Simultaneous shorebird census in coastal wetlands of Ecuador

Abstract

Migratory shorebirds are gregarious forms that undertake annual long-distance movements and occupy different types of coastal wetlands in varying numbers. Their populations have been declining significantly since 1970, largely due to the destruction of coastal habitats at strategic sites along their migratory routes. The organization Manomet Inc. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, conducted the “Coastal Shorebird Census in South America” from January 27 to February 8, with the goal of understanding the population trends of shorebirds that winter in coastal wetlands, both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, by executing a simultaneous ground census in randomly selected sampling units in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. In Ecuador, a group of 96 volunteers monitored 38 wetlands, surveying 142 sampling units, of which 11% corresponded to shallow waters, 18% to artificial salt or shrimp ponds, 31% to sandy beaches, and 40% to intertidal flats. We identified 30 species of shorebirds and counted 11,670 individuals. Among the most representative numbers are Anarynchus semipalmatus (1,756 individuals), Calidris pusilla (1,719 individuals), and Himantopus mexicanus (1,715 individuals). Additionally, we counted 1,885 individuals that were identified only to the genus level (Calidris sp). The largest number of shorebirds was recorded in the intertidal flats (5,853 individuals), mainly in Esmeraldas (2,730 individuals), followed by the salt pans in Santa Elena province (3,369 individuals). This is the first time Ecuador has conducted a simultaneous count and is part of a collective effort in South America. The information collected is key to understanding the status of populations and the main sites and habitats of congregation.