Expert Network Monitoring Plan

ShorebirdsSupporting Publication to the

Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring ProgramFramework Document

CAFF Designated Agencies: Canadian Wildlife Service, Yellowknife, Canada Finnish Ministry of the Environment, Helsinki, Finland Greenland Homerule, Ministry of the Environment, Nuuk, Greenland Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Reykjavik, Iceland Directorate for Nature Management, Trondheim, Norway Russian Federation Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, Russia Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska This publication should be cited as: CHASM, 2004. Shorebirds Expert Network Monitoring Plan. Monitoring Arctic-nesting Shorebirds: An International Vision for the Future. Conclusions from The Pan-Arctic Shorebird/Wader Monitoring and Research Workshop, Denmark, 3-6 December 2003. Supporting publication to the CAFF Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program – Framework Document. CAFF CBMP Report No. 4, CAFF International Secretariat, Akureyri, Iceland. 10 pp. Cover photo: Red phalarope pair, Alaska, Photo courtesy of Mike Denega For further information and additional copies, please contact: CAFF International Secretariat Borgir Nordurslod 600 Akureyri Iceland Phone: +354 462-3350 Fax: +354 462-3390 Email: caff@caff.is Internet: http://www.caff.is Layout and printing by: Prentstofan Stell ehf.

CAFF Area

Monitoring Arctic-nesting Shorebirds:An International Vision for the Future

Conclusions fromThe Pan-Arctic Shorebird/Wader

Monitoring and Research Workshop

Karrebäksminde, Denmark, 3-6 December 2003

CAFF CBMP Report No. 4

by theCommittee for Holarctic Shorebird Monitoring (CHASM)

November 2004

Expert Network Monitoring Plan

ShorebirdsSupporting Publication to the

Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring ProgramFramework Document

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Introduction

The Committee for Holarctic ShorebirdMonitoring, CHASM, is a “project” within theInternational Wader Study Group and is one ofthe Expert Monitoring Networks of theCircumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program ofCAFF. CHASM was formed as the essential firststep for guiding the implementation of aneffective circumpolar program for monitoringArctic-nesting shorebirds. A circumpolarmonitoring program will help ensure that existingmonitoring programs continue to be wellcoordinated and supported, while simultaneouslyintegrating them into a Holarctic program.

The Pan-Arctic Shorebird/Wader Monitoring andResearch Workshop brought together 30specialists to discuss monitoring and researchof Arctic-nesting shorebirds. The meeting washeld in Karrebäksminde, Denmark from 3-6December 2003. Participants from seven Arcticnations, as well as five nations visited by Arcticmigrants during the non-breeding season,convened with two primary objectives: 1) tosummarize existing shorebird monitoringprotocols and explore opportunities forintegrating them more effectively at the globallevel; and 2) to discuss the effects of climatechange on those populations which have beenmonitored and studied to date.

This document presents the collective vision ofthe participants in regard to objective one, andas such, the document outlines the goals, ani n i t i a l o b j e c t i v e , a n d p re l i m i n a r yrecommendations for globally integratedmonitoring of Arctic-nesting shorebirds.Participants suggested a number of essentialitems required to develop a comprehensivecircumpolar Arctic shorebird monitoring plan,and provided more specific recommendationsfor monitoring shorebirds in breeding and non-breeding areas. Further, participantsacknowledged the need to establish an informalworking group, which would take the lead onmoving the workshop’s vision forward.

Background

Arctic-nesting shorebirds (or waders) are amongthe most evocative creatures on our planet.Their tenacity while breeding in harsh northernenvironments, their spectacular concentrations,prodigious long-distance migrations, and theathletic grace of their aerial acrobatics inspireawe and appreciation. These wonders, however,are in jeopardy. There is a growing agreementamong shorebird biologists from around theworld that many shorebird populations aredeclining, some precipitously. A handful ofspecies may soon become extinct.

