The buff-breasted sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) is a medium-sized shorebird that breeds in the tundra of northern Alaska and Canada and migrates to coastal regions of South America for the winter. This species has experienced significant population declines in recent decades and is listed as a species of high conservation concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In this article, we will explore the reasons why the buff-breasted sandpiper is endangered and the conservation efforts being made to protect this species.
Natural History of Buff-Breasted Sandpipers
The buff-breasted sandpiper is a medium-sized shorebird, measuring about 8.5-10 inches in length with a wingspan of 17-20 inches. They have distinctive buff-colored underparts and breast, reddish-brown upperparts, and bright yellow legs. Their diet consists primarily of invertebrates such as beetles, flies, grasshoppers, and crustaceans.
Buff-breasted sandpipers breed in the arctic tundra of northern Alaska and Canada during the summer months of May through August. They nest on the ground in open dry tundra and wet meadows, laying 3-4 eggs in a shallow nest lined with lichens and grasses. The female incubates the eggs for around 23 days while the male helps defend the territory. The chicks are precocial, meaning they leave the nest within a few hours after hatching and begin feeding themselves. They fledge and become capable of flight at around 18-21 days old.
After breeding, buff-breasted sandpipers undertake a long migration to wintering grounds in coastal regions of northern South America. They stopover at key wetland habitat along the way to rest and feed. Their wintering range includes coastal regions of Suriname, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, and northeastern Brazil. On the wintering grounds they inhabit mudflats, estuaries, sandy beaches, flooded agricultural fields, and wet pastures.
Population Status and Decline
The buff-breasted sandpiper has experienced substantial population declines over the past several decades. It is currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Researchers estimate the global population to be around 15,000 individuals.
Breeding surveys in Alaska indicate that buff-breasted sandpiper numbers declined by over 90% between 1980 and 2000. The Alaska breeding population is currently estimated at around 3,000 birds. Migration surveys also showed steep declines of over 75% between 1974-2007 in key stopover regions such as the Rainwater Basin in Nebraska.
The reasons for the population decline are not entirely clear but likely involve a combination of threats on the breeding grounds, migratory stopover sites, and wintering habitat. Some of the major threats contributing to their endangered status include:
Habitat Loss
- Loss of wetland and grassland breeding habitat in Alaska and Canada due to climate change
- Habitat degradation at migratory stopover sites
- Reduction of coastal wintering habitat in South America
Climate Change
- Changing precipitation patterns and increased drought altering breeding habitat suitability in the arctic tundra
- Sea level rise diminishing coastal wetland wintering areas
- Shifting food availability and pressures during migration due to climate change
Anthropogenic Disturbance
- Human disturbance on wintering grounds from coastal development
- Increased frequency of human recreational activities in breeding habitat
- Pollution and contamination from mining, oil drilling, agricultural runoff
Hunting
- Unregulated hunting on wintering grounds in northern South America may pose an additional threat
Year | Estimated Population | Percent Decline |
---|---|---|
1980 | 30,000 | N/A |
2000 | 15,000 | -50% since 1980 |
2020 | 14,000 | -6% since 2000 |
This table shows the estimated population size and percent decline of buff-breasted sandpipers from 1980 to 2020 based on breeding surveys and population modeling. There has been an approximate 50% total decline since 1980.
Conservation Efforts and Protection
Several conservation initiatives and habitat protections have been implemented to try to conserve buff-breasted sandpipers and reverse their population decline:
Legal Protections
- Listed as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bird of Conservation Concern
- State-level protections in some parts of range (e.g. endangered in Minnesota)
- Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Habitat Conservation
- Creation of shorebird reserve networks along migration routes and wintering grounds
- Coastal wetland restoration and protection
- Sustainable grazing practices implemented on wintering grounds
Initiatives and Funding
- Dedicated shorebird conservation plans and financial initiatives through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nature Conservancy, and other groups
- Increased funding for arctic tundra ecosystem conservation
Research and Monitoring
- Ongoing research on factors affecting buff-breasted sandpiper populations
- Migration pathways mapped through geolocator studies
- Annual breeding and migration surveys to monitor populations
While substantial efforts are underway, buff-breasted sandpipers remain a species of high conservation concern. Continued habitat protection, funding, and implementation of conservation initiatives will be necessary to stabilize and ideally reverse the declines of this unique arctic-nesting shorebird.
Conclusion
In summary, the buff-breasted sandpiper is considered an endangered species due to substantial population declines over the past 40 years. The total population is now estimated at around 15,000 individuals. This species faces threats from habitat loss in its breeding, migration, and wintering grounds due to land use changes, climate change, pollution, and disturbance. Conservation efforts are underway through habitat protection, dedicated research, and awareness campaigns. However, the buff-breasted sandpiper remains vulnerable and continued efforts will be needed to help recover this species. Stabilizing the population and reversing declines will require more protection of habitat, implementation of sustainable land use practices, and ongoing monitoring of populations across their range. The buff-breasted sandpiper highlights the conservation challenges faced by many migratory bird species that traverse hemispheres and illustrate the need for international cooperation to enact solutions.