Abstract

CARMONA, Roberto et al. Breeding populations of shorebirds in northwestern Mexico wetlands. Huitzil [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.2, e581.  Epub Oct 17, 2022. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2020.21.2.506.

The breeding season is a critical time for birds because the health and size of populations depends, in part, on it. Information on this aspect is needed in order to make appropriate management or conservation decisions. In order to evaluate the importance of coastal habitat in northwestern México as a breeding area for shorebirds, in May 2017, we made a visit to 12 sites, located in Baja California Sur (3), Sonora (3), Sinaloa (4), one shared by Baja California and Sonora (1) and another one by Sinaloa and Nayarit (1). We carried out two activities: coastal surveys and breeding evidence search. We reported nine potentially reproductive species and a hybrid (American x Black Oystercatchers). In total, we observe 6,960 shorebirds, where Black-necked Stilt (42%), American Avocet (32%) and American Oystercatcher (18.4%) numbers were noteworthy. The wetlands with the greatest abundance were Marismas Nacionales (35%), Huizache-Caimanero (13%), Yavaros-Moroncárit (12.5%) and Bahía de Tóbari (12%), all located on the mainland. For three species (American Oystercatcher, Snowy Plover and Wilson’s Plover) the breeding individuals represent important fractions of their total populations. This research reaffirms the importance of northwestern México for the reproduction of resident shorebirds, some protected by the Mexican Government.

Keywords : American Oystercatcher; Black-necked Stilt; breeding; Snowy Plover; Wader birds; Wilson’s Plover.

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