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A Plan for Monitoring Shorebirds During the Non-breeding Season inBird Monitoring Region New York BCR 13

Version 1

2008

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Table of ContentsIntroduction ....................................................................................................................................3

Methods ...........................................................................................................................................5

Results - Shorebirds .......................................................................................................................7

Site Descriptions New York ........................................................................................................8

Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands:...............................................................................8Iroquois, Tonawanda and Oak Orchard Complex.....................................................................13

Site 1: Iroquois NWR: Established in 1958, Iroquois NWR includes just over 10,000 acres

of freshwater marshes and hardwood swamps surrounded by woods, forests, pastures andwet meadows. Left alone, most of the area would be flooded in the spring and dry from

April through November. A system of dikes and dams controls water levels on fifteen pools

and marshes. Generally, each impoundment is drawn down every four to six years. The

refuge is managed primarily to provide breeding and migration habitat for waterfowl andother migratory birds. Shorebird habitat management at Iroquois is limited by water

availability from precipitation and also from Oak Orchard Creek which serves as the

refuge's main source of water................................................................................................14

Site 2 and 3: Tonawanda and Oak Orchard WMAs:..............................................................15Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge .....................................................................................18Pilot Studies: Montezuma is participating in a three-year large-scale research study on the

effect of spring and fall drawdowns on waterbird habitat, along with 22 other refuges across

the Northeast and Midwest. Areas of the Refuge have been and will be subject to varyingwater levels until the study ends in 2008. Check with Refuge Staff for more information on

current and planned water levels.............................................................................................. 20

Northern Montezuma Wetlands Complex..................................................................................22

References .....................................................................................................................................27

Figures and TablesFigure 1. Conceptual framework for integrated bird monitoring...........................................3

Figure 2. Shorebird Planning and Bird Conservation Regions in Canada and the United

States...............................................................................................................................................4

Figure 3. PRISM sites in BCR 13, 14, 30, 27, and 31...............................................................5

Table 1. Focal shorebird species for BCR 13. The list includes Tier A (general occurrence

and high concern) and B (local occurrence and/ or lower concern) system. The list was

expanded to include all species that received either high or medium ratings of concern in

the American or Canadian Shorebird Plans................................................................................7

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Introduction

The bird conservation initiatives - waterbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds and landbirds - are

cooperating to design a comprehensive integrated bird monitoring (IBM) program for Canadaand the United States. The conceptual framework for IBM (Fig. 1) includes strong emphasis on

detecting species at risk and helping to protect them. These broad goals are achieved byestimating population trends and defining requirements for viable populations. These objectives

in turn are accomplished by population modeling based on population levels, demographic rates

and habitat information. Population trends are estimated by surveying breeding populations

whenever possible, and by surveying the species for which this is not feasible at other times ofyear. Surveys of all species are made throughout the year to help identify and monitor use of

suitable habitat.

Figure 1. Conceptual framework for integrated bird monitoring.

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Most surveys in upland habitats are designed at a large spatial scale (e.g., southern

Canada and the United States) and do not require detailed information at the local level. Surveys

of wetland habitats, in contrast, must be carefully designed to insure that the habitat is wellcovered, and different methods may be needed in different environments. A series of regional

assessments is thus being prepared to help design the wetland surveys. Regions were formed by

intersecting a Bird Conservation Region (BCR) map with a Province and State map, deletingsmall polygons and smoothing the borders (Fig. 2). The resulting Bird Monitoring Regions can

be used to scale up results to either BCRs or Provinces and States.

Figure 2. Shorebird Planning and Bird Conservation Regions in Canada and the United States.

Adapted from: USFWS-U.S. Shorebird Plan and CWS-Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan

The regional assessments summarize current information about wetland bird distribution,

abundance, habitat relationships and timing of use within the Region and identify informationneeded to design reliable monitoring programs. These needed pilot studies are then prioritized

by people concerned with monitoring birds in the region and a plan is developed to carry out the

work. Carrying out the pilot studies is expected to take 1-3 years. Long-term surveys will then beimplemented. Additional details are provided in Managers Monitoring Manual available at

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/monmanual/techniques/shorebirdsnonbreedingsites.htm. More

information on regional progress can be found at the U.S. Shorebird Plans Regional

Conservation Plan website (http://www.fws.gov/shorebirdplan/RegionalShorebird.htm).

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Methods

Focal wetland species of shorebirds were first identified. The initial list included allwetland species of shorebirds that are common or abundant at any time of year within the

Region, according to Brian Harrington, based largely upon data from the International Shorebird

Surveys (ISS) and the US Shorebird Conservation Upper Mississippi Valley/Great Lakes(BCR13) Regional Plan. Sites in which any of the focal species are common or abundant at any time

of year were then identified using a list prepared for this project and supplemented by

information provided by birding guides, ornithologists and birders knowledgeable of the Region.Most sites were single areas, such as a National Wildlife Refuge or Audubon Important Bird

Area, but dispersed sites, such as lakes >10 ha, could also be identified.

Figure 3. PRISM sites in BCR 13, 14, 30, 27, and 31.

