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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. Keywords : fauna, status, migration and protection of waders, Western Ukraine

Estuaries have historically been subject to considerable habitat loss, and continue to be subjected to such in areas where the natural landward migration of intertidal habitats is constrained by hard coastal defences. Thus, in estuaries where direct (e.g., port development) or indirect (e.g., sea level rise) processes are predicted to threaten intertidal habitats and associated waterbird species, there is a regulatory requirement to produce compensatory intertidal habitats. Managed realignment (MR) is a shoreline management practise that is undertaken to build sustainable coastal defences and create intertidal habitats in estuaries. This nature-based solution brings multiple benefits in the form of carbon storage, increased resilience to flooding, and, potentially, the formation of new habitats, which is the topic of this study. A 75-ha site at the Paull Holme Strays (Humber Estuary, United Kingdom) was monitored over a 10-year period following MR to examine the change in the abundance of waterbirds in the chosen site in response to the physical processes occurring there. Using digital terrain models (DTMs) collected via light detection and ranging (LiDAR), we examined how four compensatory target species responded to changes in elevation after the creation of the site. It was shown that the very rapid accretion of estuarine sediment occurred in the first decade of the new re-created intertidal, which, over time, led to changes in the numbers of benthic foraging birds supported. Furthermore, elevation change was also driven by this sediment accretion, the rate of which depended on the initial bed elevation of the sectors within the site. Ten years after the recreation of the habitat, the spatial heterogeneity in the bed elevation remained high; however, the sectors with the lowest elevations accreted the most over the 10-year period. The foraging number of the four waterbird species that colonised the MR site significantly declined above a certain elevation, with this effect being most pronounced for the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata). The number of common shelducks (Tadorna tadorna), dunlins (Calidris alpina), and common redshanks (Tringa totanus) declined significantly after initial peaks 5–7 years after the creation of the site, reflecting the ongoing elevation changes. Thus, this study highlighted the need for long-term studies to understand how species respond to large-scale habitat construction. It can also aid in predicting the suitability of an MR site for waterbirds in the medium and long term.

Stability of breeding habitat use and population variability was studied in two common wader species: green sandpiper Tringa ochropus and common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos in a boreal lake area in southern Finland. The main natural driver of habitat disturbance in the area is an ecosystem engineer, the North American beaver Castor canadensis. We also studied the presence and abundance of green sandpipers before, during and after beaver-induced floods. In the studied landscape, the variable habitat created by beaver flooding appeared to have carrying capacity for a larger green sandpiper population than the more stable habitat for that of the common sandpiper. Common sandpipers made much use of the same lakes from year to year whereas the occupation of wetlands by the green sandpiper was more variable. The population of common sandpipers fluctuated more, although they inhabited the more stable environment. Green sandpiper pair numbers increased during beaver flooding, which suggests that they adapt rapidly to changes in breeding site availability. Some of the facilitating effects of the beaver appeared to remain 1-2 years after the flooding.

As a result of long-term studies in the areas of abandoned meadows and grasslands in Arkhangelsk, Novgorod, Ivanovo, and Moscow regions, we found the main peculiarities of bird population trends in the process of demutational succession: from scattered weed associations to domination of scrub and woods. The main changes in bird communities and numbers of passerines, waders and Corncrake Crex crex, and their likely reasons for various stages of plant succession are discussed. It is established that the most negative trends in ground-nesting bird species for which short-grass habitats are optimum are supported owing to cattle grazing and haymaking: northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), redshank (Tringa totanus), skylark (Alauda arvensis), and yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava). The variously directed population trends of two Motacillidae species are shown: an increase in numbers and range expansion of the citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola), which prefers abandoned swampy meadows, and a decrease in numbers of the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis), which prefers low vegetation in used grasslands. The factors delaying demutational succession and hampering the decline in numbers of some passerines and waders are revealed. The reasons for the likely continuation of reduction of hay meadows and pasture areas in the forest zone, which aggravate negative trends of the meadow bird numbers, are discussed.

Increasing goose population sizes gives rise to conflicts with human socioeconomic interests and in some circumstances conservation interests. Grazing by high abundances of geese in grasslands is postulated to lead to a very short and homogeneous sward height negatively affecting cover for breeding meadow birds and impacting survival of nests and chicks. We studied the effects of spring grazing barnacle geese Branta leucopsis and brent geese Branta bernicla on occupancy of extensively farmed freshwater grasslands by nesting and brood‐rearing waders on the island Mandø in the Danish Wadden Sea. We hypothesized that goose grazing would lead to a shorter grass sward, negatively affecting the field occupancy by territorial/nesting and chick‐rearing waders, particularly species preferring taller vegetation. Goose grazing led to a short grass sward (, Grazing by high abundances of geese in grasslands is postulated to lead to a very short and homogeneous sward height negatively affecting cover for breeding meadow birds and ultimately impacting survival of nests and chicks. Despite very intensive goose grazing in spring, our field study could not detect any negative effect on the field occupancy by nesting nor chick‐rearing waders.

Loss of boreal wetlands in Finland has negative consequences for waders, ducks and local socio-ecological systems. These changes result from over 70-years of human-made alterations to land and waterscapes. Climate change and associated extreme events are expected to be further drivers of negative change. In order to build resilience and seek answers to these challenges, a five-year monitoring of Linnunsuo, a 120-ha human-made wetland was conducted. Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola) and Northern pintail (Anas acuta) were the indicator species. Analysis of co-management complemented the review. Results indicate that the creation of well-designed wetlands has the potential to increase resilience of these socio-ecological systems. They are cost-effective and can be replicated across the boreal region to address the need of habitat loss and climate impacts.

Rice fields provide important inland stopover sites for migratory shorebirds. However, stopover duration and habitat use depend on the environmental conditions in the rice fields, which constantly change due to agricultural activities. This study determined the characteristics of habitat use in two shorebird species, the Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola and Common Greenshank T. nebularia, in rice fields with different habitat conditions resulting from physical changes (field type: fields flooded after plowing, with high water levels after harrowing, or with low water levels after harrowing) and chemical changes (pesticide use: environmentally friendly or conventional farming) from agricultural activities around the time the migratory shorebirds arrive. The study was conducted during the spring stopover periods of these shorebird species in 2015 (May 2–20, 19 days) and 2016 (May 2–21, 20 days), during which we observed the characteristics of their habitat use and estimated the densities of potential prey. Both Wood Sandpiper and Common Greenshank were observed to use flooded fields with low water levels after harrowing. As for pesticide use, potential prey animals were most densely populated in environmentally friendly fields, for which only the large-bodied Common Greenshanks showed selection. This species-specific habitat use seems to be closely associated with body size-dependent prey availability and prey species selection. The small-bodied Wood Sandpiper was more affected by physical than chemical factors. These findings suggest that rice fields—major inland stopover sites for shorebirds—provide different habitats depending on agricultural activities. The study results also have practical implications for future improvement of inland shorebird habitat through efficient rice field management sensitive to the needs of migratory shorebirds.