Such declines give cause for concern. The lossof shorebird populations or entire species wouldbe directly counter to the stated desire of worldleaders to significantly reduce the rate of lossof biological diversity. Arctic-breeding shorebirdsare important members of wetland communities.Such habitats are under intense threat fromhuman development and yet support some ofthe most diverse animal communities on earth.The potential ecological impact on the healthand integrity of wetlands caused by thedisappearance of shorebirds is unknown, andsimilarly the impact to shorebird populationsfrom the loss of wetlands is also not fully known.The reduction or loss of shorebird populationsmay be a symptom of habitat degradation, but

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Baird Sandpiper, Barrow Alaska. Photo courtesy of Toru Mano

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it may also be a cause of further degradation aswell. Because shorebirds are critically dependentupon distinct staging sites spread across manynations and vast latitudinal distances, theyeffectively integrate, and thus their status reflects,environmental conditions over much of theglobe.

The essential reproductive activities of Arctic-nesting shorebirds occur in those northernregions of the planet most likely to experiencethe earliest and most severe effects of globalwarming. Sea level rise induced by climatechange also poses a threat to the inter-tidalareas favored by these birds outside the breedingseason. As long-distance migrants from thesethreatened habitats, shorebirds may serve asimportant messengers of global climate change.

The ability to learn lessons from Arctic-nestingshorebirds is currently limited by a lack ofsufficiently detailed, scientifically rigorous, andspatially comprehensive population information.Improved and more coordinated monitoringwould allow suspected population trends to beconfirmed and provide better estimates of therates of change. This information, in turn, wouldbe used to form many important managementdecisions, including: 1) detecting species at risk;2) identifying causes of population changes; 3)evaluating conservation and restorationprograms; 4) setting priorities for conservationof species and habitats; 5) acting as indicatorsof anthropogenic impacts in the Arctic and

elsewhere; and 6) implementing multilateralenvironmental agreements. Given this wealthof potential benefits, there is clearly an urgentneed for more effective and extensive monitoringof shorebird populations.

The Pan-ArcticShorebird/WaderMonitoring and ResearchWorkshop

In response to this need, 30 specialists gatheredin Denmark from 3-6 December 2003 to discussmonitoring and research of Arctic-nestingshorebirds. Participants from seven Arctic nations,as well as five nations visited by Arctic migrantsduring the non-breeding season, convened withtwo primary objectives: 1) to summarize existingshorebird monitoring protocols and exploreopportunities for integrating them moreeffectively at the global level; and 2) to discussthe effects of climate change on thosepopulations which have been monitored andstudied to date.

Flock of Bar-tailed Godwit, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Robert Gill

Dunlin chick, Barrow Alaska. Photo courtesy of Blake Trask

Rationale

Monitoring programs allow biologists to assessthe status and trends of animals, and to detectand assess the effects of human activities onthese same animals. The Arctic region, whilegenerally poor in species diversity, is home to adisproportionately large number of shorebirds.Indeed, roughly 20% of the world’s shorebirdspecies and some 30 million of the roughly 100million individual shorebirds in the world breedin the Arctic. Population estimates have beenderived recently for the 100 biogeographical

populations of the 37 most typical Arctic-nestingshorebird species. Numerical trends wereidentified in 52 of these, 12% of which arethought to be increasing, 42% stable, 44%decreasing, and 2% probably extinct. All ofthese Arctic-nesting species migrate to temperateand tropical regions of the globe, and throughthese migrations, Arctic-nesting shorebirds linkevery continent except Antarctica and visit nearlyevery country on earth.

