| | Accession Number | 5005121 |
| | Title | Effects of Disturbance and Predation on Nesting American Oystercatchers |
| | Project Description | Problem Statement: The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is one of four shorebird |
| | species in highest need of conservation attention ("extremely high") according to Hunter (2001) |
| | in The Southeastern Coastal Plains-Carribean Regional Shorebird Plan (SE Regional Shorebird |
| | Plan) of the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan. George (2001) estimated extremely low American |
| | Oystercatcher's nesting success in the egg stage (12-27%) and in success at fledging young |
| | (0-6%) in recent studies along the Georgia coast. In North Carolina from 1997-1999, Davis et al. |
| | (2001) found that only 13% of the nestshatched at least one egg (n = 245 nests). Prior to these |
| | two studies, Nol (1989) also found low hatching success (13-14%) for American Oystercatchers in |
| | Virginia. These apparent nesting and fledging successes will more than likely not sustain a stable |
| | or increasing population. Hunter (2001) summarized that potential factors affecting oystercatchers |
| | during the breeding season include vehicular use on beaches and public use of beaches in |
| | general, especially where pets (i.e., dogs) are allowed to run freely. In Georgia, George (2001) |
| | found that the most frequent direct causes of nest failure were predation and flooding from high |
| | spring tides and storms. Failures of nests in North Carolina were also attributed to predation |
| | (76%) and storm overwashes or severe weather (Davis et al. 2001). Both direct and indirect factors |
| | likely result in poor reproductive success. Davis et al. (2001) also hypothesized that predators, |
| | such as feral cats and racoons (Procyon lotor), which are more abundant in areas of human |
| | activity may reduce survival of oystercatcher nests and hatchlings. Rappole (1981) suggested that |
| | vehicular traffic from residents and all-night surveys for turtle nests may cause oystercatcher |
| | nesting failures on Little Cumberland Island, Georgia. Recent studies in Georgia have not focused |
| | on exact identification of causes of nest, egg, and hatchling losses; hence, studies are needed to |
| | identify these causes specifically. Additional studies are needed to identify effects of disturbances |
| | (e.g., dogs, people, or vehicles), survival through fledging, and causes of mortality for the |
| | American Oystercatcher (Davis 2001, George 2001, Hunter 2001). Research objectives of the SE |
| | Regional Shorebird Plan (Hunter 2001) that coincide with concerns of the Georgia Department of |
| | Natural Resources and the investigators of this study are: 1) to determine depredation levels and |
| | its sources for oystercatcher nests in the egg and hatchlings stages, 2) to determine disturbance |
| | tolerance levels (primarily relative to activities of humans and their pets) and its effect on |
| | oystercatcher nesting success, and 3) to assist by providing samples for a study of contaminants |
| | in oystercatchers and their eggs. Quantifying the direct and indirect effects of human disturbance |
| | (beach driving, pedestrian traffic, ATV traffic especially by technicians monitoring sea turtle nests, |
| | and dogs) and the effects of predator abundance will be vital to future management of the |
| | American Oystercatcher and its habitat within the southeastern region.Methods: We propose to |
| | establish study sites on two barrier islands (e.g., Cumberland Island, Little St. Simons Island) that |
| | provide nesting habitat for 12 or more oystercatcher pairs and that receive beach use from |
| | recreational boaters and sea turtle technicians. Each island will also be divided into disturbed and |
| | undisturbed areas. Oystercatcher nests will be located and monitored from March to July during |
| | two nesting seasons. To assess depredation of nests, we will visit each nest every 2-3 days and |
| | use tracks and other signs to identify predators if a nest fails because of predation. Video |
| | monitors (with infrared for nighttime monitoring) will be used on randomly selected groups or single |
| | nests in each area (disturbed and undisturbed) to monitor disturbances. Video techniques and |
| | sampling will be identical to studies being conducted concur |
| | Keywords | american oystercatcher, beach, coastal islands, disturbance, georgia, nesting success, pets, |
| | predation, shorebird, survival, telemetry, |
| | Principal | Joseph M Meyers, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center: joe_meyers@usgs.gov; Sara H |
| | Investigators | Schweitzer, Warnell School of Forest Resources: schweitz@smokey.forestry.uga.edu; |
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