Factors affecting stopover duration in birds are still much discussed. Field studies report contradictory evidence regarding the effect of fuel reserves on bird decision to depart from a stopover site, while the majority of laboratory tests performed on passerines reported a positive relationship between body conditions and migratory restlessness. In recent years, a few studies integrating laboratory and field investigations suggested that the amount of migratory restlessness could be a proxy of the individual willingness to depart from a stopover site in night-migrating passerines, but similar studies are lacking for other groups of birds. In this paper the factors affecting stopover length in the Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola (Charadriiformes Scolopacidae) were studied by integrating field observations and laboratory tests during spring migration. Our aims were to investigate (1) the influence of body conditions on migratory restlessness and (2) the influence of body conditions and of the amount of migratory restlessness on stopover duration, after controlling for meteorological conditions. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find any relationship between body condition and migratory restlessness nor stopover duration, while for the 1st time in a non-passerine species, evidence was produced that the amount of migratory restlessness is significantly related to the likelihood of leaving the stopover area. Our results emphasize the relevance of the studies integrating field and laboratory tests to understand the physiological and ecological factors affecting migratory behaviour in different bird species. Body conditions seem to be unrelated both to migratory restlessness and stopover duration. Migratory restlessness predicts the likelihood of leaving the stopover site. The quantification of migratory restlessness seems to be a useful tool for studying the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on stopover behaviour in shorebirds.

BackgroundSmall coastal wetlands are vital sites for wintering waterbirds. Identifying important habitats is critical for managing waterbirds effectively. The Vourkari inlet is a small coastal wetland located near the capital Athens, within the most urbanized and industrialized area of Greece. We aimed at identifying the most important habitats for waterbirds at the Vourkari inlet during winter.MethodsData about habitat use and availability were collected for 14 waterbird species and for seven habitat classes. Habitat selection (Manly’s selection ratio), overlap indices (Pianka’s niche overlap index) and null models were calculated.ResultsAll the studied waterbird species selected available habitats nonrandomly. Shallow waters (0–2 m), were used by 13 waterbirds and selected by five waterbirds. Pools and channels were used and selected by 10 species. Mud was used by nine species and selected by six species. Mud with rocky substrate was used by nine species and selected by eight species. Medium (2–4 m) and deep (4–6 m) open water habitats were used by seven species and selected by four species. Halophytic vegetation was used by six species and selected by two species. Several habitats were selected by nationally important populations: mudflat habitats (i.e., mud, mud with rocky substrate and pools and channels) by Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus), halophytic vegetation by Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), shallow waters by Common Shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) and medium and deep waters by Sandwich Terns (Thalasseus sandvicencis), whilst shallow waters and mudflat habitats were preferred by a possibly internationally important population of Mediterranean Gulls (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus). Although overlap in habitat use between species was generally low, null models indicated habitat sharing and a lack of competition.ConclusionsWaterbirds coexisted in the absence of competition for habitats at Vourkari, where they mostly used and preferred shallow water and mudflats. Small coastal wetlands are numerous, both in Greece and worldwide, therefore our findings would be useful as a basis for comparisons, both temporal at the inlet and spatial with other sites, that would help assess the importance of habitats and improve management strategies to benefit waterbirds, especially in areas with similar Mediterranean-type habitats and climate.

Wetlands are declining worldwide, and there is a great need for their restoration and creation. One natural agent of wetland engineering is beavers,Castorspp., which have returned or are returning to many parts of their former range. We initially studied the facilitative effect of the beaverCastor canadensison a waterbird community consisting of three waders and four ducks in boreal wetlands in southern Finland. Both waterbird species diversity and abundance increased when beavers impounded a pond. Common tealAnas creccaand green sandpiperTringa ochropuswere the species showing the most positive numerical response, but the other five species also increased upon flooding. This article evaluates how the results of the study have been used in management, both in theory and practice. The whole-community facilitation concept has been taken up in numerous articles considering the restorative effects of beavers. It has also been used as ecological background when planning and executing man-made wetland projects in Finland within both the public and the private sectors. Our study and its publication inAquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystemshave set a foundation for further evidence-based management of waterbird communities. As the results show, having beavers as wetland managers is a feasible tool for creating and restoring wetlands for waterbirds and other biota. Moreover, wetland restoration projects are becoming more popular endeavours, owing to an understanding of the diverse benefits of wetlands. Flooding by beavers is used as a model for managers when creating man-made wetlands; for example, in urban areas where it is difficult to maintain beavers. 1.2.3.4.

Conservation of migratory species requires anticipating the potential impacts of extreme climatic events, such as extreme drought. During drought, reduced habitat availability for shorebirds creates the potential for changes in their abundance and distribution, in part because many species are highly mobile and rely on networks of interior and coastal habitats. Understanding how shorebirds responded to a recent drought cycle that peaked from 2013 to 2015 in central California, USA, will help optimize management of wetlands and fresh water for wildlife. In the Central Valley, a vast interior region that is characterized by a mosaic of wetlands and agricultural lands, we found 22% and 29% decreases in the annual abundance of shorebirds during periods of 3-year drought (2013-2015) and 2-year extreme drought (2014-2015), respectively, when compared to non-drought years. Lower abundance of shorebirds coincided with significant decreases in the mean proportion flooded of survey units (7% and 9%, respectively) that were reliant on fresh water. Drought was associated with lower abundance within both the interior Central Valley and coastal San Francisco Bay for greater and lesser yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca and T. flavipes) and long- and short-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus and L. griseus). Only dunlins (Calidris alpina) had patterns of abundance that suggested substantial shifts in distribution between the Central Valley and coastal regions of San Francisco Bay and Point Reyes. Our results indicate that drought has the potential to reduce, at least temporally, shorebird populations and flooded habitat in the Central Valley, and the ability to respond to drought by taking advantage of nearby coastal habitats may limit the long-term effects of drought on some species. Successful conservation strategies must balance the impacts of reduced habitat availability at interior sites with the ability of some migratory shorebirds to adapt rapidly to shifting distributions of resources.