For both objectives, there was a concerted effortto expand the discussion beyond a simplepresentation of results to date. Instead,workshop participants worked together toexplore new and creative avenues forcollaboration and coordination. For example,several new analyses were initiated at theworkshop, including a synthesis of efforts toestimate shorebird productivity on an annualbasis across multiple flyways, as well as acompilation and pan-arctic analysis of short-term climate-related effects on shorebird breedingperformance. Perhaps the most importantoutcome of the workshop, however, was theparticipants’ shared visionconcerning the need for animproved approach tom o n i t o r i n g s h o r e b i r dp o p u l a t i o n s i z e s a n ddemographics. This documentpresents the collective vision ofthe Pan-Arctic Shorebird/Waderworkshop, and outlines goals,an initial objective, andpreliminary recommendationsfor g loba l ly integratedmonitoring of Arctic-nestingshorebirds.

Vision

To coordinate and integratemonitoring of Arctic-nestingshorebirds on a global scale bycollecting and synthesizing information on thepopulation status and trends of all populationsof Arctic-nesting shorebirds at all stages of theirlife-cycles, and to make that information availablein a timely manner to policy-makers, managers,the scientific community, educators, and thegeneral public.

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Red Phalarope pair, Barrow, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Mike Denega

Goals

1) Enhance the collection of scientifically rigorous monitoring data, and the coordination and support of existing andnew monitoring programs for Arctic-nesting shorebirds.This goal will be achieved by:

a) supporting new and continued fundingof monitoring programs

b) providing a framework within which shorebird data are collected, analyzed,and integrated across large spatial and temporal scales

c) preparing regional and global reports ona regular basis.

2) Integrate these monitoring efforts withthe Circumpolar Biodiversity MonitoringProgram. At the 2002 World Summit onSustainable Development, world leadersexpressed their desire to achieve “a significantreduction in the current rate of loss of biologicaldiversity”. To achieve this goal, the Conservationof Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Groupof the Arctic Council identified monitoring as akey objective for the conservation of Arcticbiodiversity. Accordingly, CAFF has now initiated

the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program(CBMP) to ‘build on national and internationalwork to implement a program to monitorbiodiversity at the circumpolar level that willallow for regional assessments, integration withother environmental monitoring programs, andcomparison of the Arctic with other regions ofthe globe’. Arctic-nesting shorebirds is one ofthe monitoring networks chosen by CAFF toprovide adequate monitoring of circumpolarbiodiversity as initial components of the CBMP. Workshop participants see their interests andconcerns dove-tailing markedly with those ofthe CBMP.

3) Establish formal coordination with otherinternational and regional programs.A variety of existing conservation groups andprograms share an interest in shorebirds, otherwetlands species, and/or the habitats used byArctic-nesting shorebirds throughout the year.Examples include the International Wader StudyGroup, the Asia-Pacific Migratory WaterbirdConservation Strategy, the Agreement on theConservation of African-Eurasian MigratoryWaterbirds (AEWA), and the North AmericanMigratory Bird Treaty Act. Concerted effortsshould be made to integrate Arctic-nestingshorebird monitoring into the activities of thesediverse programs.

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American Golden Plover pair, Canning River Delta, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Mike Denega

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Initial Objective

To sustain the enthusiasm and impetus of theworkshop, participants acknowledged the needto establish a formal working group, whichwould take the lead on moving the workshop’svision forward. Specifically, this Committee forHolarctic Shorebird Monitoring (CHASM) wasformed as the essential first step for guiding theimplementation of an effective circumpolarprogram for monitoring Arctic-nesting shorebirds.Such a program should ensure that existingmonitoring programs continue to be wellcoordinated and supported, while simultaneouslybeing integrated into a Holarctic program. Assuch, the group fulfills the need for a shorebird-monitoring network within the CircumpolarBiodiversity Monitoring Program. In addition,CHASM will also be a project within theInternational Wader Study Group. CHASM’smembers represent different regions of thecircumpolar Arctic as well as temperate areaswhere Arctic-nesting shorebirds occur duringthe non-breeding season. Drs. Richard Lanctotand Mikhail Soloviev will serve as the first co-chairs of CHASM.

