Resighting flagged birds - Delaware Bay May 2017

From the twelfth we began re-sighting of flagged birds. there was a small team of dedicated re-sighters while those from the banding team were to contribute when not engaged with catching and processing. There were several beaches to be monitored, local ones such as North and South Reeds where we were all staying, Cooks and Kimbles just along the coast then extending to Pierces, Thompsons, Moores, Norburys Landing and creek, Villas and on to Fortescue some 70km away. The 2.6 miles of restored beaches have been particularly busy in the last few years - but all beaches should be visited every three days at least.

We started with the telescope but soon found photographing better to record tags in addition of those that we had seen as the birds moved in close proximity to each other. All birds flagged in Delaware have a light green with black print or dark green with white print. Other flags used along the east coast flyway are Orange (Argentina), Dark Blue (Brazil), Red (Chile) and White (Canada).

                                            Dark Green flag engraved in white HAY

This bird was seen at Reeds North beach on the 14th and 20th. There is a long history on the report banded birds website.

http://report.bandedbirds.org/Search.aspx

Capture:
5/12/2005 3:15:00 PM - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
Resightings:
5/30/2005 - Gandys Beach, New Jersey, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/19/2007 - Mispillion Harbor - Back Beach, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/14/2008 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/21/2009 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/21/2009 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/25/2009 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
7/24/2010 - Longridge Base, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
7/24/2010 - Longridge Base, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
7/24/2010 - Longridge Base, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
8/4/2011 - Longridge Base, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
8/5/2011 - Longridge Base, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
8/7/2011 - Paskwachi Point, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
8/9/2011 - Longridge Base, James Bay, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
8/13/2011 - Little Piskwamish - south flats, Ontario, Canada - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/22/2014 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/22/2014 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN
5/25/2014 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-70916 FELGHAY REKN

This bird is over twelve years old and was banded and regularly seen on the Delaware side of the bay but spent a good deal of its time, during the 2017 migration north on the New Jersey side.

Red flag engraved HKU

Capture:
1/23/2007 - Tierra del Fuego, Bahia Lomas, Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/18/2016 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN
Resightings:
5/16/2007 - Cooks Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/16/2007 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/17/2007 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/18/2007 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/19/2007 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/20/2007 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/21/2008 - Stone Harbor - flats at 96th Street, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/21/2008 - Stone Harbor - flats at 96th Street, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/21/2008 - Stone Harbor - flats at 96th Street, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/22/2008 - Grassy Sound Meadow, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/22/2008 - Grassy Sound Meadow, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
3/30/2009 - Palmares de la Coronilla beaches, Rocha, Uruguay - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/31/2009 - Kimbles Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/17/2009 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/25/2009 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/21/2010 - Hog Island - mid, Virginia, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
7/31/2010 - Ile Niapiskau, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/26/2011 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/26/2011 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/26/2011 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/27/2011 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/27/2011 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/28/2011 - Reeds Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
7/17/2011 - Ile Niapiskau, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
7/18/2011 - Ile Quarry, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/21/2012 - Kimbles Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/21/2012 - Kimbles Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/12/2012 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/16/2013 - Cooks Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/17/2013 - Cooks Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/17/2013 - Kimbles Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/19/2013 - Cooks Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/19/2013 - Reeds Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/28/2013 - Cooks Beach - north, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/7/2013 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/20/2014 - Reeds Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
8/11/2014 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/16/2015 - Kimbles Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/9/2016 - Reeds Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERYE REKN
5/22/2016 - Reeds Beach - south, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN
5/22/2016 - Sunray Beach Preserve, New Jersey, United States - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN
8/13/2016 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN
8/15/2016 - Grande Ile, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN
5/21/2017 - - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN
5/24/2017 - - 1172-98275 FERHKU REKN

These are just two of the Red Knots recorded. We also collected data on Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone and Semipalmated Sandpipers. This year the symbols +, =, # and % have been used to increase the number of individualise codes available.

=HL, flagged this year, forages along the rising tide line.

In addition to recording flags we also did flagged to un-flagged ratios, flock counts and inter-tidal counts to feed into the shorebirds study.

As our time there progressed it became clear that the numbers of waders were not building up as expected. There has been little spawning of the Horse-shoe crabs, probably due to generally cold air and water temperatures, strong onshore winds some days and this has affected the numbers of available eggs for the birds to eat. Birds have been forced to dig for eggs rather than just eat loose eggs off of the surface of the sand. Turnstones do this most readily, defending their excavation and the eggs within from other birds. It was clear that pickings were quite thin along the shoreline. Added to this, difficult weather conditions to the south were thought to be a reason behind the lower numbers of birds in the bay.

Turnstones excavate where Horseshoe crab eggs were laid. 

Combined counts never exceeded 4000 and an aerial count on the 21st confirmed that there were indeed a substantial number of the expected birds missing. Further to this the birds present were not at the expected locations of Cooks and Kimbles, with the bulk being at Norbury on the aerial count day. There was some spawning over the next couple of days but not on the usual scale so egg availability remained low. 