Many birds wintering in the Indian subcontinent fly across the Himalayas during migration, including Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus), Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo) and Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea). However, little is known about whether shorebirds migrate across the Himalayas from wintering grounds beyond the Indian subcontinent. Using geolocators and satellite tracking devices, we demonstrate for the first time that Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus) and Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) wintering in Singapore can directly fly over the Himalayas to reach breeding grounds in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and north-central Russia respectively. The results also show that migratory shorebirds wintering in Southeast Asia can use both the Central Asian Flyway and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. For Redshanks, westerly-breeding birds crossed the Himalayas while more easterly breeders on the Plateau migrated east of the Himalayas. For Whimbrels, an individual that crossed the Himalayas was probably from a breeding population that was different from the others that migrated along the coast up the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The minimum required altitude of routes of trans-Himalayan Redshanks were no higher on average than those of eastern migrants, but geolocator temperature data indicate that birds departing Singapore flew at high elevations even when not required to by topography, suggesting that the Himalayan mountain range may be less of a barrier than assumed.

Understanding spatial connectivity of long-distance migrants is important for effective management and conservation of both game and nongame species. Hunting of Nearctic-breeding shorebirds occurs in the Caribbean and northern South America; however, the origins of harvested individuals are generally unknown. We used stable hydrogen isotopes (δ2H) in feathers of juvenile shorebirds to infer the origins of birds harvested at 2 sites in Barbados using probabilistic assignments based on a terrestrial–freshwater δ2H isoscape. We used tissue δ13C and δ15N values to filter individuals that had derived nutrients from marine sources. Natal origins of juvenile American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica), Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus), Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), and Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) were predicted to be mainly from the eastern parts of their breeding ranges in eastern Canada, with American Golden-Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher also having h...

Capsule: During 1928–2016, initiation of egg-laying advanced in two wader species, remained unchanged in one, and was delayed in one species. The changes across years and variation among species can be explained by climatic variables and differences in migratory strategies.Aims: To document possible changes in initiation of egg-laying in common Danish wader species since the early part of the 20th century and seek possible correlations between egg-laying, timing of arrival and environmental factors.Methods: Annual records of the first eggs and chicks found on the scientific reserve of Tipperne in western Denmark 1928–2016 were analysed using linear regression to determine patterns in timing of egg-laying, pre-breeding length and influence of climate factors.Results: Two short/medium-distance migrant wader species, Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus and Common Redshank Tringa totanus advanced breeding initiation by about one week, with winter North Atlantic oscillation Index and spring temperature ...

Populations of meadow waders have shown steep declines in Europe during recent decades. However, empirical evidence concerning habitat preferences of different species in east Europe is largely lacking. In this study we investigate occurrence of the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), common redshank (Tringa totanus) and northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in 413 grassland plots (c. 50,000 ha in total) located in Polish lowland surveyed three times during spring of 2015 and 2016. Using hierarchical occupancy models corrected for imperfect detection we link local water conditions, forest cover and scattered trees and presence of cows and buildings with occurrence of waders. Presence of godwit positively correlated with flooding and wetness while negatively with drainage ditches and single trees. Redshank was positively associated with flooding and negatively with ditches and proximity to buildings. Lapwing was less often observed in proximity to buildings and at sites with numerous trees whereas curlews, showed no clear associations with any of the environmental variables investigated. Detectability of studied species (except godwit) was higher when corvids were present suggesting that species interactions may affect detection. Field survey conditions (e.g. time of day, number of visit) also contributed to detectability of all studied species. Our study suggest that water availability, including natural flooding, increases habitat quality for breeding waders, while single trees and farm buildings may reduce grassland availability for these species. Thus waders-oriented agri-environment subsidies, besides adjusting grassland management to breeding phenology, should also focus on wetness and openness of grasslands.

Capsule: Changes in sward height, driven by changes in management, were associated with a large decline in a population of farmland breeding waders.Aims: To examine the relationship between changes in habitat and numbers of breeding wader on an area of Scottish farmland over the last 25 years.Methods: Nesting waders in a core survey area of 7.5 km2 were monitored annually from 1990 to 2015. An additional 10.3 km2 were monitored less frequently. Habitat characteristics of each field were recorded and breeding success by Lapwing determined in a sample of fields.Results: All species showed large declines over the study period, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus by 95%, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus by 88%, Curlew Numenius arquata by 67% and Redshank Tringa totanus by 87% from peaks of 125, 365, 57 and 53 pairs, respectively. Changes in spring sward height, considered to be due to changes in crop type, were associated with changes in the numbers of breeding waders over time. Productivity by a sample of L...

Non-native predators can cause major declines or even localised extinctions in prey populations across the globe, especially on islands. The removal of non-native predators can, therefore, be a crucial conservation management tool but there can be challenges when they are viewed as charismatic in their own right. Four decades after their introduction to islands in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus continue to be an important nest predator for a declining population of breeding waders. Where hedgehogs were rare, clutch survival rates (assessed using nest temperature loggers) of five species of waders (dunlin Calidris alpina, lapwing Vanellus vanellus, redshank Tringa totanus, snipe Gallinago gallinago and ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula) were higher than where hedgehogs were relatively more abundant. Hedgehogs were the most frequent nest predator identified using cameras. However, factors influencing population sizes of breeding waders are complex and unlikely to be attributable to a single species of predator. The interactions between predation, land use, habitat and the changes in each deserve further attention.

Here I present a 6-month bird inventory of Laysan (25.776° N, 171.733° W), a coral island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Forty-four species belonging to 17 families were recorded, including six globally threatened species. Three species new to Laysan were found: Tringa brevipes, Tringa glareola, and Larus hyperboreus. This study expands upon previous ornithological coverage of the island, the majority of which has been partial, transitory, or historical.

SummaryInformed application of habitat management measures is crucial, especially in saltmarshes that function as last refuges for breeding waders in Europe. Despite a reduction in agricultural use of saltmarshes since the establishment of the Wadden Sea National Parks at the end of the 1980s, there remains controversy regarding management measures such as the timing of mowing. We modelled the proportion of nests and chicks that would be jeopardised by mowing at different dates, using long-term breeding data of the Common Redshank Tringa totanus – an endangered and widespread indicator species of saltmarshes – from four study sites in the German Wadden Sea. At two study sites in the western Jadebusen, the proportion of broods that were at risk of being killed when mowing began on 1 July ranged between 78% in early, to 96% in late, breeding years, averaging 87%. Although Common Redshanks in the eastern Jadebusen started breeding one week earlier, the model still predicted a loss of 73% of chicks; while 97% of broods were at risk on the island of Wangerooge. Postponement of mowing to 1 August reduced these proportions to 21%, 11% and 32%, respectively. This study is the first to model the positive effects of delayed mowing of saltmarshes on ground-nesting birds. By implementing adjusted mowing dates in addition to previously suggested reductions in artificial drainage, direct and indirect adverse effects caused by mowing and drainage, such as an increased predation risk, are likely to be reduced, such that a ’favourable conservation status’ according to the EC Habitats Directive may be achieved.

