Wastewater Shorebird Survey, Fall 2013

Of the many bird monitoring programs that have been conducted in Muskegon County, the Muskegon Wastewater System (MWS) Shorebird Survey ranks second in longevity; only the Muskegon Christmas Bird Count (1940 to present) has a more venerable history. In its first incarnation, the Shorebird Survey was compiled by Jim Ponshair for 22 years from 1974 to 2002. During that time, over 4,000 shorebird records were gleaned from miscellaneous submissions to the Grand Rapids Audubon Club newsletter (The Caller). Observations were provided by many individuals, but Ponshair and George Wickstrom were the most prolific. These records were forwarded to the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences for inclusion into the International Shorebird Survey which also dates back to 1974. Since that time, several other ISS sites have been established in Michigan, but the MWS survey has been running the longest.

In 2005, the MWS Shorebird Survey was adopted by a few members of the Muskegon County Nature Club, and several fundamental changes were made. By using only first-hand data, making regular visits, keeping to official survey periods, following an orderly route, and rejecting estimates in favor of rigorous counts, consistency and quality were considerably improved. Carolyn Weng was the principal counter for many years, but with her departure for California, I have taken over the project. Altogether, the MWS Shorebird Survey has encountered 36 species.

The fall of 2013 thus marks the ninth consecutive autumn of MCNC involvement, and it was clearly an auspicious season. On average 1,463 birds of 21 species had been recorded each autumn since 2005, and the best year had been 2009 (1,938 birds, 25 species). This year, during 13 sessions from July 12 to November 14, we found 24 species and 3,461 individuals. Although the species tally fell one shy of the most diverse season, the individual counts proved exceptional, and not surprisingly, new records were obtained for 10 species. The fall 2013 totals appear below with new highs in bold and past averages in parentheses.

Black-bellied Plover - 22 (11.1)

American Golden-Plover - 45 (28.6)

Semipalmated Plover - 54 (28.4)

Killdeer - 966 (399.5; previous high 711)

Spotted Sandpiper - 363 (306.4)

Solitary Sandpiper - 20 (9.5; previous high 19)

Greater Yellowlegs - 11 (6.0)

Lesser Yellowlegs - 528 (182.5; previous high 302)

Upland Sandpiper - 14 (6.0)

Red Knot - 1 (0.1; ties previous high)

Sanderling - 23 (13.6; previous high 19)

Semipalmated Sandpiper - 247 (80.0; previous high 171)

Least Sandpiper - 549 (213.5; previous high 369)

White-rumped Sandpiper - 3 (2.3)

Baird's Sandpiper - 48 (46.1)

Pectoral Sandpiper - 488 (62.4; previous high 100)

Dunlin - 23 (31.0)

Stilt Sandpiper - 13 (9.0)

Buff-breasted Sandpiper -  1 (2.3)

Short-billed Dowitcher - 5 (6.3)

Wilson's Snipe - 8 (1.4; previous high 6)

Wilson's Phalarope - 2 (1.0)

Red-necked Phalarope - 25 (9.5)

Red Phalarope - 2 (0.1; previous high 1)

Eight of these species set or tied previous daily high counts:

Killdeer - 207 on Aug 12

Solitary Sandpiper - 8 on Aug 24

Lesser Yellowlegs - 223 on Aug 24

Red Knot - 1 on Sep 14

Least Sandpiper - 256 on Aug 4

Pectoral Sandpiper - 169 on Aug 12

Wilson's Snipe - 2 on three days

Red Phalarope - 1 on Oct 24 and Nov 7

The spring season begins in early April, and counts are conducted once every ten days. Contact me if you wish to participate.

- Brian Johnson