Browsing by Subject "Shore birds"
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Item Breeding ecology of shorebirds in the play lakes region of Texas(Texas Tech University, 2001-12) Conway, Warren C.The Playa Lakes Region of Texas (PLR) is characterized by playas, the dominant hydrologic characteristic and the main reftigia of biodiversity in an otherwise agriculturally dominated landscape. Other wetland types occur in the region, including saline lakes, manmade lakes, and riparian wetlands on the eastern portion. These wetlands provide habitat for wintering waterfowl and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) as well as migrant shorebirds. The PLR of Texas is recognized for its continental importance for migrant shorebirds, but no studies have examined wetland habitat use, nest site selection, or general breeding ecology of nesting shorebirds in the PLR. During 1998 and 1999,1 found American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), black-necked stilts {Himantopus mexicanus), killdeer {Charadrius vociferus), and snowy plovers {Charadrius alexandrinus) nesting in study site wetlands in the PLR. 1 examined general breeding biology for each of the focal species by estimating clutch size, documenting phenology of nest and clutch initiation, quantifying apparent and adjusted nesting success, identifying causes of nest failure, and estimating egg success as an estimate of armual adult productivity. I also examined wetland scale and nest site selection patterns of the four nesting shorebird species in playa, riparian, manmade, and saline lakes.Item Use of habitat and behavior of migrant shorebirds in North Dakota(Texas Tech University, 1996-08) DeLeon, Manuel T.In 1994 and 1995, I evaluated the spring and summer/fall use of habitat and behavior of migrating shorebirds in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of northwestern North Dakota. My objectives were to (1) examine and compare spring and summer/fall behavior of American avocets (Recurvirostra americana), long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus), stilt sandpipers (Calidris himantopus). semipalmated sandpipers (C. pusilla). and least sandpipers (C. minutilla). (2) determine use of habitat by these species, (3) document the migration chronology of these and other shorebird species that migrate through this region, and (4) use this information to develop wetland management recommendations. Time budgets were determined seasonally for the 5 species in northwestern North Dakota. Feeding, alert, locomotion, body maintenance, and sleeping behaviors and frequency of aggressive encounters were determined. During spring and summer/fall, feeding was the predominant activity (> 50%) of long-billed dowitchers and stilt, semipalmated, and least sandpipers. Feeding dominated behavior of American avocets during summer/fall.