Technological constraints have limited our ability to compare and determine the proximate and ultimate drivers of migratory behavior 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 behaviors 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 behavior of shorebirds has predictable patterns based on migration distance that are moderated by body condition of individuals, with potential implications for fitness.

Trans-equatorial avian migrants tend to breed, moult and migrate – the main energy-requiring events in their lifecycle – at different times. Little is known about the relationship between wing moult and pre-migratory fuelling in waders on their non-breeding grounds, where time is less constrained than during their brief high-latitude breeding season. We determined age-related strategies of Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola to balance the energetic demands of primary moult against pre-migratory fuelling in southern Africa by analysing body mass and primary moult at first capture of 1721 birds mist-netted in 1972–96 at waterbodies in Zimbabwe. Adults moulted all their primaries in August–December, but immatures underwent a supplemental moult of varying numbers of outer primaries in December–April, close to departure. We used locally weighted linear regression to estimate trends in Wood Sandpiper body mass from 1 July to 1 May. They maintained low mass from arrival in July–September to February–early March. Adults fuelled from 10 February to 1 May at a mean rate of 0.25 g/day (sd = 0.16). Most adults (98%) began fuelling 10–75 days after completing primary moult. Immatures fuelled from 4 March to 13 April at 0.24 g/day (sd = 0.14). They used varying strategies depending on their condition: a brief gap between moult and fuelling; an overlap of these processes near departure, leading to slower fuelling; or skipping fuelling altogether and staying in southern Africa for a ‘gap year’. Immatures moulting three or five outer primaries fuelled more slowly than post-moult birds. Immatures moulting four outer primaries started fuelling 3 weeks later but at a higher rate than did post-moult birds of this group. In post-moult immatures, the later they ended moult, the later and faster they fuelled. The heaviest adults and immatures using all moult patterns accumulated fuel loads of c. 50% of lean body mass, and could potentially cross 2397–4490 km to reach the Great Rift Valley in one non-stop flight. Immatures were more flexible in the timing and extent of moult and in the timing and rate of fuelling than adults. This flexibility enables inexperienced Wood Sandpipers to cope with inter-annual differences in feeding conditions at Africa's ephemeral inland waterbodies.

The Willet (Tringa semipalmata; Scolopacidae) is composed of 2 morphologically and vocally distinct subspecies with broadly disjunct breeding distributions in North America. Nominate T. s. semipalmata breeds in coastal salt and brackish marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of eastern North America and the West Indies, and T. s. inornata breeds in wet grasslands and prairies in the northwestern interior of North America. To assess divergence and test for hybridization between the 2 subspecies, we sampled breeding and wintering populations and collected morphological data, mitochondrial DNA sequences from the ND2 locus, and nuclear DNA sequences from genomic libraries enriched for ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Mitochondrial haplotypes were reciprocally monophyletic between the 2 subspecies and indicated divergence approximately 700,000 yr ago. The UCE dataset included 4,635 loci containing 19,322 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and, based on these data, individuals clustered by subs...

Avian botulism is a fatal disease of birds caused by ingestion of neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum type C and is now recognized as the most common cause of death in waterbirds worldwide. Although tens of species have been reported to suffer from avian botulism, it remains unknown which ecological factors primarily determine inter-specific variation in the incidence of this disease. We hypothesized that an exposure of birds to botulin may largely depend on their foraging niche, as the toxin is available mostly at the sediment surface, especially during the carcass-maggot stage of botulism epizootics. To test this hypothesis we used capture-recapture methods to estimate mortality of two shorebird species differing in bill morphology and foraging niche, wood sandpiper Tringa glareola (short bill, surface-feeding) and common snipe Gallinago gallinago (long bill, deep probing), during a major avian type C botulism outbreak in central Poland. All the reported cases of shorebird mortality were attributed to botulism and we found large differences in daily survival rates of both species (0.87 and 0.99 in wood sandpipers and common snipe, respectively). Even assuming much shorter stopover duration of wood sandpipers, survival rate over the entire stopover period was estimated at 0.57 in the wood sandpiper and at 0.90 in the common snipe. To our knowledge, this is the first non-circumstantial evidence that relatively minor differentiation of foraging niche may have a major impact on the incidence of avian botulism in birds. Our data might also suggest that, on the evolutionary time scale, avian type C botulism may constitute a strong selective pressure acting on foraging niches of shorebirds, and possibly other waterbirds.

The breeding population of Common Redshank Tringa totanus on British saltmarshes has reduced by >50% since 1985, with declines linked to changes in grazing management. Conservation initiatives have encouraged low-intensity grazing of 0.5 cattle ha−1 y−1 but even light grazing can lead to high rates of nest mortality. To avoid predators, Redshank nest in patches of tall vegetation, but the effects of grazing on the availability and quality of habitat selected by Redshank remain unclear. We investigated Redshank nest site selection in relation to cattle grazing and asked (a) which nest vegetation conditions do Redshank select and (b) does grazing limit the availability of higher quality nest sites? We characterised vegetation height and composition at nests and control locations on six saltmarshes grazed between 0 and 0.55 cattle ha−1 y−1, which falls within or near the UK Environment Agency definition of light grazing. Redshank selected nest locations in the tallest vegetation available (26 ± 13 cm with no grazing), but grazing limited the availability of such tall vegetation (11 ± 7 cm at 0.55 cattle ha−1 y−1). However, Redshank also selected nest locations dominated by the grass Festuca rubra, which increased with higher livestock densities. By causing Redshank to nest in shorter vegetation, but with more of their preferred grass species, grazing presented a trade-off for Redshank. As previous work has shown that nesting in shorter vegetation results in higher nest predation rates, results of this study suggest that even light conservation grazing can result in Redshank nesting in lower quality habitat. Reducing saltmarsh grazing levels below 0.55 cattle ha−1 y−1 may therefore increase Redshank populations by maintaining a vegetation structure with patches of F. rubra but with longer sward heights for nesting.

Swains Island is an uninhabited 210 ha former copra plantation 360 km North of American Samoa. The island, dominated with coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), was last surveyed in 1976. The goal of this 17–26 September 2012 survey was to identify the bird species present, and document relative abundance, distribution, and breeding activity across the island. Two shoreline surveys recorded a seabird community dominated by Black Noddy (Anous minutus), White Tern (Gygis alba), and Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), while the reef flat community was dominated by Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana). Inland surveys revealed four roosting or breeding species, including Black Noddy, White Tern, Brown Noddy, and Red-footed Booby (Sula sula). Seabird densities were highest in the northwest section of the island, furthest from former settlements. Although feral pigs (Sus scrofa) were recently eradicated, feral cats (Felis cattus) remain present, and Pacific rats (Rattus exulan...