With very few eggs on the beach surface birds cluster around two egg laying sites 

as the rising tide agitates the sand and dislodges some eggs.

For more on the progress of migrating Red Knots and Turnstones see the link below.

http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/2017/05/24/in-dangerous-territory-on-the-delaware-bay/

We continued with resightings until the 25th of May. All of our flagged birds ( over 1000) were entered into a data sheet and handed over before our departure. Some 90% will also have photographic evidence to confirm the resightings. 

A Canadian flagged bird ringed in 2016

TT1, ringed before 2014 in Tierra del Fuego 

 PAX was flagged on 21st October 2016 at Avalon, New Jersey 

(so NOT during the spring migration flagging efforts).

A6T ringed 1st March 2013 - Ilha de Curupu, Maranhao, Brazil 

In spite of the print wearing away identification is possible from the photograph.

Sanderling P0K

Ruddy Turnstone MPV

When our time with the Red Knot project came to an end it was still unclear where the remainder of the migrating birds were - further information should come through on the link given above.

Special thanks to Humphrey for making it possible for us to participate on the project, and to Gwen, Gerry, Angela, Barrie, Peter and Guy - who brought us up to speed, showed us some excellent birding spots and helped with identification of birds by call and song, were good house mates and excellent company. 

Optics used were an Opticron HR80 scope (product code 41006), SDL eyepiece (product code 40936). In addition the Universal tele-adapter UTS (product code 40951) provide additional zoom capabilities to read rings at a great distance. Thanks to Opticron for optics support.

Delaware Bay, New Jersey - Cannon netting 11th and 12th May 2017

At the start of our visit we were fortunate enough to get out on the first two catches of the season. The first was at the South Reeds Beach where over 200 Red Knot were measured, ringed,tagged and feather samples taken for DNA analysis. There were also 40 or so Sanderling. Chris and I were fortunate to be placed in Clive Minton's group with Clive fitting tags and taking feather samples, Chris scribing, Angela Clive's sister ringing, Renn weighing and completing DNA bags and myself taking wing, bill and head & bill measurements.

Processing the catch with Renn and Clive.

Three groups process the birds. 

Red Knot (Calidiris canutus)

Sanderling (Calidiris alba)

The second catch focused on Ruddy Turnstone. The net was set just a few metres from the main house and birds were so keen to feed that firing took place within 15 minutes. Birds were processed on the house deck in very difficult, windy conditions. No photographs were taken. My team consisted of Clive, Jenny (PhD student), Patti (Citizens United), Joanna Burger (Professor). Chris worked in a team that included Larry Niles, the project organiser.

After these first two catches we became dedicated resighters, collecting data on what flagged birds were present, when and where they could be found. 

Red Knot project, Delaware Bay, USA - May 2017

Every year Red Knots accompanied by Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling and other waders make the northward journey up the Eastern coast of South and North America. This year Chris and I will be involved with the monitoring process at one of their Spring migration stop overs. The birds converge on Delaware Bay and time their stay to capitalise on the food available from spawning Horseshoe Crabs.

Just as the Horseshoe Crab eggs draw the birds, the migrating waders attract a large team of scientists, environmental workers and volunteers from across the world to participate in a study that has spanned 20 years.

The first studies began in 1997 at which time the unregulated collection of spawning Horseshoe Crabs for bait was commonplace. Following media coverage of this,the work being done on the beaches and reports of wader population decline, the practise of Horseshoe Crab harvesting was banned.

Since then fencing off of key areas at key times of year also worked to protect the waders and crabs and there are now various community projects such as 'return the favour' where volunteers turn over stranded crabs at night, allowing them to return to the sea and spawn again, and beach stewards  protect the beaches by working to ensure that the restricted areas are upheld.

The people at the  core of these studies were instrumental in organising beach restoration after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Key beaches had been left without sand, rendering them unsuitable for spawning, but the scientists worked with local people to coordinate an intervention to source sand involving a range of people from experts on sand grain size, to local business men and organised local companies to supply sand, making it possible to restore 2.6 miles of beaches to the correct conditions so that crabs could spawn successfully and birds had eggs to forage on.

Studies have focused on Horseshoe Crabs and birds. Data is being used to inform population numbers and changes, timings of migration of short, medium and long distance migrants and general bio-metric indicators such as wing, bill, head and bill length and weight.

The Delaware Bay is affected by economic pressures, with Horseshoe Crabs taken to be bled for Lysate (used in the cosmetics industry) and moves to expand the aquaculture for producing of oysters. This a concern, as siting of oyster racks on the inter-tidal mud flats poses a threat to waders foraging in that these areas are avoided by the birds and may also affect Horseshoe Crab movements.  

There are other studies along the Atlantic flyway and some birds from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and SE USA can be identified from metal rings and coloured flags. Birds have also been fitted with geo-locators, but the data can only be retrieved  when the bird is recaptured and the equipment removed.

Chris and I will be doing counts and recording colour rings and flags in the field mostly, but we hope to get on to some catches and work with the long established team on this most worthwhile project.

North Reed's Beach,