General Recommendations

The principle recommendation of the workshopparticipants is to fully develop and implementa circumpolar Arctic-nesting shorebird monitoringprogram. Such a program requires the pre-

paration of a plan that will include and buildupon the existing Arctic Birds Breeding ConditionsSurvey and the Program for Regional andInternational Shorebird Monitoring (and thelatter’s predecessors such as the Internationaland Maritime’s National Shorebird Surveys). Itwill also be essential to recognize and takeadvantage of the contribution of existingwaterbird population databases compiled byWetlands International, the results of bird ringingcompiled by the British Trust for Ornithology,and smaller monitoring schemes and programscurrently underway within and outside the Arctic.The following features should be included inthe final plan, although individual componentsshould be completed as time permits with anoverall goal of having the entire plan completedby 2006.

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Description of the existing monitoringprograms providing information onArctic-nesting shorebirds, and theidentification of gaps in which speciesand subspecies are monitored andwhere additional monitoring is neededin and outside of the Arctic.

Ident i f icat ion, def in i t ion, andencouragement of the collection of acore set of biological variables, includingpopulation (e.g., size and structure,seasonal distribution) and demographic(e.g., recruitment and survival)parameters of Arctic-nesting shorebirds.

Expansion of existing monitoringprograms to include the additionalshorebird biological parametersident i f ied above, as wel l asenvironmental factors important forinterpreting the trajectories ofpopulation trends, including physicaland biological parameters, such asclimate, habitat, predator, andalternative prey variables

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Pectoral Sandpiper. Photo courtesy of Toru Mano

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Specific recommendationsfor monitoring in thebreeding areas

Identification of priority Arctic-nestingshorebirds based on a set of criteria,such as distribution across thecircumpolar Arctic, internationalobligations, current monitoring activities,degree of endangerment, and availableinformation. Such a prioritisation willassist managers in determining howand where to allocate limited funds,and determine the potential to forminternational collaborations.

Identification of the best locations tosurvey individual shorebird species andsubspecies so as to maximize logisticaland financial efficiency.

Sharing and collaborative analyses ofregional and global databases, by payingspecial attention to the design, creation,collection and entry of data. Thecreation of meta-databases will facilitatethe exchange of data for joint analysesand assessments at the regional orglobal level, and allow comparisonsbetween Arctic and non-Arctic regions.For instance, data exchange andanalyses may be enhanced through theuse of GIS and web-based tools.

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Improvement of existing status andtrend assessments of Arctic-nestingshorebirds by conducting detailedspecies-by-species syntheses of existingdata and knowledge at local andregional levels.

Integration of short-term biologicalstudies into the long-term monitoringprogram to address immediatemanagement concerns.

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Acknowledging that Moscow University,with the support of WetlandsInternational and the InternationalWader Study Group, has successfullyconducted the “Arctic Birds BreedingConditions Survey” for more than 10years, in which Arctic-nesting shorebirdsconstitute a major part, and thatnational and bilateral programs exist inseveral parts of the Arctic, the workshopparticipants recommend that theseprogrammes receive sufficient long-term funding, and that internationalco-operation and co-ordination befurther developed.

Workshop part ic ipants furtherrecommend that a number ofquantitative elements (e.g., breedingperformance, prey and predatorabundances) be added to the existingArctic Birds Breeding Conditions Survey,as deemed necessary and appropriategiven the program’s overall goals.

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American Golden Plover nest, Canning River Delta, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Mike Denega

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Specific recommendationsfor monitoring in the non-breeding areas

Immediate funding should be soughtto monitor and conduct research onArctic-nesting shorebirds currentlythought to be under severe decline andunder threat of becoming endangeredor extinct. Potential candidates forstudy include the Slender-billed Curlew,Bristle-thighed Curlew, Far EasternCurlew, Spoon-billed Sandpiper andBuff-breasted Sandpiper, which areGlobally Threatened according tocurrent IUCN Red List Criteria.