The International Shorebird Survey (ISS) provided species numbers for some of the

identified sites. The ISS is a volunteer based survey initiated in 1974 by Brian Harrington.Volunteers select their survey sites and are given guidelines on census frequency and data

collection for spring and fall migration. The ISS guidelines ask volunteers to survey once every

10 days from April 1st to June 10th for spring migration, and once every 10 days from July 11thto October 31st for fall migration. ISS records provided the maximum counts recorded for

species where the identified site is also an ISS site.

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Survey methods for sites include appropriate tide levels for surveys, if that information is

available. Tide levels for surveys are based on the advice of biologists and birders with

knowledge about the sites. Due to the different geography of the sites, different tide levelsare recommended to concentrate the birds for a survey. While high tide at one site may bring in

birds that are spread out over an expansive area at low tide, high tide at another site may

completely cover the habitat or food resources and scatter the birds elsewhere. Therefore,different tide levels may be recommended for different sites.

Additional site information may also include information about visibility. Excellent/goodvisibility simply means that the birds can be seen without obstruction clearly enough to identify

to species, either by physically getting close enough or with a good scope or binoculars.

Maps showing land ownership, roads and wetlands were prepared for the region. Maps ofeach site were also prepared and information useful in designing surveys for the focal species

was presented. The survey objective was assumed to be estimating the average number of birds

of each focal species present within the site during a specified interval. Up to three types of

habitat were described for each focal species: Type 1 habitat, outlined in purple on the maps,included regularly-used areas that should be sampled using a well-defined sampling plan. Type 2

habitat, which was outlined in red, included areas used sparingly by the focal species. Type 2habitat is not surveyed as often or with rigorously defined methods, but is surveyed less formally

every few years to document continued low use by the focal species. Type 3 habitat receives

virtually no use by the focal species during the study period and is not surveyed as part of the

monitoring program. Requests, however, are circulated for any records of the focal speciesoccurring in substantial numbers in these areas.

A description of each site was prepared with the following headings:

Boundaries and ownership

Focal species using the site and timing of useLocation of type 1 and 2 habitat within the site

Access to the type 1 and 2 habitat and visibility of the birds

Past and current surveysPotential survey methods

Description

Selection bias

Measurement error and biasNeeded pilot studies

We assume for any survey that the study area and study period (within years) have beendefined. The goal of the survey was assumed to be estimating the trend, across several years, in

the average number of birds present during the study period. Bias means a long-term trend in the

ratio (number recorded)/(average number present). Selection bias ensues when some portion ofType 1 habitat has zero chance of being surveyed, usually due to access problems, and there is a

long-term trend in the proportion of birds using the non-sampled portion. Exclusion of some

Type 1 habitat does not necessarily cause selection bias because trends in the sampled areas

might be the same as trends in the non-sampled areas. Anytime some portion of Type 1 habitat

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could not be included in the sampled areas, the potential for selection bias and ways to reduce it

were discussed. Measurement error means not detecting all birds present in the surveyed area at

the time of the survey. Measurement bias is a long term trend in the proportion of birds present atthe time of the survey that are detected on the survey. Measurement error does not necessarily

cause measurement bias because the proportion of birds detected might not change through time.

Anytime measurement error was probable, its magnitude and probable stability through timewere discussed along with ways to reduce the proportion of birds missed on the surveys.

Results - Shorebirds

Table 1. Focal shorebird species for BCR 13. The list includes Tier A (general occurrence and

high concern) and B (local occurrence and/ or lower concern) system. The list was expanded toinclude all species that received either high or medium ratings of concern in the American or

Canadian Shorebird Plans.

Tier Breeders Migrants

A

B

Piping Plover*American Woodcock

Upland Sandpiper

Wilsons Phalarope

Whimbrel*American Golden-Plover

Hudsonian Godwit*Marbled Godwit*

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

SanderlingSolitary Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher

Red Knot*

Black-bellied Plover

DunlinSemipalmated SandpiperGreater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Least Sandpiper

* indicates species that are extirpated as breeders (Piping Plover) or that overfly theBCR, and are noted rarely as they stop only occasionally to rest. Little direct

management activity other than some basic habitat protection can be undertaken for these

species.

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Site Descriptions New YorkEastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands:

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Description:

Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands is a large area of shoreline and associated wetlandsstretching from El Dorado Nature Preserve near Stony Creek and the Town of Henderson, south

to Deer Creek Marsh WMA near the Salmon River and the Village of Pulaski. This stretch of

Lake Ontario includes 16.5 miles of shoreline, 6.7 of which are publicly owned, 9.8 miles ofwhich is privately owned. From west to east, portions of the protected areas stretch from the

shore of Lake Ontario inland to Route 3.

Long-time birders of this area report that this area has provided much better habitat for

shorebirds in the past, before Lake Ontario was cleaned up, simply due to the algae growth. The

presence of invasive species such as the zebra mussel has also had an impact on the ecology of

Lake Ontario. There are much fewer shorebirds (two-thirds or more fewer) stopping in this areacompared to the thousands back in the late 60s. Controlled Lake Ontario water levels have

potentially eliminated traditional shorebird habitat.

It is also suggested that when Lake Ontario water levels are high, the birds can be found out inthe surrounding farmlands, along Perch River, and the Perch River Wildlife Management area,

for example. Other locations to check for shorebirds include: Pillar Point, Point Salubriouse,Point Peninsula, Dablon Bay (near Cape Vincent).

