Sanderling Plan - Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network

Rio de Janeiro Coastal Lagoons: This area contains a chain of 11 coastal lagoons between the
cities of Rio de Janeiro and Cabo Frio. Some have high salt concentrations. Mudflats and
eutrophic areas attract “large numbers of shorebirds, especially Sanderling” (DeLuca et
al. 2006).
Lagoa dos Patos: This site represents the largest freshwater lagoon in Brazil, and includes a
220-kilometer beach that stretches from its mouth to the Brazil/Uruguay border. This
high-productivity area represents “one of the main wintering areas for Sanderling.”
(DeLuca et al. 2006).
Pacific Coast (Canada, United States, Mexico)
Tens of thousands of Sanderlings winter along the U.S. Pacific Coast. Estimates of
seasonal regional totals for Sanderlings at 56 Pacific Coast wetlands (surveyed between 1988
and 1995) was ~34,800 for winter (Page et al. 1999). The sites listed below recorded between
500 to several thousand wintering Sanderlings. Other sites along the North American Pacific
Coast with lower winter estimates (hundreds) occur in many locations, including British
Columbia (e.g., Ladner, Vancouver, and Chesterman Beach; Paulson 1993), and numerous sites
in Oregon, Washington, California, and Baja California (Mexico).
Washington beaches, USA (especially outer, southern coast): Three extensive sandy beaches
along the southern Washington coast (Ocean Shores, Grayland, and Long Beach), support the
vast majority of wintering Sanderlings in Washington (Myers et al. 1984b, Buchanan 1992,
Buchanan and Evenson 1997, and Buchanan unpubl. data). These beaches are separated by two
large estuaries (Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay). Counts for important beaches in Washington
state include: Copalis/Ocean Shores: Over 1,000 Sanderlings were recorded at Ocean Shores in
the 1990s (ISS data); several thousand (or more) Sanderlings typically winter here (Buchanan
1992); Grayland: several thousand Sanderlings typically winter here (Morrison 1984b, Buchanan
1992); Long Beach: several thousand Sanderlings typically winter here (Morrison 1984b,
Buchanan 1992); Leadbetter Point: CBC data report about 300 (during mid 1970s) to 650
Sanderlings (during late 1980s). ISS data include counts of 500 Sanderlings in the 1970s;
Olympic-North Beach: Regular counts exceed 2,000 (Myers et al. 1984b, Buchanan 1992);
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