2016 Shorebird Survey - Record Season

Every spring (and again in the fall) since 2004, the Inter-
national Shorebird Survey (ISS) has been conducted at the Muskegon Wastewater System.  Per protocol, one census is conducted roughly every ten days from early April to mid June, so this equates to eight sessions, with each lasting 2-3 hours and covering all likely habitat north and south of Apple Avenue. Principal observers have comprised Carolyn Weng and myself; this year, I completed all eight spring surveys.

Spring 2016 proved to be the best in our long participation with the ISS. Our overall total of 1,349 individual shorebirds of 21 species sets new records for both number and diversity. The historical spring averages were 561 birds of 16 species.

Three of the eight daily sessions established new records for both numbers and diversity:

mid-April (19th): 94 birds, 8 species

late April (28th): 104 birds, 8 species

late May (27th): 511 birds, 12 species

Plus, mid-May (19th) set a new record with 294 birds

Nine of the 21 species set or tied seasonal record totals (noted in the final table). Plus, seven species established new one-day records:

Greater Yellowlegs - 28 on April 19; previous daily record 28

Lesser Yellowlegs - 44 on May 6; previous daily record 39

Stilt Sandpiper - 1 on May 27; ties previous daily record

Sanderling - 3 on May 27; ties previous daily record

Least Sandpiper - 77 on May 19; previous daily record 51

Semipalmated Sandpiper - 383 on May 27; previous daily record 32

Wilson's Snipe - 8 on April 19; previous daily record 2

Here are the full results, with this year's grand totals and past historical averages:

Black-bellied Plover - 1; mean 2.3

Semipalmated Plover - 34; mean 7.5

Killdeer - 154; mean 127.9

Spotted Sandpiper - 232; mean 128.1; previous record 207

Solitary Sandpiper - 1; mean 0.7

Greater Yellowlegs - 40; mean 6.1; previous record 22

Willet - 1; mean 2.9

Lesser Yellowlegs - 114; mean 32.7; previous record 81

Upland Sandpiper - 29; mean 16.7; previous record 28

Ruddy Turnstone - 1; mean 5.0

Stilt Sandpiper - 1; mean 0.3; ties previous record

Sanderling - 3; mean 0.9; ties previous record

Dunlin - 101; mean 88.8

Least Sandpiper - 83; mean 34.1; previous record 65

White-rumped Sandpiper - 10; mean 10.5

Pectoral Sandpiper - 38; mean 8.2

Semipalmated Sandpiper - 491; mean 77.9; previous record 169

Short-billed Dowitcher - 1; mean 3.4

Wilson's Snipe - 8; mean 0.8; previous record 2

Wilson's Phalarope - 5; mean 3.3

Red-necked Phalarope - 1; mean 0.3

Of the 21 species encountered this spring, 16 exceeded historical norms. Five dropped below average, but aside from White-rumped Sandpiper, these were uncommon species whose long-term means can be skewed by one exceptional year. Counts of Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Wilson's Snipe all exceeded previous averages by an amazing factor of four or more. Semipalmated Sandpipers were especially noteworthy; counts of 28 on June 11 and, especially, 383 on May 27 were outstanding.

Photos:  Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper.

- Brian Johnson