Non-breeding Habitat Use of Flooded Agricultural Fields by Shorebirds within the Mississippi Delta
Researchers are capturing and banding birds within flooded agricultural sites to understand habitat use of these artificial wetland habitats.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Bird populations across North America have declined substantially over the last 30 years and those found using non-breeding habitats in the southeast are no exception. The combined effects of urban development, human disturbance events, severe weather events, and global climate change have caused a reduction in non-breeding habitats suitable for birds. Conversion of natural wetlands for agriculture has depleted much of the historically widespread stopover habitat available for shorebirds in North America, which is especially true in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). With suitable non-breeding habitats at a premium, land managers and conservation planners are in critical need of tools that can help address habitat loss and increase avian population sizes. One possible solution is to flood post-harvest agricultural fields, which may provide sufficient stopover habitat for many shorebird species. An understanding of habitat use within flooded agricultural sites requires knowledge of stopover duration of birds using these artificial wetland habitats.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Capturing and banding birds to gather data on species occurrence, abundance, and energetic condition of individual birds during autumn migration is key. Having a bird in hand allows an assessment of energetic condition, determination of age, as well as the ability to attach radio transmitters. Attachment of radio tags on select species will provide information on the movements of migratory shorebirds within flooded agricultural sites. The radio telemetry receivers are on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System network and will record the identity of birds flying within the antennae detection radius. Birds are tagged with very-high frequency and ultra-high frequency tags that produce a coded output, allowing receivers to scan only a narrow frequency band but still identify many individual birds. Data are recorded in the receiver unit attached to the antenna and downloaded at regular intervals. Migrating birds can be detected for ~10-12 km from the tower when flying, or at closer range when foraging or loafing.
Future Steps: This effort will investigate the potential degree of support that artificial wetland habitats may provide to populations of shorebird species during the autumn and winter. Specifically, radio telemetry data will allow us to understand the degree to which individuals are using temporarily flooded agricultural habitats. Knowing species use of flooded agricultural fields would allow: 1) an understanding of inland non-breeding and migratory habitat use; and 2) the development of management practices that may increase the amount of habitat that can support shorebirds in Mississippi during the migratory and non-breeding periods of the annual cycle. Results of our study can directly inform management strategies in the MAV by helping to quantify the value of conservation practices implemented under the Farm Bill, such as water management for wildlife on agricultural lands.
Seasonal Surveys of Shorebird and Coastal Waterbird Utilization of Dredged Material Islands in the Baptiste Collette Bayou, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Orleans District, Louisiana
Understanding Avian Habitat Availability and Use After Barrier Island Restoration in Coastal Louisiana
Monitoring Effects of Barrier Island Restoration on Piping Plovers in Louisiana
Researchers are capturing and banding birds within flooded agricultural sites to understand habitat use of these artificial wetland habitats.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Bird populations across North America have declined substantially over the last 30 years and those found using non-breeding habitats in the southeast are no exception. The combined effects of urban development, human disturbance events, severe weather events, and global climate change have caused a reduction in non-breeding habitats suitable for birds. Conversion of natural wetlands for agriculture has depleted much of the historically widespread stopover habitat available for shorebirds in North America, which is especially true in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). With suitable non-breeding habitats at a premium, land managers and conservation planners are in critical need of tools that can help address habitat loss and increase avian population sizes. One possible solution is to flood post-harvest agricultural fields, which may provide sufficient stopover habitat for many shorebird species. An understanding of habitat use within flooded agricultural sites requires knowledge of stopover duration of birds using these artificial wetland habitats.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Capturing and banding birds to gather data on species occurrence, abundance, and energetic condition of individual birds during autumn migration is key. Having a bird in hand allows an assessment of energetic condition, determination of age, as well as the ability to attach radio transmitters. Attachment of radio tags on select species will provide information on the movements of migratory shorebirds within flooded agricultural sites. The radio telemetry receivers are on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System network and will record the identity of birds flying within the antennae detection radius. Birds are tagged with very-high frequency and ultra-high frequency tags that produce a coded output, allowing receivers to scan only a narrow frequency band but still identify many individual birds. Data are recorded in the receiver unit attached to the antenna and downloaded at regular intervals. Migrating birds can be detected for ~10-12 km from the tower when flying, or at closer range when foraging or loafing.
Future Steps: This effort will investigate the potential degree of support that artificial wetland habitats may provide to populations of shorebird species during the autumn and winter. Specifically, radio telemetry data will allow us to understand the degree to which individuals are using temporarily flooded agricultural habitats. Knowing species use of flooded agricultural fields would allow: 1) an understanding of inland non-breeding and migratory habitat use; and 2) the development of management practices that may increase the amount of habitat that can support shorebirds in Mississippi during the migratory and non-breeding periods of the annual cycle. Results of our study can directly inform management strategies in the MAV by helping to quantify the value of conservation practices implemented under the Farm Bill, such as water management for wildlife on agricultural lands.