Currently, shorebird data is only available from two areas: El Dorado Nature Preserve and Sandy

Creek/Sandy Pond. From north to south, areas open to the public along the Eastern Lake OntarioDunes and Wetlands are as follows:

El Dorado Nature Preserve: 360 acres owned and managed by Central and Western New YorkChapter of The Nature Conservancy. This area is monitored by The Nature Conservancys

Northern New York Land Steward and New York Sea Grants Eastern Lake Ontario Dune

Stewards.

Black Pond WMA: adjacent to El Dorado; 526 acres managed by the New York State

Department of Environmental Conservation. This area is monitored by the Eastern Lake OntarioDune Stewards.

Southwick Beach State Park: 500 acres managed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation,

and Historic Preservation.

Lakeview Marsh WMA: 3,461 acres managed by the New York State Department of

Environmental Conservation. Because of its size and geography, is one of the most challengingareas monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards. Boating is limited to car-top

vessels and engines with less than 10 horsepower. There is a bird observation tower at Montario

Point Road, and South Sandy Creek Trail leads to a marsh area known for shorebirds.

Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area: a small peninsula of land on the barrier beach separating Sandy

Pond from Lake Ontario; owned and managed by the New York State Department of

Environmental Conservation. A bird sanctuary on the northern-most tip of this point hosts large

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numbers of shorebirds during migration. This area is roped off and access is restricted. There is a

stringed fence trail leading to a bird observation point on the east side of the peninsula. The site

as a whole is monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Stewards, and is accessible primarilyby boat. To access this area, use the car-top boat launch at Sandy Island Beach.

Sandy Island Beach State Park:13 acres managed by New York State Office of Parks,Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Deer Creek Marsh WMA: 1,195 acres managed by the New York State Department ofEnvironmental Conservation; the southern-most property monitored by the Eastern Lake Ontario

Dune Stewards. Deer Creek Marsh WMA allows canoeing, fishing, hiking and hunting.

This complex contains the remains of one of the largest inland dune systems in the Eastern GreatLakes and some of the highest quality freshwater marshes in New York. Black Pond WMA,

Lakeview Marsh WMA, Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area, and Deer Creek Marsh WMA together

make up a state Bird Conservation Area. In total, this just over 6,000 acres of protected area falls

within a core of 16,000 acres that has been identified in The Nature Conservancys Eastern LakeOntario Megasite Conservation Plan. Threats to this area include the impact on dune formation

and vegetation composition in the wetlands as a result of the regulation of Lake Ontario waterlevels. Residential development has increased nutrient levels in the wetlands and destroyed dune

habitat.

Maximum counts, Sandy Creek and Sandy Pond, 1994-20011:Tier A

Species

Spring Fall Tier B

Species

Spring Fall Other

Species

Spring Fall

AGPL 4 BBPL 1 21 KILL Unk 0

AMWO DUNL 4 57 SPSA 4 9

BBSA 1 GRYE WILL 1

HUGO 3 LESA 2 25 RUTU 65 4MAGO LEYE SESA 10 200

PIPL 1 SEPL 4 31 WRSA 1 4

REKN 1 4 WIPH 1 BASA 5

SAND 110 120 PESA 20

SBDO 13 2 STSA 1 4

SOSA LBDO 1

UPSA DOsp.

WHIM 1 4 COSN Unk.

REPH 1

RNPH

WESA 1

AMAV 31New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple sources,~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).

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Maximum counts, El Dorado Nature Preserve:Tier A

SpeciesNYS1

(spring)

ISS2

(fall)

NYS1

(fall)

Tier B

SpeciesNYS

(spring)

ISS

(fall)

NYS

(fall)

Other

SpeciesNYS

(spring)

ISS

(fall)

NYS

(fall)

AGPL 4 1 BBPL 1 51 8 KILL 57 11AMWO 1 DUNL 310 100 SPSA 5 34 19BBSA GRYE 5 5 WILL 1

HUGO LESA 4 114 150 RUTU 44 7MAGO LEYE 3 145 30 SESA 3 850 100PIPL 1 SEPL 5 26 50 WRSA 4 6REKN 7 8 WIPH 1 BASA 12 2SAND 179 100 PESA 31 2SBDO 21 3 STSA 5 1SOSA 7 4 LBDO 6UPSA 20 1 DOsp.

WHIM 4 2 COSN 12REPH 1RNPH

WESA 1PUSA 1

1New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple sources,~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).2ISS site NYAD (El Dorado Nature Preserve)

Survey Method: To be determined

Selection Bias: *

Measurement error: *

Measurement bias: *

Pilot Studies:*

Local Contacts: Chris Lajewski, The Nature Conservancys Northern New York Land Steward.

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Additional Resources:

New York Sea Grant Extension, Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands: Trails and

Boat Route Mapshttp://www.nysgextension.org/glhabitat/dunefun/trail1.htm

Alternatively, the same information in PDF format:A Recreational Guide to Eastern Lake Ontarios Dunes and Wetlands

http://www.nysgextension.org/glhabitat/dunefun/Sand%20wind%20water.pdf

From: Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Wetlands

website, New York Sea Grant Extension Program (get permission)

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Iroquois, Tonawanda and Oak Orchard Complex

Description: This wetland complex is located approximately 35 miles northeast ofBuffalo. Locally, the area (west to east) in which Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area,

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area are

found is known as the Alabama Swamp. The three protected areas are directly adjacentto one another and include nearly 20,000 acres of protected wildlife habitat, 70% of

which is wetland. Roughly 100,000 waterfowl pass through and use this area each spring.

