What’s New?

MSP team members on the Sinaloa coast – Guillermo Fernandez (l) and Eduardo Palacios (r)

Assessing coastal wetland landscapes of Sinaloa, Mexico

In March 2019, Project team members Matt Reiter (Point Blue), Catherine Hickey (Point Blue), Eduardo Palacios (CICESE), Guillermo Fernandez (UNAM-Mazatlán), and Jim Chu (US Forest Service International Programs) traveled along the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico to visit Project sites and meet with representatives of the Mexican government and the shrimp industry. The team discussed ways that MSP data could help identify multiple-benefit conservation solutions in coastal wetlands of Sinaloa.

Higher temperatures associated with lower shorebirds in Baja California Mexico

Recent analyses of Project data by Estefanía Muñoz, a student of Eduardo Palacios at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur highlighted decreases in shorebird abundance in years with higher winter temperatures at MSP sites in the Baja California peninsula. The cause of this pattern is not understood but likely represents a shift in shorebird distribution. New analyses are underway using a broader geographic range of Project data to assess where these birds may go in warmer winters. Do they stay north? Do they shift to mainland? Stay tuned…

Density of shorebirds at sites in Baja California, Mexico in relationship to temperature.

Migratory Shorebird Project 2018-2019 Annual Progress Report now available!

Here’s some highlights:

• Completed eighth year of surveys at some sites (November 2018 – February 2019) in North America, fifth year in Central America and the sixth year in South America.
• Conducted a revised hot spot analysis in January 2019 using British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey data to update maps produced in 2012. These maps highlight areas of importance for guilds of coastal waterbirds, including shorebirds and are weighted by abundance. These maps are available at https://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/bccws/bccwsmaps.jsp
• Participated in shorebird monitoring kick-off meeting and then visited potential field sites in Guatemala. Worked with Wildlife Conservation Society and FUNDAECO to assess strategy for implementing MSP in Guatemala. Will be using comprehensive surveys conducted by WCS in 2019, to guide design of MSP to hopefully start January 2020.
• Two theses completed by students in Mexico using MSP data to better understand the factors driving the distribution and abundance of shorebirds in the Baja California peninsula.

Become Part of the Migratory Shorebird Project

Join this ambitious 10-year, multi-partner research project to help guide shorebird conservation. You will be part of the team protecting shorebirds and wetlands from Alaska to Peru through research for conservation.
We need your help, as a scientist, a volunteer scientist, an educator, or funder.

How to Get Involved

Willets and Marbled Godwits pictured

• Add your organization to the list of partners.
• Join forces with a local partner.
• Volunteer to study shorebirds, attend a training.
• Share information, sightings, research findings.
• Educate people about wetland conservation.

The Migration Phenomenon

Each year, millions of shorebirds migrate in waves from their wintering grounds along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts to their nesting grounds in Alaska and Northern Canada, stopping at just a few rich feeding spots along the way.