The number of territories of waders were counted in an area of 460 km2 around 56°37'N; 14°20'E. The most important breeding sites for waders were closely monitored in several years, 1969–1981 and again 2015–2018. Most species declined strongly, with the exception of Charadrius dubius which colonized exploited peat bogs without vegetation and open man-made gravel surfaces. Some mires were drained in the first study period, which can explain up to 20% of recorded population declines of some species (Pluvialis apricaria, Numenius arquata, Tringa glareola). Other likely causes are earlier hay harvest and with different methods. Abandonment of cattle grazing of pastures on many small farms also occurred between the study periods. Several wader species forage on wet pastures. Predation on small young of waders may have increased. The crane Grus grus has increased dramatically in the study area and small young of waders most likely is part of the food of cranes. Changes at foraging sites during migration and in winter may be contributing causes of wader declines as well as climate change.

In Italy, the launch of the online portal at www.ornitho.it in 2009 has played a key role in advancing our knowledge about the abundance, geographical distribution and phenology of birds, and has greatly improved everyday ornithological issues. Indeed, the extensive participation by many observers has provided an opportunity to obtain new insight into the phenology of many species of migratory birds, such as Tringa sp. In this paper, I have analysed the data gathered between 2010 and 2014 on the genus Tringa in Lombardy, amounting to a total of 5,590 validated records for spring and autumn migrations. The analysis revealed that the rice-farming area of S-W Lombardy – which covers more than 90,000 hectares located mainly in the province of Pavia – represents an invaluable habitat during the spring migration by supporting the bulk of migrating waders. Other man-made habitats, such as restored sand and gravel pits and water-collection tanks, are of similar importance for the diversity of the wader community, but, together with the few natural wetlands, support much lower numbers of individuals. The wood sandpiper is the most abundant species, with groups reaching 600 individuals, followed by the spotted redshank and the greenshank. The green sandpiper is the most common and widespread species, with a low number of individuals reaching the highest altitudes (above 2,600 m a.s.l. in the province of Sondrio) during the autumn migration. The common redshank is relatively rare, generally distributed around 200 m a.s.l. in the provinces of Pavia and Milan, while the marsh sandpiper is definitely rare, with only 68 records in the five-year period analysed.

Bird use of diked and undiked Michigan coastal wetlands (n = 17) was studied on Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron during late July to mid-October, 2005–2007. Relative abundance and diversity were compared via aerial (n = 9) and ground (n= 155) surveys and wetland characteristics were measured. Species richness and similarity indices suggested analogous bird use, but multivariate analyses indicated significant separation in diked and undiked bird assemblages. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), and Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) were more abundant on diked sites, whereas dabbling ducks combined, Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American Black Duck (A. rubripes), gulls (Laridae), Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri), and Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) were more abundant on undiked wetlands. Wetland characteristics also differed. Diked sites were primarily cattail (Typha spp.) marshes interspersed with small open-water areas containing aquatic plants. Undiked sites had lar...

Tanaisia dubia Freitas, 1951 (Digenea: Eucotylidae) is redescribed on the basis of specimens collected from the urinary tubules of the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus (Charadriiformes: Recurvirostridae), and the Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae), from Argentina. The specimens studied here are consistent with the original description, which was based on 1 specimen found parasitizing the Gray Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca (Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae), from Brazil. This redescription adds new morphological characters and enlarges the range of morphometric data for this species. A key to the genera of Tanaisiinae, as well as one for Neotropical species of Tanaisia Skrjabin, 1924 are presented. The diagnosis of Tanaisiinae is emended to include the presence of a cirrus sac. T. dubia is reported for the first time in Argentina and H. melanurus and P. sulphuratus represent new host records., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Regime shifts in benthic invertebrates within coastal ecosystems threaten the survival of wading birds (Charadrii). Predicting how invertebrate regime shifts will affect wading birds allows conservation management and mitigation measures to be implemented, including protection of terrestrial feeding areas. An individual-based model was used to investigate the impact of regime shifts on wading birds through their prey (marine worms and bivalves) in the estuarine system Poole Harbour, (UK). The model predicted the number of curlew (Numenius arquata), oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), redshank (Tringa totanus) and dunlin (Calidris alpina) supported in the Harbour during the non-breeding season (autumn and winter months). The most dramatic declines in bird numbers were for regime shifts that reduced the abundance of the largest invertebrates, particularly marine worms. The least adaptable bird species (those with the most restrictive diets) were unable to compensate by consuming other prey. Generally, as birds adapt to changes by switching to alternative prey species and size classes, changes in invertebrate size and species distribution do not necessarily affect the number of birds that the Harbour can support. Our predictions reveal a weakness in using birds as indicators of site health and invertebrate regime shifts. Differences in bird populations would not necessarily be detected by standard survey methods until extreme changes in invertebrate communities had occurred, potentially beyond the point at which these changes could be reversed. Therefore, population size of wading birds should not be used in isolation when assessing the conservation status of coastal sites.

Large-scale and population-wide monitoring of waders on their boreal and arctic breeding grounds has hitherto been lacking, mainly because logistics are truly challenging in regions with few ornithologists, vast areas and few roads. In Norway, Sweden and Finland (here ‘Fennoscandia’) there are now national monitoring schemes in place, aimed at tracking all bird species, which allows trends to be estimated for northern wader populations. We present joint Fennoscandian population trends for 24 wader species, covering the period 2002–2013 (in some cases somewhat shorter time periods). The data stem from 1263 routes in Norway, Finland, and the northern two thirds of Sweden, all situated north of 58°N. This area of one million km2 largely coincides with the boreal and arctic parts of Fennoscandia. The trends found are rather evenly distributed between strong increases and strong declines. Trends do not differ between short- and long-distance migrants, nor do they vary in relation to breeding latitude. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, Green Sandpiper T. ochropus and Common Redshank T. totanus had significant positive trends, whereas Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Ruff Philomachus pugnax and Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus were declining significantly in numbers. Trends could be calculated even for relatively uncommon breeding birds such as Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii, Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus, Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus, Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus and Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, although these trends build on few routes and individuals, and thus have low precision. The monitoring schemes in Norway and Finland are expected to increase in coverage in the coming years, with up to a total of 1555 northern routes being tracked when the schemes are fully developed. This should enable still more robust trend estimates for northern waders on their Fennoscandian breeding grounds to be calculated in the future.