The numbers of shorebirds tend to fluctuate depending on the various water levels

throughout the marshes during each spring and fall season, although in just about any

given season there is some available habitat, while in other years, there can be more or

less habitat available based on local precipitation and the management of the water levels.

Although refuge personnel (federal and state) can drop the water levels on various

impoundments, for the most part they don't have the ability to add water when they dryup. This, apparently, is unlike Montezuma NWR and the difference can be seen in the

consistency of high shorebird numbers seen at Montezuma, whereas numbers at Iroquois

are usually small. On occasion, however, a drying pool at Iroquois can have very highnumbers. The specific location(s) depends on which pool(s) are being drained that year.

This varies every year.

Thirty four species of shorebirds have been observed within the three managed areas.Five species are known to breed on a regular basis: KILL, SPSA, WISN, AMWO, UPSA

(scarce). Ten migrant species are considered very rare: AMAV, BBSA, RUFF, CUSA,

WESA, REKN, SAND, RUTU, WILL, MAGO. Five migrant species occur on a semi-annual basis: HUGO, WHIM, LBDO, WIPH, RNPH. Fourteen migrant species occur

regularly: BBPL, AGPL, GRYE, LEYE, SOSA, SESA, LESA, WRSA, BASA, PESA,

DUNL, STSA, SBDO.

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Site 1: Iroquois NWR: Established in 1958, Iroquois NWR includes just over 10,000

acres of freshwater marshes and hardwood swamps surrounded by woods, forests,

pastures and wet meadows. Left alone, most of the area would be flooded in the springand dry from April through November. A system of dikes and dams controls water levels

on fifteen pools and marshes. Generally, each impoundment is drawn down every four to

six years. The refuge is managed primarily to provide breeding and migration habitat forwaterfowl and other migratory birds. Shorebird habitat management at Iroquois is limited

by water availability from precipitation and also from Oak Orchard Creek which serves

as the refuge's main source of water.

The Refuge itself has not conducted formal shorebird surveys. Paul Hess, biologist at

Iroquois NWR said in an email on January 31, 2007: We haven't really done any formal

shorebird surveys on the refuge. My observation has been that we get a good variety ofspecies using the refuge in the fall, but in relatively small numbers. We're starting to

provide some habitat specific to shorebirds that time of year, so my hope is that we'll see

an increase in shorebird use over the next few years.

Notable areas for shorebirds at Iroquois NWR include Kumph Marsh/Swamp (officially

named Cayuga Subimpoundment, also known as Shorebird Impoundment, locatedbetween Cayuga Pool and Feeder Road), the north end of Cayuga Pool, the Cayuga Pool

overlook, Ringneck Marsh and Center Marsh.

Kumph Marsh was recently created for shorebird habitat, although the habitat remainsonly for short time periods. In spring the marsh is made up of open soil and shallow

pools, providing ideal shorebird habitat, while in summer the area often dries up and

becomes filled with emergent vegetation. Refuge staff may plow portions of KumphMarsh in the fall, however if the marsh is not overturned by plow then the shorebird

habitat is not present for the fall migration.

Large numbers of shorebirds use Cayuga Pool (especially the northeastern end) in the

spring if water levels have been drawn down, which occurs every 3-5 years to encourage

the growth of emergent vegetation. The same applies in the fall if the water level has beendeliberately lowered and it happens to be a dry late summer/early fall.

Ringneck Marsh and Center Marsh may have good shorebird habitat in the fall if dry

conditions occur in late summer/early fall. The shorelines of these marshes tend to beshallow and offer good shorebird habitat as the water recedes.

Maximum shorebird numbers observed at Iroquois by the Buffalo Ornithological Societywithin 1990-2005 are: AGPL(12), DUNL(250), GRYE(90), LESA(400), LEYE (100),

PESA(60), REKN(19), SBDO(40), SEPL (42), SESA (64), SOSA (28), STSA(26),

WHIM(25), WISN(65*), and WRSA(66). * observed by J. Pawlicki.

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Access: From March 1 through July 14 only the Refuges three nature trails and four

overlooks are open. All other areas are closed to public access to minimize disturbance to

nesting and resting wildlife. (Trails and overlooks and some fishing areas are open year-round).

The four overlooks at Iroquois NWR are as follows:Cayuga Marsh: on Route 77, 0.5 mile north of Kanyoo Trail.

Ringneck Marsh: on Oak Orchard Ridge Road, 0.5 mile east of Route 63.Schoolhouse Marsh: on Oak Orchard Ridge Road, 0.25 mile east of Ringneck MarshOverlook.

Mallard: on Sour Springs Road, 1 mile south of Oak Orchard Ridge Rd.

Site 2 and 3: Tonawanda and Oak Orchard WMAs:

Tonawanda WMA is located just north of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation and includes

5,600 acres of freshwater marshes. Oak Orchard WMA is located just east of Iroquois

NWR and includes 2,500 acres of freshwater marshes. Both areas were acquired by New

York State through funds amassed from hunting and trapping fees as well as a tax onfirearms and ammunition. The areas are managed primarily for nesting and feeding

waterfowl, as well as for migrating waterfowl.