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Acknowledging that monitoringshorebirds on the Arctic breedinggrounds will never be geographicallyextensive enough to provide fullyrepresentative data on population trendsand demography for the entire Arctic-nesting shorebird community, and

Acknowledging that WetlandsInternational (through the InternationalWaterbird Census) and others havesuccessfully monitored Arctic-nestingshorebirds and other bird populationsalong their migration routes for manyyears in many parts of the world,allowing long-term population indicesto be developed for several species,

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subspecies, and biogeographicalpopulations, and

Realizing that tens of thousands ofshorebirds are banded every year byvolunteer and professional ornithologistsalike, enabling changes in discretepopulations to be detected on breedingas well as staging and wintering areas,

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The workshop participants encourageincreased monitoring of Arctic-nestingshorebirds, especially in their winteringareas in the Neotropics (Caribbean,Central and South America), Africa,Australasia, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Such monitoring efforts should includedelineation of wintering ranges at thespecies, subspecies and populationlevels, establishment of monitoringnetworks and survey protocols,collection of data by local observers,and sharing of data after they arecollected. The International WaterbirdCensus provides a framework withinwhich internationally coordinated countscan take place.

Workshop part ic ipants furtherrecommend that monitoring on stagingand wintering sites be strengthened bycollating, analysing and publishingresults on shorebird recruitmentcollected from visual observations andbanding operations. Biologists studyingseveral populations of swans, geeseand ducks have already undertakensimilar efforts. Results from suchcollaborations should be explicitly linkedto thresholds [e.g., specific populationsizes and/or trends] that will triggerspecific types of directed research andmanagement tasks.

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Semi-palmated Sandpiper with young, Barrow, Alaska.Photo courtesy of Auguste Bayern

Future Workshop ParticipationAs a first step in implementing the objectives of this document, a two-day workshop is being held duringthe International Wader Study Group meeting in Papenburg, Germany, 4-5 November 2004. Participantswill investigate ways to improve and coordinate existing programs that monitor shorebirds in and outsideof their Arctic breeding grounds.

Acknowledgements:The Pan-Arctic Shorebird/Wader Monitoring and Research Workshop was organised by:Hans Meltofte, NERI, Dept. of Arctic Environment, DenmarkElin Pierce, Santa Lusia, Solana Beach, California, USAAevar Petersen, Icelandic Institute of Natural History, IcelandLiv Wennerberg, National History Museum and Botanical Garden, Univ. of Oslo, NorwayThomas B. Berg (secretary), NERI, Dept. of Arctic Environment, Denmark

Financing:This work was generously financed by the Nordic Arctic Research Programme under the Nordic Council of Ministers,the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark.

CHASM Co-Chairs: Richard B. Lanctot, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska, USAMikhail Soloviev, Moscow State Univ., Moscow, Russia

CHASM Committee:Nigel Clark, British Trust for Ornithology, Norfolk, United KingdomSimon Delany, Wetlands International, Wageningen, The NetherlandsBrian McCaffery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bethel, Alaska, USAHans Meltofte, NERI, Dept. of Arctic Environment, DenmarkClive Minton, Melbourne, AustraliaR.I.G. Morrison, Canadian Wildlife Service, Hull, Quebec, CanadaPaul Smith, Canadian Wildlife Service, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, CanadaLiv Wennerberg, National History Museum and Botanical Garden, Univ. of Oslo, NorwayChristoph Zockler, UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, Great Britain

Information about CHASM can be obtained from:Richard Lanctot at Richard_lanctot@fws.gov orMikhail Soloviev at soloviev@soil.msu.ru

Note: The opinions expressed in this document are those of the workshop participants and do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe Nordic Council of Ministers, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, or the National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark.

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Richard Lanctot taking measurements, Barrow, Alaska.Photo courtesy of Blake Trask

Dunlin, Barrow Alaska. Photo courtesy of Toru Mano

For further information and additional copies contact:

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Nordurslod600 AkureyriICELAND

Telephone: +354 462 3350Fax: +354 462 3390E-mail: caff@caff.is

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Prentstofan Stell ehf.