Agricultural intensification in grasslands has led to the decline of meadow bird populations in The Netherlands in the last 60 years. Habitat for meadow bird chicks has declined in quality and quantity, thereby reducing food availability. Agri-environment schemes (AES) to halt the decline in meadow bird numbers have thus far been insufficient. These AES are on the level of entire fields, but recent research suggests that margins of fields may be more suitable chick habitat than centres of fields. Therefore, it could be productive to specifically target grass field margins as part of meadow bird AES. Our study examined the differences in food availability for meadow bird families in different portions of a grass field. Invertebrates were sampled in different locations on the field and results were compared to known dietary preferences of four species of meadow bird chicks. We show strong differences in food availability within fields, depending on meadow bird species. The preferred prey species of chicks of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa and Redshank Tringa totanuspredominantly occurred in field margins, whereas those of Oystercatcher Haematopus ostraleguschicks were found mostly in the main part of the field. The prey species of Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus chicks showed no clear pattern within fields. We conclude that food availability within a field differs spatially between meadow bird species. Particularly for Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, grass field margins constitute an important part of the field. Therefore, specific management to further enhance food availability in these margins may constitute an important addition to the existing mosaic approach.

Conservation grazing for breeding birds needs to balance the positive effects on vegetation structure and negative effects of nest trampling. In the UK, populations of Common redshank Tringa totanus breeding on saltmarshes declined by >50% between 1985 and 2011. These declines have been linked to changes in grazing management. The highest breeding densities of redshank on saltmarshes are found in lightly grazed areas. Conservation initiatives have encouraged low‐intensity grazing at

Greenshanks Tringa nebularia show various patterns of primary moult in the northern hemisphere, but farther south moult patterns are known only fragmentarily. We Identified geographical patterns in primary moult and pre-migratory fattening of Greenshanks on their southernmost African non-breeding grounds. We compared primary moult (using Underhill-Zucchini models) and body mass at a population level based on 356 Greenshanks caught in 1968–1998 at inland wetlands in Zimbabwe, and on the east and west coasts of South Africa. About 20% of immatures replaced one to five outer primaries in December—May, a rare pattern in the north. Sub-adults moulted all primaries on average 40 days earlier than adults, yet at the same rate. Adults started primary moult on average 16–19 days earlier in Zimbabwe and at the east coast than at the west coast (7, 4, 23 September, resp.). These dates correspond with the Greenshanks' broad-front arrival in Zimbabwe and the east coast, and their later arrival at the west coast. Moult took 10–17 days longer on average in Zimbabwe and at the east coast than at the west coast (122, 115, 105 days, resp.), thus the end of moult coincided within six days (31 December—6 January). Pre-migratory fattening began about 13–19 January across all regions. The mean departure fat loads of adults were 76 g In Zimbabwe, 116 g at the west coast and 125 g at the east coast. The heaviest adults from all three regions could reach the Nile Valley or the Red Sea coast in one non-stop flight. We suggest that Greenshanks at inland wetlands of Zimbabwe benefit from a shorter return migration distance and lower competition than at the coasts, and abundant food during the entire austral summer In favourable years, but can move on to the coasts if conditions deteriorate.

In many Palaearctic wader species there is a clear separation in the timing of adult and juvenile southward migration. This phenomenon is traditionally explained by the selection on adults to depart early from breeding grounds and necessity of juveniles to prepare longer for migration. In this study we hypothesize that late departure from natal grounds may also be adaptive for juveniles, as it allows them to avoid intensified interference competition at stopover sites with adult, usually more dominant conspecifics. To test this hypothesis we analysed long-term data on stopover behaviour of juvenile wood sandpipers (Tringa glareola) staying at a central Polish stopover site under varying levels of competition from adult birds. The results clearly indicated that juveniles were highly disadvantaged by the simultaneous presence of adults at the same staging site, as under intense competition from older conspecifics they refuelled more slowly and attained lower fat reserves. It was also found that juveniles which were forced to compete with adults left the site quickly and possibly searched for more favourable staging places. All these imply that delayed departure from natal grounds may be adaptive for juvenile waders, allowing them to mismatch the timing of their first migration with the peak of adult passage and, thus, reduce the negative consequences of intraspecific competition during migration.

Data on the nesting of shorebirds (Vanellus vanellus, Limosa limosa, Tringa totanus, and T. stagnatilis) in plowed lands of the Moscow region has been studied over the periods before and after the agricultural collapse in Russia (1979–1991 and 1992–2007, respectively). In the latter period, the proportion of pairs nesting in plowed lands has increased in L. limosa and T. totanus, with nesting density increasing in both these species and V. vanellus. The observed changes depend on the proportion of abandoned lands in areas around plowed lands and on the level of moisture supply of the latter. Both factors exert their effect via changes in foraging conditions for shorebirds.

The Winous Point Marsh Conservancy and the Winous Point Shooting Club, with landholdings in both Sandusky and Ottawa Counties, Ohio, has completed a survey of the summer resident bird population on the property 4 times spanning 137 years. Although achieving a true census is unrealistic, these surveys have provided a unique, long-term history of changes in the avian community in northwest Ohio since the 1880s. Surveys were completed in 1880, 1930, 1960, and 2017. Draining and deforestation of the wetlands in northwest Ohio, by the late 1870s, resulted in the loss of many forested-wetland dependent species such as Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ( Polioptila caerulea ), Solitary Sandpiper ( Tringa solitaria ), and Northern Waterthrush ( Parkesia noveboracensis ) after the 1880 survey. Intensification of agricultural practices after the 1930 survey likely resulted in the loss of the early successional habitat that was associated with smaller, less intensive, agricultural practices and consequently the loss of many grassland nesting species such as Bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ), Eastern Meadowlark ( Sturnella magna ), Northern Bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ), Blue-winged Teal ( Anas discors ), Northern Pintail ( Anas acuta ), and Northern Shoveler ( Anas clypeata ). Several new species were documented during the 2017 survey including Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ), Sandhill Crane ( Antigone canadensis ), Trumpeter Swan ( Cygnus buccinator ), and American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ). This long-term dataset provides a unique opportunity to investigate the avian immigration, extirpation, and recolonization of a specific site over the past 137 years, providing insight into how landscape-level habitat changes affected the avian community.

Capsule: Over 50% of saltmarsh breeding Common Redshank have been lost since 1985, with current conservation management having only limited success at halting these declines. Aims: To update population size and trend estimates for saltmarsh-breeding Redshank in Britain, and to determine whether conservation management implemented since 1996 has been successful in influencing grazing intensity and Redshank population trends. Methods: A repeat national survey of British saltmarsh was conducted in 2011 at sites previously visited in 1985 and 1996. Redshank breeding density and grazing pressure were recorded at all sites; the presence of conservation management was additionally recorded for English sites. Results from all three national surveys were used to update population size and trend estimates, and to investigate changes in grazing pressure and breeding density on sites with and without conservation management. Results: Of the 21 431 pairs breeding on saltmarsh in 1985, 11 946 pairs remained in 2011, wi...

