The Important Four Red Knot Piping Plover Wilson’s Plover Least Tern
North Beach Critical Habitat North Beach Critical Habitat Created as condition for approval of inlet relocation on the Kiawah River in 2015 Per Biological Opinion by USFWS – Melissa Chaplin – assessed impact of relocation Critical Piping Plovers & Loggerhead Turtles Habitat Required Critical Habitat on North Beach to protect Piping Plover w/no dogs allowed Also recommended that Seabrook protect Red Knot Led to SIPOA contract with SCDNR - North Beach Piping Plover surveys, nesting signs, Red Knot research Red Zone with no dogs allowed established by Town of Seabrook Nov 2019 as part of new beach rules for pets
Red Knot Seabrook Island
Red Knot Population declined 70% in last 20 years Red Knots In the late winter and early spring, a federally threatened population One of longest migrations - 18,000 miles round trip of Red Knots visit Seabrook Island in large numbers. Our beach is an important - tip of SA/Patagonia to Arctic to breed staging area (place where they not only rest, but where they can feed heavily putting on precious fat) for the Red Knots. A banded knot observed for 13 years flew 242,000 How do I identify Red Knots? Early in the season, Red Knots are a plain gray miles – farther than from earth to moon non-descript, mid-sized shorebird. As the season progresses their brick red breeding feathers slowly emerges. These birds prefer being with a group of their SC important place for knots - of 187 miles coast only small # of beaches where knots “stage” own kind. Rarely does one find less than 20 birds together. Often, they appear in the hundreds or even thousands. Seabrook/Kiawah Island/ Deveaux Bank important Where are Red Knots from? They breed in the high arctic along the coast of the area for knot “staging” - average of 84 days to rest islands between Greenland and Canada. Red Knot population has plummeted and feed - have flown 5000 miles when arrive since the 1980’s (down 70%). Many of these birds fly between the northern breeding islands to spend our winter in Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of We have one of largest single flocks in Eastern US, South America — a trip that is 8 to 10 thousand miles one way! 4000-8000 at peak – per SCDNR A stop at Seabrook Island needs to be more than a brief rest. It must be a time when knots can feed heavily as there is little other opportunity to fuel up before Will be brownish grey at arrival, turn beautiful they head north! To make the journey, a Red Knot needs to add 40% of its body reddish breeding color in April weight in just a couple weeks of heavy feeding! Each time they are flushed by someone walking the beach, they use up precious energy and miss out on an Feed along shore like “sewing machines” on opportunity to feed. coquina clams here, horseshoe crab eggs at Scientific studies assure us of the importance of our beaches to the survival of Deveaux Bank this species. A bird fitted with a gps unit was documented traveling directly from Seabrook Island to the Hudson Bay in Canada in a non-stop flight! This same bird Fat built up from knots time here may be what spent part of our winter in Tierra del Fuego at the southern-most tip of South helps to get to Arctic & breed successfully America. It made just a few stops before finding the beach of Seabrook Island. Here it had ample food and was able to spend enough time bulking up to make Seabrook Important for SCDNR research, nanotag this remarkable migration possible. data show portion of flock fly direct to Arctic All photos taken on Seabrook by Ed Konrad
Piping Plover Seabrook Island
Piping Plover Great Lakes Region (orange flag) Federally Piping Plover From late July to the next spring Piping Plovers spend time on our beach. We Endangered, only 71 breeding pairs, once usually see 4-8 at one time, and over 20 in April as they migrate north. Some of these 800 highly studied birds carry colored leg bands that scientists can use to identify the individual, where it was banded, when it was banded, and how old it was. Atlantic Region US & Canada (green or black How do I identify Piping Plovers? Piping Plovers are small, pale (the color of dry sand) flag) Federally Threatened, 2000 pairs birds with short stubby bills and a black partial ring around their neck. They are frequently seen alone, in small groups, and/or with their darker cousin the Semipalmated Plover (the Populations drastically declined – people, color of mud). They’ll have a dark “little scarf” in the spring - their breeding colors. The dogs, predators, development, weather other pale bird of the beach, the more common Sanderlings, like to run in and out of the waves in small to large flocks. They have longer black bills. Eat marine worms, fly larvae, beetles, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, other small Where are Piping Plovers from? There are three main populations. One comes from the invertebrates Great Lakes breeding region — predominantly in Michigan. This population is Federally Endangered and consists of only 71 breeding pairs. On North Beach, we spot and photograph banded plovers, and report them to the researchers in the breeding grounds. Breed from April to July in Great Lakes, They like to know that their plovers are safe during their 9 months in wintering grounds. Atlantic, Great Plains regions Examples of feedback we get the researchers: “She wasn't banded as a chick, so we don't Migrate to SE & TX coasts late July - “winter” know when/where she hatched. She began breeding in 2018 at Grand Marais, MI. In 2019 to next spring: our responsibility to protect 9 the crew banded 3 of her chicks. I don't know how many of them fledged.” Another months Jul-Apr example: “This is the chick we named “Little V” from our Point Betsie nest. It's the only one that fledged. i.e. survived, from this new 2019 Lake Michigan nesting area.” These sightings We’re important wintering site, provide provide proof of the importance of Seabrook Island as a wintering site for plovers to be quality foraging & roosting habitat to survive safe, rest, and feed so they are strong to fly north in the spring to breed. & return 1000 to 1500 miles north to breed The other populations, although not as severely stressed, are still Federally Threatened. The breeding region along the coasts of northeast US and Canada, is called the Atlantic Protecting Piping Plovers - a condition of the region. The third breeding region is called Great Plains, and their Piping Plovers winter on inlet relocation on Kiawah River & impacts Texas coasts, and are not often seen on Seabrook. future relocations All photos taken on Seabrook by Ed Konrad
Piping Plover personal stories Endangered Alice…“She began breeding in 2018 at Grand Marais, MI, banded at that time. In 2019 the crew banded 3 of her chicks. I don't know how many of them fledged.” Vicki…”2K banded at Prince Edward Island, Canada. He had 3 nest attempts in 2019 with the same mate as 2018. On 3 rd attempt, they laid 3 eggs & fledged all chicks.” These two PIPLs wintered at Seabrook for past 2 years – they were spotted on North Beach on same day in 2019 & 2018! Threatened Alice…“You've proved it! This is the chick we Endangered named “Little V” from Point Betsie nest. The only one that fledged, i.e. survived, from this new 2019 Lake MI nesting area.” Breeding Region Biologists Alice Van Zoeren Vicki Johnson PIPL Great Lakes Piping Plover Coordinator Conservation Team Island Nature Trust, Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, MI PEI, Canada
Endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover – breeding grounds 71 breeding pairs remain Michigan • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore • Whitefish Point - UP
Least Tern Seabrook Island
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