Shorebird habitat at these sites is primarily due to dry conditions in the late summer/early

fall, although this is often supplemented by intentional lowering of water levels of at least

one of these sites in any given year in late summer. In some years, the lowering ofmarshes is done intentionally for the creation of shorebird habitat, however this

management strategy is variable.

Notable areas to view shorebirds at Tonawanda WMA include Ruddy Marsh, Lewiston

Overlook (a pull-off on Route 77 west of Cayuga Pool) and the pond at Griswold Road.

Mud Creek Marsh, Wood Marsh, and Klossen Marsh are known for shorebirds during thefall season, a result of dry conditions in later summer/early fall, and less often, due to

managed (lowered) water levels. Birders have taken a circuitous route south down

Meadville Road, west onto Bartel/Owen Road, and north up Ditch Road. Check all pondsfor waterfowl and shorebirds and check with Management Staff for scheduled

drawdowns.

Maximum shorebird numbers observed at Tonawanda by the Buffalo Ornithological

Society within 1990-2005 are: COSN(20*), DUNL(250), GRYE(90), LESA(400),LEYE(30*), PESA(68), and SESA(64). * numbers from the Genesee Listserv.

Notable areas to view shorebirds at Oak Orchard WMA include Goose (Stafford) PondOverlook (Albion Road), Oxbow Marsh and Windmill Marsh.

Maximum shorebird numbers observed at Tonawanda by the Buffalo Ornithological

Society within 1990-2005 are: BASA(3), BBPL(16), PESA(60), RNPH(2), SOSA(28),and STSA(15).

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Access: Within the WMAs, public areas are posted with a white sign indicating 'public

hunting grounds-trapping by permit'. Wildlife observation, hiking and photography may

be enjoyed in these areas year-round. Waterfowl refuge areas are posted with a yellow &green sign indicating 'waterfowl refuge-no waterfowl hunting'. There are also no

restrictions on hiking, wildlife observation and photography in these areas.

Survey Method: to be determined.

Selection Bias: When portions of a survey area can't be surveyed, usually due to accessproblems. Bias is presented in the long-term trend of the proportion of birds using the

non-sampled areas. For example, if a proportion of birds using the sampled area of a site

gradually begin to use an area that can't be sampled due to access, then surveys will

inaccurately document a decline, when in fact the number of birds present in the entiresurvey area is stable.

Theres always going to be some bias in any sampling design, but in this case if

you do your survey from areas that are likely to always be accessible (e.g., on Iroquois

you could survey from Cayuga Pool overlook, Feeder Rd. next to CayugaSubimpoundment and Sour Springs Rd. overlooking Center Marsh). These areas are

always accessible by car or on foot and are located within sight of good shorebird habitat.Theres always the chance that birds will start using an area that doesnt get surveyed, but

that doesnt necessarily have anything to do with access, that has to do with the fact that

you cant survey the entire area. Some areas always go unsurveyed.

Measurement error: The difference between the number of birds recorded and thenumber that is present. For example, a percentage of birds are missed at a site because

they are hidden by vegetation or because they are too far away to distinguish clearly.

Some drained pools are easier to view than others, so there may be more recordsfrom them, which in turn may make them seem more "important" to shorebirds. In the

latter category, Cayuga Pool is right next to State Route 77 and always checked by

birders. There are many records of shorebirds from there and large flocks have been seenthere. Unfortunately, birders do not always take the time to count the more common

species.

Measurement bias: The long-term trend in the index-ratio(number of birdsrecorded/number of birds present). For example, 50% of the birds are missed at a site

because they are hidden by vegetation. Over time, changes in or the loss of vegetation

which had formerly hidden the birds results in only 25% of them being missed. Thesurvey will tend to document an increase in birds when in fact the number of birds

present is stable.

These marshes are drawn down about every 5 years. During those 5 years they goform a high percentage of vegetation (e.g., 70%) to a low percentage of vegetation (e.g.,

30%) and then theyre drawn down and the cycle starts over. So, a long-term trend

estimate should remove this fluctuation and only detect real population changes.

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Pilot Studies: *

Local Contacts: Paul Hess, Biologist, Iroquois NWR; Heidi Kennedy, Biologist, WMA.

Additional Resources:

[email protected] (David) for PDF files of area maps.

Iroquois NWR Map

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/iroquois/graphics/INWR-Color-Map.jpg

Oak Orchard WMA Map

http://www.classicbuffalo.com/images/outdoors/OakOrchardMap.jpg

Buffalo Ornithological Societyhttp://www.bosbirding.org/

Birding Western New York, Map of all three areas

http://home.eznet.net/~kfox/wny/maps/inwr.htm

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Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Description: This 8,951-acre area is located just north of Cayuga Lake in the FingerLakes Region, five miles east of Seneca Falls, and straddles Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne

Counties. The refuge pools are fed by Cayuga Lake via the Seneca River. Montezuma

NWR began in 1938 with the purchase of historical marsh land that had been convertedto agricultural fields. According to Audubon, Montezuma is one of the most significant

stopover and foraging locations for shorebirds in upstate New York, regularly hosting1,000 or more individuals of 25 species.