Long-term ringing data are useful for understanding population trends and migration strategies adopted by migratory bird species during migration. To investigate the patterns in demography, phenology of migration and stopover behaviour in Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola trapped on autumn migration at Ottenby, southeast Sweden, in 1947 − 2011, we analysed 65 years of autumn ringing data to describe age-specific trends in annual trappings, morphometrics and phenology, as well as fuel deposition rates and stopover duration from recapture data. We also analysed the migratory direction of the species from recovery data. Over the years, trapping of both adults and juveniles has declined significantly. Median trapping dates were 10 July for adults and 6 August for juveniles. Average migration speed of juvenile birds was 58.1 km d−1. Adults stayed on average 3.5 days and juveniles 5.2 days, with average fuel deposition rates of 2.5 and 0.7 g day−1 respectively. Juvenile birds probably vary their strategy accordin...

In this study we examined the effect of different livestock grazing treatments on breeding bird densities in a salt marsh habitat. To avoid an experiment on the large scale needed to directly measure grazing effects on bird densities, we followed a two-step approach. First, we measured vegetation micro-patterns (mosaic of lower vegetation and taller patches at 4x4 m) around Common Redshank Tringa totanus and Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus nests and at random sites paired with these nests sites to judge suitability of micro-patterns for nest building. Secondly, we measured micro-patterns at 120 permanent plots in five different experimental grazing treatments to determine how grazing affects micro-patterns. We compared low stocking density of both cattle and of horses, high stocking density of cattle and of horses, and intermittent grazing with a high stocking density of cattle (i.e. yearly intervals of grazing and no grazing). Redshank and Oystercatcher nests occurred in sites with taller vegetation and more pronounced micro-patterns than found at random sites. Paddocks grazed with low densities of livestock or with a high density intermittent grazing treatment had micro-patterns preferred by the birds. We conclude that Redshanks and Oystercatchers may benefit in terms of potential nest sites from grazing at low livestock densities or at intermittent stocking densities through effects of grazing on micro-patterns in the vegetation.

The study was conducted to determine birds in Green Barrier PT. Pusri and explains the function of the existing vegetation in the Green Barrier for many species of birds. Retrieval of data was conducted in a 28 ha Green barrier area of PT Pusri, during July to August 2015. The collecting of data determined by line transects through observation directly. assuming the selection of sites in the area of water resources and representation of vegetation types that represent a potential habitat for birds. Birds observed then identified and recorded the type, activity include, nesting, feeding, perch and plants that exploited. The results of this study found 17 species in 13 families. Plant species are most frequently used by birds is batai wood (Paraserianthes falcataria). Recorded at least 10 species of birds found in the Green Barrier PT. Pusri utilize these plants as a perch, feeding and nesting. The availability of water in the form of an artificial fish ponds at the fish pond 1 (transect 3) to attract water birds such as; Javan Pond-heron (Ardeola spesiosa) and Common Sandpipers (Tringa hypoleeucos) to come looking for food that needs to be managed to maintain its function as a habitat for birds.Keywords: Birds, plant, habitat, Green Barrier PT. Pusri.

Estimates of refuelling rates in migrating waders are best based on intra-seasonal recaptures of individually marked birds. This method, however, has methodological problems associated with capture effects and difficulties in attaining sufficient sample sizes. An alternative method had been proposed whereby refuelling rates are approximated by the body mass increment from the slope of the regression between body masses of all birds caught at a site and date. We investigated the appropriateness of this indicator with a simulation study in non-synchronized migratory species (i.e. arrivals and departures of individuals at the stopover site are not synchronized). Simulation results indicated that the mass increment across the population may be used as an approximation of refuelling rate only in populations with low turnover rates (percentage of birds arriving at/departing from stopover site per day

Harvesting green crabs Carcinus maenas for bait is a popular fishery in south-west UK estuaries that are important habitats for shorebirds. The fishery involves laying roof tiles or PVC guttering into sediments; crabs seeking refuge bury beneath the tiles and are collected by fishers during low tide. By observing foraging birds in tiled and non-tiled sites the general model that this fishery modified shorebird diversity, distribution, and behaviour was tested. No evidence was found for a relationship between shorebird species richness, abundance or assemblage composition and the presence of tiles. To measure distributional and behavioural changes of shorebirds to crab-tiles, the focus was on two shorebird species: curlew Numenius arquata and redshank Tringa totanus. The crab-tiles affected the shorebird distribution and feeding patterns but this was dependent on species, time, and scale of observation. Redshank spent more time next to tiles than away and dedicated similar feeding effort between treatments. Curlew did not spend proportionally more time next to tiles but did spend more time feeding when they were next to tiles than away from tiles. Curlew and redshank spent proportionally more time probing than pecking when they were next to crab-tiles, but overall spent similar times exhibiting the two feeding behaviours compared with conspecifics in a non-tiled site, although this was dependent on time. It is suggested that crab-tiles may influence the spatial distribution of potential prey, thereby aggregating the birds and relieving predation pressure elsewhere. As both species (curlew and redshank) were observed ‘standing not feeding’, i.e. resting or preening, when next to tiles we also suggest that the structure created by the tiles provides some shelter to reduce negative effects of wind on thermoregulation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Khaparwas is a designated Bird Sanctuary under the administrative control of Wildlife Department of Government of Haryana in India vide notification dated 27 th March, 1991. Its total area is 204.36 Acres. During the study period of four years (1997-2002), a total of 164 species of birds belonging to 16 Orders, 44 families were recorded from the Khaparwas bird Sanctuary in Jhajjar district in Haryana, India. Out of 164 species of birds, 104 species were residents, 45 species were winter migratory, 9 species of birds local migratory, 5 species were summer migratory and one species of bird was Straggler. In so far as, Abundance Status is concerned, 64 species of birds were Occasional, 60 species Common and 40 species were Uncommon. Birds like Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa , Jungle Bush Quail Perdicula asiatica, Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus , Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata , Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo , and Stork Billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis were observed as specific to this area. Prominent migratory birds like Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata , Northern Pintail Anas acuta , Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope , Garganey Anas querquedula , Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha , Common Teal Anas crecca , Common Pochard Aythya ferina , Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus , Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia were recorded in winter season only. In view of the present studies, it is strongly recommended that Khaparwas Bird Sanctuary in Jhajjar district in Haryana must be conserved in a better way, due to its proximity to Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary and Keoldeo National Park in Rajasthan and the rich avian diversity observed in present studies. Khaparwas has the potential to occupy a National Character as a Sanctuary. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v6i1.5597

