Intra- and interannual regional fidelity of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during migratory stopover in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

During their migratory stopover at Mary's Point, Semipalmated Sandpipers fed during both daytime and nightime low tides. However, at night, the sandpipers tended to be less numerous, did not feed as intensively, and were encountered only for part of the mudflat exposure period. Moreover, their feeding activity was comparable between diurnal periods, but varied greatly from one night to another independently of moonlight.

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Variation in diet of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) during stopover in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z2012-086 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (9) ◽

pp. 1181-1190 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

J.T. Quinn ◽

D.J. Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Diet Composition ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Prey Selection ◽

Bay Of Fundy ◽

Corophium Volutator ◽

Stopover Site ◽

Semipalmated Sandpiper ◽

Calidris Pusilla ◽

Isotope Analyses ◽

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Semipalmated Sandpipers ( Calidris pusilla (L., 1766)) use the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada, as a critical stopover site during their annual fall migration to wintering grounds in South America. While in the area, they feed extensively on mudflat invertebrates. Historically the amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas, 1766) has been thought to make up the majority of their diet. However, we have recently observed flexibility in foraging behaviour and prey selection by sandpipers. The extent of this flexibility and the current diet composition is unknown. To address these knowledge gaps, we assessed Semipalmated Sandpiper diets using stable isotope analyses of blood plasma and available prey items. Data were collected in two arms of the Bay of Fundy during summer 2009 and 2010. Diets fluctuated between years and sites, but in all cases the diet was much more diverse than previously thought. Polychaetes and biofilm made substantial contributions, and C. volutator was still present in the diet, but at much reduced levels than previously noted. This previously unrecognized inclusion of biofilm in the diet is consistent with recent observations of other calidrid shorebirds. Based on measures of prey availability, there is little evidence of preference for C. volutator.

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Effects of Extreme Tidal Events on Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) Migratory Stopover in the Bay of Fundy, Canada

Waterbirds ◽

10.1675/063.040.0106 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 41-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hilary A. R. Mann ◽

Diana J. Hamilton ◽

Julie M. Paquet ◽

Cheri L. Gratto-Trevor ◽

Sarah G. Neima

Keyword(s):

Bay Of Fundy ◽

Semipalmated Sandpiper ◽

Calidris Pusilla ◽

Migratory Stopover

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Are disproportionate losses of eastern breeding Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) driving declines in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada?

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology ◽

10.1676/17-63 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 131 (2) ◽

pp. 260

Author(s):

Sydney E. Bliss ◽

Diana J. Hamilton ◽

Cheri Gratto-Trevor ◽

Julie Paquet

Keyword(s):

Bay Of Fundy ◽

Calidris Pusilla ◽

Semipalmated Sandpipers

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Fatty acid composition and concentration of alternative food of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2016-0246 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (8) ◽

pp. 565-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J.T. Quinn ◽

D.J. Hamilton ◽

C.E. Hebert

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Substantial Part ◽

Bay Of Fundy ◽

Corophium Volutator ◽

Fa Composition ◽

Quality Of Food ◽

Calidris Pusilla ◽

Migrating Birds ◽

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla (L., 1766)) that migrate through the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada, depend on a rich food supply to fuel their continued migration. Although past studies have reported a diet dominated by the amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas, 1766), an animal rich in n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), recent evidence suggests that sandpiper diets are broad. This is beneficial in that it allows Semipalmated Sandpipers to respond to a changing food base, but quality of food is also important. PUFAs are important in providing the energy required by migrating birds and may play a role in migratory preparation. We assessed fatty acid (FA) concentrations and proportions in three common food items. We found that polychaetes should adequately meet the needs of migrating sandpipers in terms of FA composition. Concentrations of FAs in biofilm were low, but proportionally, n–3 PUFAs were well represented, particularly in biofilm collected in Shepody Bay, where it forms a substantial part of the sandpiper diet. Therefore, provided that birds can consume a sufficient volume of biofilm, it is also probably a suitable source of essential FAs. Our results suggest that Semipalmated Sandpipers in the Bay of Fundy can meet their FA needs with a variety of dietary options.

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Local Annual Survival and Seasonal Residency Rates of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris Pusilla) in Puerto Rico

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/124.4.1397 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 124 (4) ◽

pp. 1397-1406 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Susan M. Rice ◽

Jaime A. Collazo ◽

Mathew W. Alldredge ◽

Brian A. Harrington ◽

Allen R. Lewis

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Differential Mortality ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

Greater Antilles ◽

Annual Survival ◽

Salt Flats ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Calidris Pusilla ◽

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Abstract We report seasonal residency and local annual survival rates of migratory Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) at the Cabo Rojo salt flats, Puerto Rico. Residency rate (daily probability of remaining on the flats) was 0.991 ± 0.001 (x̄ ± SE), yielding a mean length of stay of 110 days. This finding supports the inclusion of the Caribbean as part of the species' winter range. Average estimated percentage of fat was low but increased throughout the season, which suggests that birds replenish some spent fat reserves and strive for energetic maintenance. Local annual survival rate was 0.62 ± 0.04, within the range of values reported for breeding populations at Manitoba and Alaska (0.53–0.76). The similarity was not unexpected because estimates were obtained annually but at opposite sites of their annual migratory movements. Birds captured at the salt flats appeared to be a mix of birds from various parts of the breeding range, judging from morphology (culmen's coefficient of variation = 9.1, n = 106). This suggested that origin (breeding area) of birds and their proportion in the data should be ascertained and accounted for in analyses to glean the full conservation implications of winter-based annual survival estimates. Those data are needed to unravel the possibility that individuals of distinct populations are affected by differential mortality factors across different migratory routes. Mean length of stay strongly suggested that habitat quality at the salt flats was high. Rainfall and tidal flow combine to increase food availability during fall. The salt flats dry up gradually toward late January, at the onset of the dry season. Semipalmated Sandpipers may move west to other Greater Antilles or south to sites such as coastal Surinam until the onset of spring migration. They are not an oversummering species at the salt flats. Conservation efforts in the Caribbean region require understanding the dynamics of this species throughout winter to protect essential habitat. Tasas de Supervivencia Anual Local y de Residencia Estacional de Calidris pusilla en Puerto Rico

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Crawling behaviour of the amphipod Corophium volutator and foraging by Semipalmated Sandpipers, Calidris pusilla

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z89-066 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 457-462 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

J. Sherman Boates ◽

Peter C. Smith

Keyword(s):

Nova Scotia ◽

Food Intake ◽

Lunar Cycle ◽

Intertidal Mudflat ◽

Sharp Reduction ◽

Corophium Volutator ◽

Quantitative Evidence ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Calidris Pusilla ◽

Semipalmated Sandpipers

During late spring and summer, the crawling behaviour of the amphipod Corophium volutator was studied on an intertidal mudflat in the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia. On average, less than 1% of the population crawled on any tide and these individuals tended to be large adults that were predominantly males. Animals emerged as the tide receded but most had crawled into burrows after 25 min. The crawling behaviour did not seem to be related to the lunar cycle as was expected; however, there was a sharp reduction in crawling activity (from 36.3 to 1.2 amphipods/m2) in July that coincided with the arrival of Semipalmated Sandpipers, Calidris pusilla, an abundant seasonal predator. The proportion of males in the amphipod population declined during the period when sandpipers were present. It appears that both a change in amphipod behaviour and depletion of the animals most prone to crawling may contribute to the observed reduction in crawling activity. Qualitative and quantitative evidence show that sandpipers were attracted to the tide edge where crawling amphipods were relatively abundant and that they increased their food intake by doing so.

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