredible news story about a resighting of the iconic Red knot B95 on the Delaware Bay! And tomorrow’s blog post, will highlight volunteer’s incredible efforts to save stranded horseshoe crabs!

This story highlights the iconic Red knot, B95, being resighted on the Delaware Bay. B95, nicknamed Moonbird, is at least 20 years old, which makes him the oldest Red knot on record. He received his nickname because he has flown the equivalent of the distance between the earth and the moon and at least halfway back in his lifetime.

One of Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s partners, Manomet Center for Conservation Science, highlights this bird in an fascinating news story about his resighting and the research efforts being done by the CWF biologist Dr. Larry Niles and Amanda Dey, senior biologist with the Endangered and Non-game Species Division of N.J. Fish and Wildlife and their team to restore the Delaware Bay.

To read this news story, click here

For more information on CWF’s Shorebird project and the research being done, visit our website.

And make sure to check out the film about CWF’s efforts to restore the Delaware Bay Shore beaches, “A Race Against Time” as well!

by Stephanie Feigin, CWF Program Coordinator

This week for Animal Week, we will be spotlighting Shorebirds in the Media! Endangered red knots, ruddy turnstones, and other magnificent birds travel from South America to the Canadian Arctic during their migration, and make an important stopover along the Delaware Bay Shore from May to June.

The 2014 Shorebird film, “A Race Against Time” celebrates the Delaware Bay Beach Restoration

The film can now be enjoyed for free on our website:

Click here to enjoy this film! 

Greener New Jersey Productions this spring produced a 30-minute film documenting the ambitious campaign by Conserve Wildlife Foundation, American Littoral Society and other partners to restore Delaware Bayshore beaches decimated by Hurricane Sandy. This project ensures that the at-risk horseshoe crabs and globally migrating shorebirds relying on this habitat can survive.

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, and New Jersey Audubon have partnered for many years to conduct research on Delaware Bay shorebirds in order to prevent their decline.

 

 

Wondering how you can learn more about shorebirds? Look no further.

 

Despite its part in one of the world’s most incredible migrations, the annual arrival of tens of thousands of shorebirds in Delaware Bay remains relatively unknown to many New Jersey residents. Only recently have shorebirds received some news coverage, but it’s not good news – their numbers are declining rapidly. Scientists have begun to fear that without concerted conservation efforts, species like the red knot may soon go extinct.

 

The Delaware Bay Shorebird Project, a study led by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program, has documented shorebird activity in Delaware Bay for nearly thirty years. The result has been an extensive knowledge base that documents every aspect of shorebird life – from measuring food availability and weight gains to tracking migration routes and breeding success – in New Jersey and beyond. Now, as a longtime partner on this project, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey is proud to introduce a new way to learn about these wonderful birds and the work underway to save them: a brand new shorebird site!

 

These new additions are loaded with content to bring you up to date on all the latest developments in the protection of shorebirds. Learn about these special birds on the Key Species page, and find detailed descriptions about their appearance, life cycle, and where to see them on their own pages in our online Field Guide. Check out the Media page for videos, photos, news articles, scientific publications, and more. Take an in-depth look at all the different areas of shorebird study currently underway on the Research page, and click on the Conservation page to discover how these birds are being protected. Finally, visit our Get Involved page to learn how you can become part of the efforts to help save these remarkable species from extinction.

 

Be sure to check out all the new additions at:  http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/protecting/projects/shorebird/

 

…found at Delaware Bay beaches in May.

by Larissa Smith, biologist/volunteer manager

Several Delaware Bay beaches will be closed from Monday, May 7 to Thursday, June 7, 2012.  Beaches are closed to protect a rapidly-declining population of migrating shorebirds including the red knot which is an endangered species in NJ.  But this doesn’t mean that you can’t come out and view the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs. It’s the prefect time to see these birds undisturbed and feeding on horseshoe crab eggs.

Several beaches are set-up for shorebird viewing including Reeds Beach, Norburys Landing, Kimbles Beach and Cooks Beach in Cape May County. Find more viewing locations on our interactive Wildlife Viewing Map.

Shorebird Stewards will be present at closed beaches to educate the public about the interaction between the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs. Take some time this May and come visit the Delaware Bay and enjoy the view!

Detailed maps of the closed areas can be found at:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/beachclozmap.htm

 

 

Red knot shot while on migration

Bandedbirds.org is an effort to collect data on shorebirds throughout their range from the southern tip of Chile to the Canadian arctic. This effort has been underway for many years and has an international network of volunteers reporting re-sightings data on shorebirds. 

The following was shared with the shorebird community by Jeannine Parvin, administrator for bandedbirds.org.

The bird being discussed was banded in NJ in May 2005.  It seemed to return to NJ each year, having been resighted most years up to 2010.  The bird seemed to be heading back up to NJ for the 2011 Spring shorebird season, when it was shot and killed in French Guiana.  Illegal hunting is still a big issue for shorebirds.  Paired with loss and degradation of habitat, and pollution, these birds face major threats.  Read more about CWF’s work to monitor and protect shorebirds here.

A red knot identified as FL(PPM) was shot in French Guiana by a hunter.

The data was submitted by Alexandre Vinot from French Guiana. He regularly reports to bandedbirds.org and is a volunteer with GEPOG.

His comments state: “shot in Mana Ricefield – flag given to Antoine Hausselman, who gave me the data”.