Currently, more than 4,500 acres of pools in 12 impoundments are managed for wildlife,

including Main Pool, Mays Point Pool, and Tschache Pool. Select pools are drawn down

each spring and late summer/early fall for the benefit of migratory shorebirds. BenningMarsh (adjacent to and to the northeast of Main pool) and the Shorebird Unit (on the right

side of the beginning of Wildlife Drive,) were created for additional shorebird habitat.

Knox-Marsellus Marsh and North Spring Pool, and the recently created Puddlers Marshare also known for shorebirds when other areas are less suitable.

At Montezuma, the management goal is to have a total of 200 acres of shallow watermudflats available in the spring and fall in at least two areas. In the past, the focus had

been on breeding waterfowl; now the focus includes migratory waterbirds, waterfowl and

shorebirds. Shorebird migration during the spring has generally been less spectacular than

in the fall, but shorebirds are common early-May to mid-June.

According to the Montezuma NWR website, shorebird sightings are best at May's Point

Pool and Benning Marsh, where water levels are managed seasonally. Some sightings

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have been disrupted due to an ongoing research program, which will come to an end in

the spring of 2008. After that time, pool draw-downs will occur on a rotating basis.

During the spring of 2007, suitable shorebird habitat will be found at the Shorebird Unit,Main Pool, Benning Marsh, and Puddler Marsh. During the fall of 2007, this will change

to Millennium Marsh, North and South Spring Pools, and Mays Point Pool.

Bird surveys have been carried out twice weekly by a volunteer through most of the

spring, summer and fall for the past ten years at Montezuma NWR. Most of the twenty-

eight species of shorebirds in these surveys were observed at Mays Point Pool and MainPool.

Maximum Spring Count Data, Multiple Records (~1993-2006):Tier A

Species A1 B2 C3 D4

Tier B

Species A B C DOther

Species A B C DAGPL 1 0 1 0 BBPL 13 0 20 2 KILL 158 50 0 33

AMWO 0 0 1 0 DUNL 35 476 2000 123 SPSA 6 33 0 12

BBSA 0 0 0 0 GRYE 35 0 11 105 WILL 0 0 2 0

HUGO 0 0 0 0 LESA 64 40 12 252 RUTU 1 1 15 14

MAGO 0 0 0 0 LEYE 110 70 10 141 SESA 173 339 31 21PIPL 0 0 0 0 SEPL 75 79 25 34 WRSA 50 0 25 3

REKN 0 0 9 0 WIPH 1 1 BASA 4 0 0 0

SAND 6 0 0 0 PESA 350 350 101 20

SBDO 12 0 12 0 STSA 9 1 0 0

SOSA 3 0 20 22 LBDO 12 0 0 0

UPSA 0 0 0 0 DOsp. 46 35 0 50

WHIM 3 0 7 0 COSN 8 1 18 59

REPH ? ? 0 0

RNPH ? ? 1 0

WISN ? ? 0 0

WESA ? ? 1 1

Maximum Fall Count Data, Multiple Records (~1993-2006):Tier A

Species A B C D

Tier B

Species A B C D

Other

Species A B C DAGPL 1 0 16 10 BBPL 13 4 30 42 KILL 158 160 205 306AMWO 0 0 1 0 DUNL 31 167 127 432 SPSA 5 49 20 22

BBSA 0 0 3 1 GRYE 35 73 150 139 WILL 0 0 0 0

HUGO 0 0 8 3 LESA 64 996 416 179 RUTU 1 7 2 2

MAGO 0 0 0 0 LEYE 110 41 302 187 SESA 173 111 151 558

PIPL 0 0 0 0 SEPL 29 37 100 84 WRSA 41 0 30 70

REKN 0 0 1 0 WIPH ? ? 3 0 BASA 4 0 7 6

SAND 10 3 4 8 PESA 350 107 162 208

SBDO 7 0 48 0 STSA 12 10 34 27

SOSA 3 0 13 4 LBDO 12 0 20 14

UPSA 0 1 1 0 DOsp. 46 6 1 39

WHIM 3 0 1 0 COSN 8 46 150 91

REPH ? ? 2 1

RNPH ? ? 4 1

WISN ? ? 0 0

WESA ? ? 39 71ISS site NYAF (Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge)2ISS site NYAU (Montezuma NWR Mays Point Pool)3New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Compilation of survey data from multiple

sources, ~1950-2002, unpublished data. (John Ozard, Personal Communication).4Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 1996-2005, unpublished data.) Linda Ziemba, Personal

Communication)

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Shorebird observations at Montezuma NWR that have been submitted to e-bird as of

February 2006 include the following species (where bolded codes represent repeated

sightings):Mays Point

Pool

(25 species)

Main Pool

(21 species)

Bennings

Marsh

(22 species)

Auto Loop

(24 species)

Puddler

Marsh (Tow

Path Road)

(27 species)

Tschache Pool

(9 species)

Tier A: AMGP

SANDSOSA SBDO

BBSA

Tier B:

BBPL SEPL

LEYE GRYE

LESA DUNL

WIPH

Other:KILL SPSA

SESA PESA

STSA WISN

REPH RNPH

LBDO BASA

WRSA WESA

RUTU

Tier A:

AMGP SANDSOSA SBDO

Tier B:

BBPLSEPLLEYE GRYE

LESA DUNLWIPH

Other:KILL SPSA

SESA PESAWISN RNPH

LBDO WRSAWESA RUTU

Tier A:

AMGP, SAND

SOSA SBDO

BBSA HUGO

Tier B:

BBPL SEPLLEYE GRYE

LESA DUNL

Other:KILL SPSA

SESA PESA

STSA WISN

LBDO BASA

WRSA WESA

Tier A:

AMGP SOSASBDO BBSA

UPSA

Tier B:

BBPL SEPL

GRYE LEYE

LESA DUNL

WIPH

Other:KILL SPSA

SESA PESA

STSA WISN

RNPH LBDO

BASA WRSA

WESAWILL

Tier A:

AMGP SAND

SOSA SBDO

BBSA HUGO

REKN

Tier B:

BBPL SEPL

GRYE LEYE

LESA DUNL

WIPH WHIM

Other:KILL SPSA

RUTU SESA

WESA WRSA

BASA PESA

STSA LBDO

WISN RNPH

Tier A:

SOSA

Tier B:

GRYE LEYE

LESA DUNL

Other:KILL SPSA

PESA WISN

Access: There is little area open to the public for walking at the refuge. Visitors are

required to stick to the 3.5 mile Auto Loop Road and remain inside their car. On-footaccess is limited to the 2-mile Esker Brook Trail, the area near the visitor's center, and

viewing platforms along Tschache Pool and May's Point Pool dikes. There are twoobservation towers on site: at the south end of Tschache Pool, and the other at thesouthwest end of Main Pool at the Visitors Center.

Although access is generally with restrictions, permission may be granted for the PRISMCooperator to access more viewing areas.

Survey Method: Ground surveys. The survey should take a full day if conducted by oneperson. The survey will likely be dependent on the number of birds present, which will be

affected by water levels and feeding site exposure, as well as the time during migration.

Pilot Studies: Montezuma is participating in a three-year large-scale research study on

the effect of spring and fall drawdowns on waterbird habitat, along with 22 other refugesacross the Northeast and Midwest. Areas of the Refuge have been and will be subject to

varying water levels until the study ends in 2008. Check with Refuge Staff for more

information on current and planned water levels.

Selection Bias:*

Measurement error:*

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Measurement bias:*

Pilot Studies:*

Local Contacts: Linda Ziemba (Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge);

Additional Resources:

Montezuma NWR, Official Maphttp://www.fws.gov/r5mnwr/m6-map.html

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Northern Montezuma Wetlands Complex

(Red land acquisition boundary above is rough. See below for detail)

Northern

Montezuma

WMA

Montezuma NWR

Colvin

Marsh

Vanderbilt

Marsh

Savannah

Mucklands

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Description: The 115,000 acre Montezuma Wetland Complex Focus Area is located just

north of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region and straddles Cayuga, Seneca and

Wayne Counties. It includes approximately 9,000 acres of land managed by the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service (Montezuma NWR), 8,000 acres of land managed by the NY State

Department of Environmental Conservation (Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management

Area), 42 acres owned by The Nature Conservancy, and the remaining acres in rural,private ownership.

The Montezuma Wetlands Complex Project Area is a 52,000 area within the 115,000Focus Area where land acquisition, and public and private wildlife habitat restoration are

priorities. The Montezuma Wetlands Complex projects goal is to restore wetland

remnants and drained wetland areas (including retiring agricultural lands), and to

preserve and manage the existing ones.

ISS surveys indicating significant numbers of shorebirds exist only for the Montezuma

NWR, but there is no data for areas of the Complex outside the Refuge. As well, other

substantial sources of shorebird survey data have only been identified for the Refuge.

Outside of the Refuge, shorebirds are known to a lesser degree in the following areas:

Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area: Includes Howland Island WMA, an

area formed where the Erie Canal shortcuts a looping bend of the Seneca River. It has

numerous potholes surrounded by plots of agricultural fields. A large muckland field atthe end of Morgan Road, along the west side of the Seneca River in the Town of

Savannah has the best potential for future shorebird habitat. Shorebirds frequent the large

mucklands alongside a wide shallow creek(name?) that crosses Route 31 one half milewest of where the Erie Canal crosses Route 31. The low mucklands are presently farmed

in row crops (primarily corn and soybeans), but will be managed by NYS DEC as

wetland and moist soil impoundments when funding allows. Shorebirds use theseagricultural fields on migration if hydrology is suitable.

Savannah Mucklands: a large flat area of agricultural fields north and northeast ofMontezuma NWR, straddling Route 31, and adjacent to the Northern Montezuma WMA.

Historically, the mucklands were a vast expanse of swamps and marshes drained for

agriculture (now mostly used to grow potatoes, corn, and soybeans. Increased emphasis

on corn for ethanol is causing cropfields to command higher rental rates, and mayinfluence a stronger demand for cropland in the region). Some farmers in the area have

sold their land to state or federal government and the amount of public land around

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is growing.

Vanderbilt Marsh: a private hunting club property of approximately 1,000 acres on the

south side of Route 31 F, north of Armitage Road near the west side of MontezumaNWR. Shorebirds can be observed here if the water level is optimum.

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Colvin Marsh: a 20-acre impoundment immediately west of the new Montezuma

Audubon Center 1.7 miles north of Savannah) will be managed for shorebird use on

migration.