The most serious threat to traditional rural ponds in Haryana is associated with transformed societal behavioural patterns, ethics, values and life style, amongst several others. The siltation of ponds with adjoining areas, soil coming in with rain water is a very serious cause of stratification of rural ponds. Also contracting of village community land for sun drying of cow dung cakes inspires villagers to overload periphery of each pond with cow dung turning the premises into grave-yard of dung. This dung is the major source of polluting pond water into blackish water with high load of organic matter. Moreover, it leads to over excessive eutrophication. Building of major highways and connectivity roads have resulted into compartmentalization and degradation of village ponds. Inhabitation of peripheral village ponds boundaries by lower section of society for dwelling purposes is more threat to wetlands. The indifferent inclination of villagers towards silted ponds drenched in bad odour and blackish sludge is the story of 80% of the cases. The total blockage of run-off rainy water towards the natural age old rural ponds due to obstruction by way of human inhabitation has resulted into desertification of shallow water sheet in 90% of the cases. The oblivion of harvesting dried silt in summer for brick making has spelled doom for the ponds turning them into flat ground through successive decades and so on. The water quality in all ponds was overshooting the decaying stage due to the continuous mixing of cow dung drenched rainy water. Over excessive usage of ponds for bathing of cattle, dumping of cow dung and rotten vegetables waste has turned ponds into live sinks of dirt, garbage and rural dairy wastes. Majority of village ponds are now out of existence or in deep black sludge laden or converted into Fish-Farming wetlands. The present studies have indicated that Winter migratory birds like Greylag Goose Anser anser, Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Gadwall Anas strepera, Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Garganey Anas querquedula, Common Teal Anas crecca, Common Pochard Aythya ferina , Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula, Common Coot Fulica atra, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines, Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus, Common Redshank Tringa tetanus, Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola and Pied Avocet Recurivirostra avosetta arrive in the extremely dilapidated rural ponds in Haryana from far off places including Russia, Siberia, China, and Caspian region, east Asia each winter season without any break. As such the extinction of ponds in Haryana directly threatens global avian biodiversity. Keywords: Traditional Rural Wetlands, Perennial Rainy Water, Road Side Puddles, Land Filling, Commercial and Residential Construction, Highway reconstruction

Staging areas along the coasts provide reliable food resources, and shorebirds may use the same stopover locations every year. However, shorebirds use sites opportunistically in the interior of North America because of the transient nature of many habitats. Little is known, however, about the use of wetlands by migrating shorebirds in many areas of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), including Kentucky. During 2004 and 2005, we examined the phenology of migration by shorebirds using stopover habitats in Kentucky. From March to October, we surveyed shorebirds in each moist soil unit as well as at other natural and man-made wetlands at each wildlife management area. Species abundance was recorded a minimum of once every 10-day period. We observed 25 species and 12,307 individual shorebirds during our study, with Charadrius vociferous (Killdeer; n = 4134), Calidris melanotos (Pectoral Sandpiper; n = 2912), Calidris minutilla (Least Sandpiper; n = 1138), Tringa melanoleuca (Gmelin) (Greater Yellow...

Migratory shorebirds use, among many, the East Atlantic Flyway that links breeding areas as north as Tundra habitats to aquatic wintering grounds in West Africa. As a consequence, they are potentially important in the spread of global zoonotic diseases transmitted by ticks, such as Lyme borreliosis and tularemia—two diseases previously detected in Portugal. In this study, we looked at the infection status of seven populations of shorebirds during their migration, breeding, or wintering in the Portuguese wetlands to access if they carry these pathogens and to discuss their potential risk in the Portuguese wetlands. A total of 212 migratory shorebirds captured in the Tagus and Sado estuaries; key staging and wintering sites in this flyway and important breeding areas for some species were analyzed for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Francisella tularensis. In the present study, B. garinii was identified in seven (3%) specimens (five black-tailed godwits Limosa limosa, one common redshank Tringa totanus, and one little stint Calidris minuta), whereas F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was identified in one (0.4%) little stint. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that shorebirds that migrate through or winter in Portugal transport these pathogens, potentially contributing for their introduction along the flyway, including the Mediterranean region.

Migratory wader populations face global threats, mainly related to increasing rates of habitat loss and disturbance driven by human activities. To a large extent, the long-term survival of these populations requires the conservation of networks of sites along their migratory flyways. The Tagus estuary, Portugal, is among the most important wetlands for waders in the East Atlantic Flyway. Annual winter wader counts have been carried in this wetland since 1975 and a monthly roost-monitoring programme was implemented in 2007. Wintering populations of three out of the five most abundant species, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola and Redshank Tringa totanus, showed significant population declines over the past three decades, which are most likely due to the loss and degradation of roost sites as a result of increasing human activity. The situation is unlikely to improve, as a high proportion of the wintering waders use roost sites that are situated in highly urbanised areas with no legal protection. The use of different roost sites by waders is highly variable both temporally and spatially, thus emphasizing the need for a network of good quality roost sites. Additionally, during migration, 60–80% of all the waders of the Tagus estuary concentrate at a single refuge, thus increasing the risk for wader populations during these periods. ------ RESUMO ------ As populações de aves limícolas migradoras enfrentam ameaças globais, maioritariamente relacionadas com a crescente perda de habitat e perturbação humana. Para garantir a sobrevivência a longo-termo destas populações é imprescindível a conservação de uma rede de áreas húmidas ao longo das suas rotas migratórias. O estuário do Tejo, em Portugal, é uma das mais importantes áreas húmidas para aves limícolas na rota Migratória do Atlântico Este. Desde 1975, foram efectuadas contagens anuais de aves limícolas no inverno nesta zona húmida e, em 2007, foi implementado um programa de monitorização mensal dos refúgios de preia-mar. As populações invernantes de três das cinco espécies de limícolas mais abundantes no estuário, o Pilrito-de-peito-preto Calidris alpina, a Tarambola-cinzenta Pluvialis squatarola e o Perna-vermelha Tringa totanus, mostraram tendências significativas de decréscimo nas últimas três décadas, potencialmente devido à degradação e perda de refúgios como resultado da crescente actividade antropogénica. Esta situação poderá deteriorar-se, uma vez que uma grande proporção das aves limícolas invernantes utiliza refúgios em áreas densamente urbanizadas sem qualquer estatuto legal de protecção. A utilização dos diferentes refúgios do estuário do Tejo por aves limícolas tem uma grande variação espacial e temporal, o que reforça a importância da existência de uma rede de refúgios de elevada qualidade nesta área húmida. Durante a migração, 60 a 80% das aves limícolas concentram-se num único refúgio, ficando assim particularmente vulneráveis neste período.