Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Results indicate that piping plovers use bay intertidal flats during all seasons of the year. During the winter they forage primarily in such habitats. After they arrive on the breeding ground, they forage in these habitats and roost in their nesting territories. While incubating eggs and tending broods, the inattentive adult will fly up to several kilometers to forage on protected intertidal flats, even though substantial food is available in the beach territories. After the young fledge, most make their way to intertidal flats and may gain up to 15 grams before beginning southward migration. Most Atlantic Coast piping plovers select nest sites adjacent to moist substrate habitats such as bay intertidal areas. Nest sites also are selected near sparse vegetation. Cover in sparse vegetation is 10-90 percent. This habitat is largely composed of American Beach grass and is used for cover as well as for foraging. The presence of large aggregations of gulls on Monomoy
Island appeared not to affect piping plover distribution, abundance or reproductive output. Plovers nesting on warm water portions of the Missouri River are exposed to greater abundance and biomass of potential prey than plovers nesting near cold water sections. Chick growth rate was more rapid adjacent to warm water stretches in some years, but survival was higher near cold water stretches, probably because of lower predator densities there. Adult and hatchling piping plovers fed more frequently in backwater channels than on the main river channels on the Missouri River. Prey abundance and foraging rates were greater in those habitats. Red knot distribution on the Delaware Bay during the sprint migration stopover was predicted by the abundance of horseshoe crab eggs, mussel spat and coquina clams. Horseshoe crab eggs had the greatest effect on logistic regression equations predicting knot presence or absence, and horseshoe crab eggs were by far the dominant food source on Delaware
Bay sandy beaches. Human disturbance reduced the probability that knots would be found on a beach, despite regulations meant to protect shorebirds from disturbance.
Impacts
Our research results underscore the importance of managing shorebird habitat to provide adequate foraging habitat and prey adjacent to other use areas, such as nesting areas and roosting areas. This means that Atlantic Coast beach habitat management should provide for a sustained yield of bay-side intertidal habitats adjacent to minimally disturbed ocean beaches. In the Missouri River, management should provide for a sustained yield of sandbar complexes with adequate nesting areas but also with substantial backwater foraging habitats. Predation management is required in all plover populations studied.
Publications
- Karpanty, S. M. ,J. D. Fraser, J. Berkson, L. J. Nines, A. Dey, and E. P. Smith. 2006. Horseshoe crab eggs determine red knot distribution in Delaware Bay habitats. Journal of Wildlife Management. In press.
- Cohen, J. M. 2005. Factors limiting piping plover nesting pair density and reproductive output in Long Island, New York. Ph.D. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
- Houghton, L. 2005. Piping plover population dynamics and effects of beach management practices on piping plovers at West Hampton Dunes and Westhampton Beach, N.Y. Ph.D. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Results indicate that piping plovers use bay intertidal flats during all seasons of the year. During the winter they forage primarily in such habitats. After they arrive on the breeding ground, they forage in these habitats and roost in their nesting territories. While incubating eggs and tending broods, the inattentive adult will fly up to several kilometers to forage on protected intertidal flats, even though substantial food is available in the beach territories. After the young fledge, most make their way to intertidal flats and may gain up to 15 grams before beginning southward migration. Most piping plovers select nest sites adjacent to moist substrate habitats, such as bay intertidal areas. Nest sites also are selected near sparse vegetation. Cover in sparse vegetation is 10-90 percent. This habitat is largely composed of American Beach grass and is used for cover as well as for foraging.
Impacts
Our results are being used to make beach management decisions. In particular, they are cited in formal and informal consultations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. They are being used in planning for habitat restoration in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere.
Publications
- Fraser, J. D., S.H. Keane, and P. A. Buckley. 2005. Prenesting use of intertidal habitats by piping plovers on South Monomoy Island. Journal of Wildlife Management 69: in press.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
Results indicate that piping plovers use bay intertidal flats during all seasons of the year. During the winter they forage primarily in such habitats. After they arrive on the breeding ground, they forage in these habitats and roost in their nesting territories. While incubating eggs and tending broods, the inattentive adult will fly up to several kilometers to forage on protected intertidal flats, even though substantial food is available in the beach territories. After the young fledge, most make their way to intertidal flats and may gain up to 15 grams before beginning southward migration.
Impacts
Our results are being used to make beach management decisions. In particular, they are cited in formal and informal consultations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. They are being used in planning for habitat restoration in New York, New Jersey and elsewhere.
Publications
- Keane S. 2002. Effects of herring gulls and great black-backed gulls on breeding piping plovers on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. M.S. Thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 233 pp.
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Data analysis has been completed and publications are being prepared. Results indicate that removal of Great black-backed gulls and herring gulls did not improve piping plover reproductive success. Behavioral analyses indicate that piping plovers use intertidal moist soil habitats more than any other habitat while foraging before the breeding season begins, suggesting the importance of this habitat to piping plovers.
Impacts
It is expected that the results of this study will help land managers make more informed decisions about managing coastal habitats.
Publications
- Keane, S. E., J. D. Fraser and P.A. Buckley. 2002. Effects of Herring and Great Black-Backed Gulls on Breeding Piping Plovers, South Monomoy Island, Massachusetts. Annual Report to the USGS Biological Resources Division. 233pp.
- Tingay, R. E., M. Culver, E. M. Hallerman and J. D. Fraser. 2002. Subordinate Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) males father young at nests. J. Raptor Research. In press.
- Berkelman, J.,2 J. D. Fraser, and R. T. Watson. 2002. Nesting and perching habitat use of the Madagascar fish-eagle. J. Raptor Research: In press.
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Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01
Outputs
Fieldwork has been completed and preliminary data suggest that removal of Great black-backed gulls and herring gulls did not improve piping plover reproductive success. Behavioral analyses indicate that piping plovers use intertidal moist soil habitats more than any other habitat while foraging before the breeding season begins, suggesting the importance of this habitat to piping plovers.
Impacts
Results of this study will help land managers make more informed decisions about managing coastal habitats
Publications
- Houghton L. M, James D. Fraser and S. P. Elias-Gerken. 2000. Effects of the Westhampton Interim Storm Damage Protection Project on Piping Plover Habitat at the Village of Westhampton Dunes and Westhampton Beach, New York. Annual report to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. 119pp.
- Keane, S. E., J. D. Fraser and L. M. Houghton. 2000. Effects of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls on Breeding Piping Plovers on South Monomoy Island, Massachusetts. Annual Report to the USGS biological Resources Division. 179pp.
- Elias, S.P., J.D. Fraser and P.A. Buckley. 2000. Piping plover brood foraging ecology on New York barrier Islands. Journal of Wildlife Management. 64:346-354.
- Houghton L. M, A. Novak, J. D. Fraser and S. P. Elias-Gerken. 2001. Effects of the Westhampton Interim Storm Damage Protection Project on Piping Plover Habitat at the Village of Westhampton Dunes and Westhampton Beach, New York. Annual report to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. 120pp.
- Keane, S. E., J. D. Fraser and L. M. Houghton. 2001. Effects of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls on Breeding Piping Plovers on South Monomoy Island, Massachusetts. Annual Report to the USGS biological Resources Division. 112pp.
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