It has been suggested that more and more areas will be managed with shorebirds, marsh

birds and waterfowl in mind, as time goes on. As the Complex is fairly new and stillgrowing, the opportunity to restore wetlands will be contingent on funding and other

resources. Mike Morgan, President of the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex,

pointed out that increased awareness of the need to manage for shorebirds has led toconsideration of shorebird habitat when conducting drawdowns of impoundments whose

primary function is to provide waterfowl habitat. Scheduled drawdowns would have to

be confirmed with land managers.

Besides Vanderbilt Marsh, large areas of privately-owned wetlands within the Complex

include Black Creek Marsh Club (~500 acres) and Savannah Dhu Nature Preserve

(~4,000 acres). These areas are primarily managed for waterfowl.

Access:

Northern Montezuma WMA: open to the public, however, areas have been newlyacquired and interior boundaries may not be well posted. Stop in at the Morgan Road

Office, Montezuma Audubon Center, or check with Region 8 staff of the NYS DEC for

an up-to-date map. The entire WMA is open for public use, including hunting, birding,

hiking, etc. Motorized vehicles are not allowed behind the gates. However, motorizedboats are allowed in the Seneca River and Crusoe Creek. They are not allowed in

impoundments, but canoes and other car-top boats are.

Savannah Mucklands: Route 31 is an elevated and busy road that bisects the Mucklands.

There is little room to park other than at an abandoned potato barn. This area is

predominantly privately owned. Check with property owners before parking. Hunting isallowed in this area.

Vanderbilt Marsh: The Marsh, formerly referred to as the Sink Hole Marsh, belongs tothe Vanderbilt Marsh Club, Inc. and is private property. Public access is limited. Contact

the Vanderbilt Marsh Club (585-624-4095) for access information.

Directions:Northern Montezuma WMA: Located approximately mid-way between Rochester and

Syracuse just 5 miles north of Route I-90. From Port Byron, go north on Route 38

(Conquest Road) for 1.5 miles, turn left onto Howland Island Road (accessible by footonly).

Alternatively, go north on Route 89 from Savannah, turn right onto Savannah Spring-Lake Road, turn Right on Carncross Road, cross the Canal and continue on to Howland

(seasonally accessible by foot only).

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Montezuma Audubon Center: from the village of Savannah, go north on Route 89 for

about 1.7 miles to the Center (2295 Route 89)

NYS DEC Field Office: from the village of Savannah, go North on Route 89, turn right

on Savannah-Spring Lake Road, then right on Morgan Road to the NYS DEC Field

Office (1385 Morgan Road).

Savannah Mucklands: The Savannah Mucklands are bisected by NYS Route 31 which

runs more or less east/west and basically parallels the I-90 which is to the south. NYSRoute 31 runs between the Villages of Port Byron and Montezuma to the east and

Savannah to the west.

From US Route 20 and NYS Route 5, turn north onto NYS Route 89 and keep goingstraight on State Route 89 through Montezuma NWR and across the Erie Canal. About 1

mile beyond the Canal, NYS Route 89 makes a sharp right turn at a 4-way intersection

(Armitage Road turns to the west and Hogback Road continues north to Route 31 on the

west side of the Village of Savannah). At this 4-way intersection, turn right to remain onNYS Route 89 and continue to the intersection at NYS Route 31. An enormous expanse

of agricultural fields bisected by the raised roadbed of Route 31 beyond and to the east isthe Savannah Mucklands.

Armitage Road: Follow the above directions, but turn left onto Armitage Road (where

Route 89 makes a sharp right turn). Shorebirds can be viewed in the fields on either sideof the Road, as long as conditions are suitable. Vanderbilt Marsh is directly north of the

agricultural fields.

Survey Method: Ground surveys. Details TBD.

Selection Bias: The amount of suitable habitat varies due to management efforts,probably affecting the distribution of shorebirds between managed wetland habitats and

agricultural lands. As the amount of suitable habitat decreases, shorebirds may disperse

and utilize less-optimal, widely dispersed agricultural lands.

Measurement error:Agricultural fields are generally wide open so all shorebirdswithin viewing distance should be identifiable. Some fields may be difficult to access.

The fields at the Audubon Office and at the NYS DEC Office are both visible; howeversome fields are not accessible for viewing from roads or other access points.

Measurement bias: Observer effort and bias should be documented if possible. Anobservers ID skills and proficiency may improve over time especially as they learn what

to expect in an area. Differences in ID skills also exist between observers. Inexperienced

observers may elect to study with a skilled observer until they are more confident oftheir identifications. However, we encourage birders of all levels to participate in PRISM

surveys.

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Pilot Studies: needed

Local Contacts: Linda Ziemba (Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge); Jim Eckler, NYS DECbiologist (Northern Montezuma Wetlands Project).

Additional Resources:Northern Montezuma Wetlands Complex/Project

http://www.fws.gov/r5mnwr/m8-wl.html

New York State Department of Environmental Conservationhttp://www.dec.state.ny.us/

Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex http://friendsofmontezuma.org/index.html

Also contact the Nature Conservancy for their map, available in PDF format.

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References

Canadian Wildlife Service. Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan. Accessed August 2008.http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com/default.asp?lang=en&n=D1610AB7 .

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. U.S. Shorebird Plan. Accessed August 2008.http://www.fws.gov/shorebirdplan/RegionalShorebird/RegionsMap.asp