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Historical records of population numbers are almost entirely lacking for shorebirds and some species of waterfowl breeding in the Nearctic. In 1975 and 1976, ground surveys of breeding birds were undertaken in the Rasmussen Lowlands, Northwest Territories. We carried out similar censuses in the same area during the summers of 1994 and 1995. Weather conditions and methods were very similar during the two sets of surveys. For all years, we compared densities in different habitat types, as well as estimates for the entire region of total numbers of breeding Red Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicaria), Pectoral Sandpipers, (Calidris melanotos), White-romped Sandpipers (C. fuscicollis), Semipalmated Sandpipers (C. pusilla), Black-bellied Plovers (Pluvialis squatarola), American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica), Dunlin (C. alpina), Baird's Sandpipers (C. bairdii), and King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis). We found that breeding populations of Red Phalaropes, Black-bellied Plovers, American Golden-Plovers, and King Eiders in the 1990s had decreased substantially (7687%) from their numbers in the 1970s. Numbers of other shorebird species did not decrease significantly (1748%). Numbers of Black-bellied Plovers have apparently decreased at staging sites on the east coast of the United States and Canada. However, for American Golden-Plovers, there is no evidence of a decline on the east coast or in at least one other area in the eastern Nearctic. No other population information exists for Red Phalaropes breeding in the eastern Nearctic. Eider numbers appear to be decreasing throughout the Arctic. Possible reasons for declines are habitat changes in migratory staging sites and southern wintering areas. We need more consistent monitoring of arctic shorebirds in order to identify species with continual population declines. Further studies should emphasize Nearctic populations of species showing substantial declines in this study, examining consistency of decreases throughout the Nearctic, and reasons for such changes., Very little historical information exists on population numbers of shorebirds breeding in the Nearctic. Since few species of shorebirds breeding in the northern hemisphere are considered in immediate danger of [...]