5.651519 -53.670960 approximates this location along NW coast of French Guiana. Continue reading “News from the International Shorebird Project”

Volunteers are needed to help study migratory shorebird distribution and human use

A partnership between Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, and Rutgers University.

Survey Period: 10/13/2010 – 10/24/2010

Volunteers are needed to help conduct a study that will measure all influences of shorebird distribution (food, predation and human use/disturbance) while altering human recreational use (close sections of beach, restricted access to key areas or to the waterline) to determine impact both to recreational use and shorebirds at a coastal stopover site (North Brigantine Natural Area). Volunteers are needed to survey shorebird behavior and distribution and/or human use of the natural area.

The ultimate goal is to recommend management programs that create the best protection with minimal impact to recreational use to all Federal and State agencies responsible for sites important to migratory shorebirds.

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Shorebird Study:

Volunteers/interns must have the ability to:

1. Identify shorebird species including Red Knot, Semi-palmated Plover, Sanderling, Sandpiper spp., Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone is required.
2. Accurately observe and record estimates of flock size and behaviors.
3. Work anywhere 11-hour days with breaks throughout the day on site as needed.
4. Walk several miles on the beach throughout the shift.
5. Communicate effectively, intelligently and positively with the public despite potential opposition.
6. Provide own transportation to Brigantine Natural Area.
7. Lodging will be provided for those traveling and/or working consecutive days.

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Human Use Study:

Volunteers/interns must have the ability to:

1. Communicate effectively, intelligently and positively about the study with the public despite potential opposition. Volunteers will be supplied with a 1-page hand out about the project with contact information to share with the public.
2. Advise public of beach closure.
3. Interview visitors where possible to establish recreational activities, recreational rates, and perceptions.
4. Accurately record responses.
5. Work 11 hour days (includes two weekends) with breaks as needed on site throughout the day.
6. Provide own transportation to Brigantine Natural Area.
7. Lodging is available for those traveling and working consecutive days.

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The schedule will be composed of 11-hour daily survey periods over the course of 12 consecutive days. This includes three pre-treatment days (10/13-10/15) followed by six treatment (beach closure) days (10/16-10/21) and three post-treatment days (10/22-10/24). Obviously, greater availability is preferred but flexible scheduling will be considered. We would like to keep this project a volunteer/intern support survey, so pay is not likely although may be considered if we are able to identify additional funding.

Please contact Cristina Frank at cristina_frank@hotmail.com if you’d like to volunteer.

Viewing Wildlife and migration studies

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

Fall migration is underway! Ospreys are headed south for the winter. Juveniles will spend the next two years in their wintering areas in northern South America. Rob Bierregaard, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has been tracking ospreys from Martha’s Vineyard since 2000. Currently twelve ospreys are fitted with satellite transmitters. Rob uses the data to study migration patterns and the local dispersal of juvenile and adult ospreys. Check out maps from this seasons birds by clicking here. A great place to view ospreys as they travel south is at Cape May Point State Park. Go after a cold front has passed and you should see high numbers of raptors including ospreys on migration.

Red knots, black belly plovers, dunlin, and ruddy turnstones are beginning to show up on beaches along the coastline. Many hop-scotch their way south to their wintering grounds in South America. Great places to view them include Brigantine Inlet, Avalon, Stone Harbor Point, and North Wildwood. Many of these shorebirds are banded with an alpha-numeric color band. If you have a high power spotting scope, then you should be able to read the band. You can contribute your sightings to the International Shorebird Project by submitting your sightings.

Another great website that tracks avian (bird) migration patterns over New Jersey is www.woodcreeper.com. It is run by David La Puma who uses Doppler radar to track movements of birds as they take off on migration, most at night. He is predicting that a large number of birds will take off Wednesday night/Thursday morning after a cold front with winds that prevail from the north passes through. He expects large numbers of migrants to arrive here to “rest and refuel” on Thursday/Friday. Check out this cool graphic of some Doppler radar where you can see birds moving behind the passing cold front (with precipitation).

Get out this weekend and enjoy the beautiful fall weather and watch some of the amazing natural events that take place in New Jersey. Learn key locations to view wildlife by visiting our wildlife viewing map.

Helping to protect shorebirds on the Delaware Bay

By Larissa Smith, Assistant Biologist

One part of my job that is quite enjoyable is getting to spend time on the Delaware Bay beaches in the spring and working with the Shorebird Stewards.  As the CWF volunteer manager I organize the Shorebird Steward program which is part of the International Shorebird Project. During the two week period that stewards are on the beaches I try to get out and check on the beaches and meet with the stewards as much as possible.  This season there were 26 stewards and 23 of those had worked as stewards during a previous season.

The main part of the steward’s job is to educate people about the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs, but they do a lot more than that in a day.  Stewards also keep people from going into the closed areas of the beaches so that the shorebirds can feed undisturbed.  They give directions and send people to the beaches where the most birds have been sighted that day.

If they have time they also count the number of shorebirds on the beaches and if possible record any banded birds that they see. Stewards deal with all types of people and situations. Some beaches are much busier than others, such as Reed’s beach where there is a viewing platform.  On many days there is a constant stream of people coming to the view the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs.

This season there were very few problems on the beaches and it is directly due to the shorebird stewards hard work and dedication to the project.

I look forward to getting back on the beaches next shorebird season and working with such a great group of volunteers.

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