Wastewater Shorebird Survey, Fall 2012

This past fall, volunteers from the Muskegon County Nature Club completed another season of shorebird surveys at the Muskegon Wastewater System. Count data from this location have been submitted as part of the International Shorebird Survey since 1974, and standardized protocols have been maintained for the last eight years. Under these rules, surveys are conducted three days per month during the spring and fall migratory periods.

Thirteen surveys were completed between July 16 and November 16, 2012. Overall, 1,563 birds (previous average: 1,449) of 21 species (equivalent to the previous mean) were encountered. Daily results varied from 0 birds (November 16) to 14 species (September 6) and 256 individuals (July 26). Of the 162 surveys conducted since 2005, the fall 2012 daily species total ties for fourth; the most species seen on a survey was 19 on 9/7/09. The individual daily total of 256 ranks 13th; the record is 507, also from 9/7/09.

With this year's additions of Long-billed Dowitcher (1 on Oct. 28, pictured above) and Red Phalarope (1 on Oct. 20, pictured below), 29 species have been recorded on the fall Wastewater Surveys since 2005. Of these, 22 can be reasonably expected to appear during a typical autumn. Despite the good aggregate tally, individual totals for most species were below previous averages. However, Solitary Sandpiper (9, vs. mean of 9.6), Least Sandpiper (212, vs. mean of 213.7), Short-billed Dowitcher (6, vs. mean of 6.3) were very close. Sanderling (4) and Baird's Sandpiper (16) were historically low, and White-rumped Sandpiper was completely missed. Upland and Buff-breasted Sandpipers were also notably absent. Only two regular species were above average: Killdeer (711, vs. mean of 355) and Pectoral Sandpiper (73, vs. mean of 60.9). The large Killdeer total not only provided a new record, but it also explains the good aggregrate total despite low counts for most of the others. In fact, the four most common species, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper (266), Least Sandpiper, and Lesser Yellowlegs (160), comprised 86% of all the shorebirds detected this fall.

Uncommon species represented the remaining fall highlights. Besides the aforementioned Long-billed Dowitcher and Red Phalarope, record totals were obtained for Wilson's Snipe (6) and Wilson's Phalarope (3). Counts of both rarities and common species could easily be raised if surveys were conducted in response to noteworthy reports posted on this website and other sources, but this biased practice has been assiduously avoided over the years.

This year's surveys were conducted by myself and Carolyn Weng, with help from Ric Pedler. In September, Carolyn relocated to California, so the Muskegon County Nature Club and other local environmental groups have lost one their most important volunteers. This also leaves a big hole in the Wastewater Shorebird Survey. Carolyn has participated on 127 of the 162 surveys conducted since 2005 (and was the sole observer on 73). By comparison, the next closest volunteer (myself) has only participated on 58. If anyone wishes to help fill this void, please contact me sometime prior to March.

Brian Johnson