The upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) is a large shorebird species found across the interior of North America. Over the past century, this species has experienced concerning population declines due to habitat loss and degradation. Understanding how many upland sandpipers remain today is an important part of developing effective conservation strategies for this unique bird.
Historical Population
Historically, upland sandpipers were fairly common breeding birds across the Great Plains, Midwest, and Eastern regions of North America. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their populations were estimated to number in the millions. One 19th century observer noted that upland sandpipers were “astonishingly numerous” on the prairies, with flocks of hundreds or even thousands of the birds congregating together on breeding grounds. However, even at this time, habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and development was already impacting upland sandpiper numbers in some regions.
Early Population Declines
As grasslands were converted to farmland, wetlands were drained, and human disturbance increased, upland sandpiper populations started to decline markedly. For example, between the 1880s and early 1900s, a 90% decrease in upland sandpipers was noted in some parts of Illinois. By the early 20th century, the species had disappeared as a breeder from many areas along the Atlantic coast. A survey published in 1937 highlighted that the upland sandpiper had undergone “one of the most striking reductions that has occurred in any of our shorebirds,” with declines of 50-90% noted across much of its breeding range since the late 1800s.
Continued Declines Through the 20th Century
Habitat loss and degradation continued to impact upland sandpiper populations throughout the 1900s. A key 1988 report by Cooper and Beauchesne on breeding bird trends in Canada showed that between the late 1960s and late 1980s, upland sandpipers declined by 38%. The rate of decline was most severe in central Canada, including the mixed-grass prairie region, where populations dropped by 77% over this period. In the United States, Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data similarly indicated significant declines between 1966 and 2015, with a total loss of 63% of the upland sandpiper population across their U.S. breeding range.
Current Population Status
The most recent and comprehensive population data suggests there are now 150,000-470,000 upland sandpipers across their global range. Partners in Flight estimates there are 150,000-300,000 individuals, while the 2016 State of North America’s Birds report suggests there are 290,000-470,000 upland sandpipers remaining. For comparison, in 1970 the global population was estimated to be around 1 million birds. So at most, the current population represents around 47% of historic numbers. However, many experts believe the true population is likely at the lower end of estimates, with perhaps only 150,000-200,000 individuals remaining.
Population by Region
More specifically, current regional upland sandpiper population estimates include:
- 85,000 – 140,000 in Canada
- 50,000 – 200,000 in the United States
- 15,000 – 130,000 in the non-breeding range (Mexico, Central and South America)
Within Canada, population strongholds include Saskatchewan and Alberta, which together host an estimated 60,000 upland sandpipers. In the U.S., the highest-density breeding populations occur in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Causes of Decline
The major causes of upland sandpiper population declines include:
- Habitat loss – Loss of native grasslands and conversion to agriculture is a leading cause of declines across the Great Plains. Between 1970-1997, over 6 million hectares of prairie grassland were converted to crops in Canada.
- Nest destruction – Farming activities like plowing, haying, grazing, and vehicle use of fields leads to trampling and destruction of upland sandpiper nests.
- Habitat degradation – Fire suppression and altered grazing patterns degrade the open habitat upland sandpipers require.
- Climate change – May lead to drier conditions and shrub/tree encroachment into grasslands.
- Predation – Increased predator populations due to habitat fragmentation and loss of predators leads to more nest predation.
Conservation Status
Due to substantial population declines, the upland sandpiper is considered a species of conservation concern across its range. Its current conservation status includes:
- Ranked as ‘Near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Listed as ‘Sensitive’ in the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region.
- Classified as a Species of Moderate Conservation Concern in Mexico.
- Listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern in several U.S. states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York.
Ongoing Conservation Efforts
Various conservation initiatives are underway to try to protect and recover upland sandpiper populations. These include:
- Protection and restoration of native prairie habitats.
- Working with farmers to delay haying and adopt more bird-friendly grazing practices.
- Predator management programs in some regions to limit nest destruction.
- Habitat enhancement initiatives, such as prescriptive burning.
- Public education campaigns to raise awareness of grassland conservation.
International, national, and local partners are all involved in upland sandpiper conservation. From small community groups to national agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, efforts are underway across the species’ breeding range. However, habitat loss and grassland degradation continue to occur, highlighting the importance of expanding conservation measures to protect essential upland sandpiper breeding grounds.
Future Outlook
The outlook for upland sandpipers remains concerning if habitat loss and degradation continue. Climate change may also increasingly threaten this prairie-adapted species. However, with expanded conservation initiatives, there is hope that populations can be stabilized and protected. Maintaining strongholds like Saskatchewan and North Dakota, where large populations still thrive, will be key. Creative conservation partnerships and grassland-friendly agriculture incentives also offer promise for the future. Still, continued monitoring and adaptive management will be crucial to ensure upland sandpipers remain a part of the North American landscape for generations to come.
References
- Partners in Flight Landbird Population Estimates Database.
- North American Bird Conservation Initiative. 2016. The State of North America’s Birds 2016. Environment and Climate Change Canada: Ottawa, Ontario.
- North American Bird Conservation Initiative. 2019. Upland Sandpiper Conservation Plan, Version 1.0. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Houston, C. Stuart, and Danny G. Schmutz. Habitat Availability Versus Habitat Use by the Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia Longicauda) in Saskatchewan.
- Cooper, Trevor R., and Suzanne Beauchesne. “Breeding Biology of the Upland Sandpiper in Manitoulin Island, Ontario.” The Wilson Bulletin, vol. 119, no. 3, 2007, pp. 362-373.
- Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia. Upland Sandpiper in Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife